Singaporeans in the context of "Merlion"

National Day, sometimes known internationally as Singapore Independence Day, is a major public holiday in Singapore commemorating the establishment of an independent and sovereign Republic of Singapore. Observed annually on 9 August since 1965, it marks the date when Singapore became fully sovereign following its separation from Malaysia. The day is a statutory public holiday and features the National Day Parade (NDP), a National Day Message by the Prime Minister of Singapore and National Day Fireworks Celebrations, among other festivities like Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Chinese New Year.

The NDP is a large-scale event featuring military and civil contingents, cultural performances and aerial displays. Alongside the parade, the Prime Minister delivers an annual message reflecting on national progress and future challenges. The holiday originates from the formal proclamation of Singapore's independence on 9 August 1965 that was drafted by the Minister for Law Edmund W. Barker and signed by prime minister Lee Kuan Yew. Since then, National Day has become a focal point for national identity and unity among Singaporeans.

As of June 2025, the population of Singapore stood at 6.11 million. Of these 6.11 million, 4.20 million are residents, consisting of about 3.66 million citizens and 540,000 permanent residents (PRs). The remaining 1.91 million people living in Singapore are classed as non-residents, defined as "foreign workforce acrossall pass types, dependants and international students".

Singapore is a multi-racial, multi-ethnic and multi-cultural society. Major religions include Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Taoism and Hinduism. Its population is broadly classified under the CMIO system: Chinese, Malay, Indian and Other. While Malays are recognised as the indigenous community, 75.5 percent of citizens and permanent residents are ethnic Chinese, with Malays and Indians making up 15.1 and 7.6 percent respectively. These three groups make up 98.2 percent of the ethnic citizen population, while the remaining 1.8 percent, categorised as Other, are largely Eurasians. Non-residents, who make up 29 percent of the overall population, are excluded from resident statistics. Officially, mixed-race Singaporeans are typically assigned their father's race, though their identity card may also reflect both parents' ethnicities.

Singaporean Chinese or Chinese Singaporeans (simplified Chinese: 新加坡华人/华裔新加坡人; traditional Chinese: 新加坡華人/華裔新加坡人; pinyin: Xīnjiāpō Huárén / Huáyì Xīnjiāpōrén) are Singaporeans of Han ancestry. As of the 2020 census, they constitute 75.9% of the resident population, making them the largest ethnic group in Singapore. In Singapore, "Chinese" is an umbrella term defined in both geographical and ethnic-cultural contexts as pertaining to Greater China and bears no necessary relation to the contemporary People's Republic of China, whose citizens are classified separately when in Singapore. As a result, some Singaporeans of Han ancestry would simply just consider themselves "Singaporean", viewing themselves as distinct from the "China Chinese" in terms of culture, identity and social reality.

Evidence of Chinese people trading with and settling among local populations in Singapore dates as early as the 10th century. Prior to the establishment of Singapore as a British trading port, the island was home to a small community of around 120 Malays and 20 to 30 Chinese, mostly traders. The colonial period saw a substantial influx of male Chinese migrants, who often returned to their families in China after earning sufficient income. Over time, more ethnic Chinese arrived in Singapore such as the samsui women and other economic migrants. This led to a more balanced gender ratio and a diversified age distribution, which formed the bulk of the Singaporean Chinese population known today.

Christians in Singapore constitute 19% of the country's resident population, as of the most recent census conducted in 2020. Christianity is the second largest religion in the country, after Buddhism and before Islam. In 2020, about 37.1% of the country's Christians identified as Catholic with 62.9% labeled as 'Other Christians', most of which identify as Protestant, with some identifying as Orthodox or other minority Christian denominations.

Christianity was first introduced to Singapore by Anglicans, who were among the first British settlers to arrive shortly after the founding of a British colony by Stamford Raffles. The proportion of Christians among Singaporeans has increased in the last few decades: 9.9% in 1980; 12.7% in 1990; 14.6% in 2000 and 18.9% in 2020. A growing number of Singaporeans are converting to the faith or were born into Christian families.

Malay Singaporeans (Malay: Orang Melayu Singapura) are Singaporeans of Malay ancestry, including those from the Malay Archipelago. As of the 2020 census, they constitute approximately 13.5% of the country's residents, making them the second largest ethnic group in Singapore. Under the Constitution of Singapore, they are recognised by the government as the indigenous people of the country, with Malay as the national and official language of Singapore.

At the time of the arrival of British colonial official Stamford Raffles in 1819, the estimated population of Malays on the island was approximately 1,000. Another estimate suggests that at the time of Raffles' arrival, the population comprised around 120 Malays, 30 Chinese and some local indigenous Orang Laut tribes. From the nineteenth century until World War II, the Malays generally enjoyed favourable treatment, as they were not resettled for labour and their traditional lifestyles were largely left undisturbed. However, as the British required coolies to support their colonial enterprises, immigration rates among Malays remained relatively low compared to Indians and Chinese immigrants. The latter group notably became the majority ethnic population by the mid-nineteenth century.

Eurasian Singaporeans are Singaporeans of mixed European–Asian descent. The term largely includes – but is not limited to – the creole Portuguese-Malay (largely originating from Malacca) Kristang people, who form a distinct sub-group within the Eurasian community with their own separate language, culture and identity.

The Asian ancestry of Eurasian Singaporeans largely traces to Singapore in the Straits Settlements, British Malaya, British India, Portuguese India, the Dutch East Indies and sometimes to a lesser extent French Indochina and other colonies, while their European ancestry trace back primarily to Western and Southwestern Europe; particularly the British Isles, the Netherlands, and Portugal, although Eurasian settlers to Singapore in the 19th century also came from other European colonies. When the European maritime powers colonised Asian countries from the 16th to 20th centuries, they brought into being a new group of commingled ethnicities known historically as Eurasians.

The Central Provident Fund Board (CPFB), commonly known as the CPF Board or simply the Central Provident Fund (CPF), is a compulsory comprehensive savings and pension plan for working Singaporeans and permanent residents primarily to fund their retirement, healthcare, and housing needs in Singapore.

The CPF is an employment-based savings scheme with the help of employers and employees contributing a mandated amount to the fund for their benefits. It is administered by the Central Provident Fund Board, a statutory board operating under the Ministry of Manpower which is responsible for investing contributions. The Global Pension Index, an index that assesses retirement income systems, placed Singapore as the best in Asia and 7th worldwide in 2023.