Wednesday, December 4, 2024

Prodigal Singaporeans

Immigration refers to the act of moving into a new country to live there, while emigration is the act of leaving one's home country to settle in another. Essentially, immigration focuses on the destination, and emigration focuses on the departure point. (scroll down to continue)


 What is it like to migrate away from Singapore 🇸🇬 ?

It sounded like you have done something not right and can’t wait to get out of Singapore.

I wish I knew what is like to migrate away from Singapore but what I know is:-

●Most Singaporeans who emigrated will eventually return.

●They are likened to the prodigal son who was lost returns- and Singapore is like the father:-

While [the son] was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him and was moved with pity, and he ran and embraced him and tenderly kissed him.

Then the son said to him in tears, ‘Father, I am sorry— now I return to you, I’ve come to my senses that ‘Better the devil I know than the devil I don’t’“— The father was full of joy as his son was lost and has been found.

I have tasted living in Singapore before and I know Singapore has always been a sanctuary, it’s home sweet home for Singaporeans…“ Where else, how long, and how far can I go?”


●No matter where you roam there is no place like home.


●I have been living in Indonesia for 8 years, yet keep up with Sg news every day. I dont really want to return permanently to Sg because the cost of living is too high, plus I would have to work. Now, planning to rent out my entire flat and just survive on that rental income in Jakarta. If I rent out flat at just S$3000 per month, it translates to about Rp34,000,000 per month. Very decent living.

•You have invested very wisely. Now enjoy its fruits!

●I know of Singapore-emigrants in Australia who are now singing “The Green Green Parks of home”, and pining for the convenience of HDB towns, where almost everything is within walking distance.

•In fact, what we need in life now is everything within our reach. All  'emigrants’ can’t wait to come back…I’m happy and contented on my sofa.

●If a Singaporean move away from Singapore, it is like seeing the real world. It is a cruel world out there. Nothing like home sweet home.


Singapore Net Migration Rate 1950-2024

●Singapore net migration rate from 1950 to 2024. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100.

●The current net migration rate for Singapore in 2024 is 4.502 per 1000 population, a 0.66% decline from 2023.

●The net migration rate for Singapore in 2023 was 4.532 per 1000 population, a 0.83% decline from 2022.

●The net migration rate for Singapore in 2022 was 4.570 per 1000 population, a 0.85% decline from 2021.

●The net migration rate for Singapore in 2021 was 4.609 per 1000 population, a 0.82% decline from 2020.

