Singapore households headed to a 'golden age'

Between 2000 and 2010, there was a rise in the proportion of resident households with elderly members aged 65 years and over.

According to the Census of Population 2010 released by Singapore Department of Statistics, between 2000 and 2010, there was a decline in average household size. The proportion of resident households staying in bigger housing types increased between 2000 and 2010. There were more married couples with both husband and wife working in 2010 compared to 2000.

Household Size

The average household size declined from 3.7 persons in 2000 to 3.5 persons in 2010. Households with 3 or fewer persons constituted a growing share of resident households. The proportion of one-person households increased from 8.2 per cent in 2000 to 12 per cent in 2010. The proportion of resident households with 2 or 3 persons also increased from 36 per cent in 2000 to 39 per cent in 2010.

The shift towards smaller households was most prominent for Chinese households. The proportion of Chinese households with fewer than 4 members increased from 46 per cent in 2000 to 54 per cent in 2010. The corresponding increase was lower among Malay households (from 34 per cent in 2000 to 36 per cent in 2010) and Indian households (from 45 per cent in 2000 to 48 per cent in 2010).

Household Living Arrangement

Households comprising married couples accounted for 70 per cent of resident households in 2010, a decline from 74 per cent in 2000. Resident households with no family nucleus1 comprised about 17 per cent in 2010, up from 12 per cent in 2000.

Reflecting the ageing population, there were more resident households with elderly members aged 65 years and over. In 2010, 24 per cent of resident households had at least one elderly member, up from 21 per cent in 2000. The proportion of resident households comprising only elderly members increased from 2.7 per cent in 2000 to 4.6 per cent in 2010.

Housing Type

Reflecting the rising affluence of the population, more resident households were staying in bigger housing types in 2010 compared to 2000. The proportion of resident households staying in condominiums and private flats increased from 6.3 per cent in 2000 to 11 per cent in 2010. Conversely, the proportion of resident households staying in HDB 3-room or smaller flats fell from 31 per cent in 2000 to 25 per cent in 2010. HDB 4 room flats remained the most common housing type for resident households in 2010 at 32 per cent.

Between 2000 and 2010, all ethnic groups showed an increase in the proportion occupying HDB 4-room or larger flats or private housing. The proportion increased from 69 per cent to 75 per cent among Chinese households, 65 per cent to 69 per cent among Malay households and 66 per cent to 73 per cent among Indian households.

Household Income Growth

The median monthly household income from work increased from $3,640 in 2000 to $5,000 in 2010 at an average annual rate of 3.2 per cent (1.6 per cent in real terms). The proportion of resident households earning at least $6,000 increased from 27 per cent in 2000 to 43 per cent in 2010 and the proportion earning at least $15,000 more than doubled from 4.1 per cent in 2000 to 10 per cent in 2010.

All ethnic groups enjoyed growth in household income from work in the last decade. Between 2000 and 2010, median household income from work grew by 2.8 per cent per annum (1.1 per cent in real terms) for the Chinese, 3.6 per cent per annum (1.9 per cent in real terms) for the Malays and 4.6 per cent per annum (2.9 per cent in real terms) for the Indians.

Married Couples

The traditional arrangement where only the husband worked was less prevalent, with the proportion declining from 40 per cent in 2000 to 33 per cent in 2010. The proportion of married couples where both husband and wife worked accounted for 47 per cent in 2010, up from 41 per cent in 2000.

Excluding couples where both husband and wife were not working, the median monthly income from work of couples had risen over the period from 2000 to 2010. Median monthly income from work of couples where both husband and wife were working was $6,820 in 2010, higher than couples where only the husband or the wife was working ($3,370 and $2,000 respectively).