NEW CITIZENS AND PERMANENT RESIDENTS

NEW CITIZENS AND PERMANENT RESIDENTS

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(Figures): **

5.

Mdm Ho Geok Choo asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs if he can give a breakdown of new citizens and permanent residents by country, gender and profession for the last three years.

Mr Wong Kan Seng: Over the last three years, ie, from 2004 to 2006, an average of about 49,000 persons were granted permanent resident status in Singapore while an average of about 11,000 persons were granted Singapore Citizenship. These new permanent residents and citizens were predominantly from South-East, South and East Asia. We also get immigrants from diverse places such as the Americas, Oceania and Europe. In terms of gender, males account for slightly less than half of the foreigners who were granted PR and SC.

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The majority of foreigners who were granted PR and SC on their own merits were predominantly professionals, managers, executives and administrators. Our records show that almost 60% of new permanent residents and about 80% of new citizens held such professions.

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