Singapore - Historical Net Migration Rate Data

Year  Net Migration  Growth 

              Rate                Rate

2024    4.502              -0.660%

2023    4.532              -0.830%

2022    4.570              -0.850%

2021    4.609              -0.820%

2020    4.647              -0.830%

2019    4.686              -0.800%

2018    4.724             -23.110%

2017    6.144             -18.780%

2016    7.565             -15.800%

2015    8.985             -13.660%

2014    10.406           -12.010%

2013    11.826           -24.200%

2012    15.602           -19.490%

2011    19.378           -16.310%

2010    23.154           -14.020%

2009    26.930           -12.300%

2008    30.706            20.600%

2007    25.460            25.960%

2006    20.213            35.050%

2005    14.967            53.980%

2004     9.720            117.260%

2003    4.474             -35.940%

2002    6.984             -26.450%

2001    9.495            -20.910%

2000   12.005            -17.300%

1999   14.516           -14.740%

1998   17.026             -1.380%

1997   17.265             -1.370%

1996   17.504             -1.340%

1995   17.742             -1.330%

1994   17.981             -1.310%

1993   18.220            12.110%

1992   16.252            13.780%

1991   14.284            15.980%

1990   12.316            19.020%

1989   10.348            23.480%

1988     8.380             -5.400%

1987     8.858             -5.130%

1986     9.337             -4.870%

1985     9.815             -4.650%

1984   10.294             -4.440%

1983   10.772            21.550%

1982     8.862            27.470%

1981    6.952             37.880%

1980    5.042             60.980%

1979    3.132           156.300%

1978    1.222             12.520%

1977    1.086             14.320%

1976    0.950             16.560%

1975    0.815             20.030%

1974    0.679             25.050%

1973    0.543             27.170%

1972    0.427              37.300%

1971    0.311              59.490%

1970    0.195            146.840%

1969    0.079           -313.510%

1968   -0.037              85.000%

1967   -0.020           566.670%

1966   -0.003          -120.000%

1965    0.015            -53.130%

1964    0.032            -34.690%

1963    0.049            -97.410%

1962    1.891            -49.360%

1961    3.734            -33.030%

1960    5.576            -24.840%

1959    7.419            -19.890%

1958    9.261            -4.150%

1957    9.662            -3.990%

1956   10.064           -3.830%

1955   10.465           -3.700%

1954   10.867           -3.560%

1953   11.268           -3.440%

1952   11.669           -3.330%

1951   12.071           -3.220%

1950   12.472            0.000%


Similar Countries Ranked by Net Migration Rate

Country    2024 Net

Name      Migration Rate

Qatar  🇶🇦           8.233

Bahrain 🇧🇭         8.070

Luxembourg 🇱🇺 7.400

Macao           7.359

Puerto Rico 🇵🇷  6.239

Canada 🇨🇦    6.085

Australia 🇦🇺  5.155

Norway 🇳🇴    5.018

Channel Islands 4.698

Switzerland🇨🇭   4.521

Singapore 🇸🇬     4.502

Cyprus 🇨🇾           4.056

Oman 🇴🇲             3.713

Hong Kong 🇭🇰    3.442

Kuwait 🇰🇼            3.153

Curacao               3.090

Sweden 🇸🇪          2.914

United States 🇺🇸 2.768

Denmark 🇩🇰         2.591

Finland 🇫🇮            2.518

New Zealand 🇳🇿  2.506

Bahamas 2.467

United Kingdom 2.246

Austria 2.205

Belgium 2.051

Ireland 1.979

Italy 1.874

Germany 1.740

Malta 1.708

New Caledonia 1.704

Panama 1.548

Saudi Arabia 1.495

Aruba 1.428

Netherlands 1.159

Israel 1.098

Iceland 1.092

Taiwan 1.004

France 0.967

Slovenia 0.964

Spain 0.858

Portugal 0.832

Hungary 0.628

Japan 0.489

South Korea 0.429

UAE 0.231

Argentina 0.078

Antigua and Barbuda 0.000

Poland -0.266

Barbados -0.276

Croatia -0.497

Greece -0.543

Trinidad and Tobago -0.568

Estonia -0.762

Uruguay -0.774

French Polynesia -1.541

Seychelles -2.001

Guam -2.923

Chile -3.301

Latvia -3.928

Lithuania -4.688


Let's break down the differences in meaning and use between the words immigration and emigration, the related forms immigrate, emigrate, immigrant, and emigrant, as well as the similar terms émigré, migrant, refugee, and asylum seeker.


Quick summary

 ● emigrant vs. immigrant: An emigrant is someone who emigrates—moves away from a country. An immigrant is someone who immigrates—moves to a different country. Both words can apply to the same person—a person must first emigrate to immigrate. However, these terms are often used to distinguish different groups, such as when tracking how many people are moving to a country and how many are moving away.

 ● immigrant vs. migrant: Migrant can generally refer to a person who moves from one place to another (or back and forth). It’s often used more specifically to refer to a migrant worker (who moves from place to place for work) or as another way of referring to an immigrant (which implies permanent relocation), especially one who may be subject to removal from the country they are trying to relocate to.

 ● migrant vs. refugee: Refugee specifically implies that a person is fleeing their country for their safety, often due to war or political persecution. This may be the case for many migrants, but the word itself does not imply this, and the term is used more broadly.

 ● refugee vs. asylum seeker: Asylum seeker specifically refers to a person who applies for refuge or asylum in a foreign country or its embassy, especially for political reasons. Some refugees may be asylum seekers, but not all asylum seekers necessarily consider themselves refugees.


Immigrant vs. emigrant

An immigrant is a person who has immigrated—“moved to another country, usually for permanent residence.” Note the past tense in the definition: a person is not considered an immigrant until they have settled in the new place.


An emigrant, on the other hand, is “someone who leaves a country or region.” A person is considered an emigrant as soon as they leave with the intention to leave permanently (and not just to travel, for example).


The terms immigration and emigration refer to the act, but they can also refer to a group or number of such people, as in Emigration is at an all-time low, but immigration is expected to continue to increase.


The difference is that emigration is leaving and immigration is coming—an emigrant is someone who moves away, while an immigrant is someone who moves in. Of course, emigrant and immigrant often refer to the same person—people who are emigrating are also immigrating (if they leave, they have to go somewhere). The word emigrant is often used alongside an indication of the person’s home country or region, whereas immigrant is often alongside an indication of the destination country.


But there are good reasons to use each word in different situations. For example, one country may be a common destination for immigrants, while another may experience the frequent departure of emigrants.


The word immigrant is more likely to be used in a general way—that is, a way that takes both the starting point and the destination into account—whereas emigrant is almost always used in reference to the place that has been left.


You can remember the difference by remembering what each prefix means: the im- in immigrant means “in”; the e- in emigrant means “out” or “away.”


Another word for an emigrant is émigré, which especially refers to an emigrant who has fled their country due to political conditions.


Migrant vs. immigrant

Most generally, the word migrant can refer to a person who moves from one place to another (and perhaps back and forth).


However, the word migrant is particularly associated with workers and is especially used in the term migrant worker, meaning a person who continually moves from place to place to find work.


It is also sometimes used as another word for immigrant. The word immigrant often implies that the person is settling in the new place permanently, or at least intends to settle there for a long time. When the word migrant is used to refer to an immigrant, it often implies that the person may not be able to stay permanently due to being subject to removal by the government of that country.


Migrant vs. refugee

A refugee is “a person who flees for refuge or safety, especially to a foreign country, as in a time of political upheaval, war, etc.”


Refugee is often a much more specific word than migrant. In some cases, migrants may be refugees, but the word migrant itself doesn’t imply that the departure is due to danger. As noted, in the section above, migrant does sometimes imply that the reason for movement is the pursuit of work.


Refugee vs. asylum seeker

An asylum seeker is “a person who applies for refuge or asylum in a foreign country or its embassy, especially for political reasons.”


Some refugees may be asylum seekers, but not all asylum seekers necessarily consider themselves refugees. That’s because the word refugee often implies that the person has been forced to flee—that they had no other choice but to leave because of the immediate threat of danger. The term asylum seeker doesn’t necessarily imply this—there may be other circumstances involved with the decision to seek asylum.



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