Singapore

Summary

Official Name

Republic of Singapore

International Conventions

CSICH (2018), UNCRPD (2013), UNDRIP (2007)

Population

5,804,000

Principal Languages

English, Mandarin Chinese, Standard Malay, Tamil

Literacy Rate

97% (2018 UNESCO)

Language Counts

The number of established languages listed for Singapore is 24. All are living languages. Of these, 2 are indigenous and 22 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 5 are institutional, 9 are developing, 8 are in trouble, and 2 are dying. Also listed are 10 unestablished languages.

Languages

Arabic, Egyptian Spoken arz: Users: 11,000 in Singapore (2018 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Bengali ben: North East district (No. 19), especially Hougang and Sengkang areas; scattered elsewhere. Users: 76,000 in Singapore (2018 J. Leclerc). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Eastern, Bengali-Assamese
Bugis bug: Users: 11,000 in Singapore (2018 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, South Sulawesi, Bugis
Chinese, Hakka hak: Scattered. Users: 233,000 in Singapore (2010 census). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Hokka, Ke, Kechia, Kehia, Kek, Khek Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
Chinese, Mandarin cmn: Users: 2,840,000 in Singapore, all users. L1 users: 1,960,000 in Singapore (2016 census). L2 users: 880,000. Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1963, Constitution (amended), Article 153A(1)). Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
Chinese, Min Bei mnp: Districts 23 and 24, Bukit Batok area northwest; scattered elsewhere. Users: 18,000 in Singapore (2018 J. Leclerc). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Min Pei Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
Chinese, Min Dong cdo: Scattered. Users: 56,000 in Singapore (2018 J. Leclerc). Ethnic population: 70,800 (2010 census). Status: 5* (Developing). Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
Chinese, Min Nan nan: Mostly Telok Ayer area. Users: 625,000 in Singapore (2015 World Factbook). Includes 448,000 Hokkien and 177,000 Teochew. Ethnic population: 1,860,000 (2010 census). Includes 1,120,000 Hokkien, 562,000 Teochew, 178,000 Hainanese. Status: 3 (Wider communication). Alternate Names: Banlamgi, Min Nam, Southern Min Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
Chinese, Pu-Xian cpx: Scattered. Users: 27,000 in Singapore (2018 J. Leclerc). Ethnic population: 25,600 (2010 census). Status: 5* (Developing). Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
Chinese, Yue yue: Scattered. Users: 227,000 in Singapore (2015 World Factbook). Ethnic population: 409,000 (2010 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Cantonese Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
English eng: Users: 2,355,000 in Singapore, all users. L1 users: 215,000 in Singapore (2018 J. Leclerc). L2 users: 2,140,000 (2019 World Factbook). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national working language (1963, Constitution (amended), Article 153A(1)). Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
Gujarati guj: Scattered. Users: 4,120 in Singapore (2010 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Gujerathi, Gujerati Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Gujarati
Hindi hin: Scattered. Users: 50,000 in Singapore (2017 The Straits Times), all users. L1 users: 13,100 (2010 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Western Hindi, Hindustani
Indonesian ind: Users: 118,000 in Singapore (2018 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Malayo-Chamic, Malayic, Malay
Japanese jpn: Users: 4,940 in Singapore (2010 census). Ethnic population: 39,000 (2018 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Japonic
Javanese jav: Scattered. Users: 35,500 in Singapore (2004 J. Leclerc). Ethnic population: 88,600 (2010 census). Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Djawa, Jawa Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Javanese
Kannada kan: Users: 22,000 in Singapore (2018 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Dravidian, Southern, Tamil-Kannada, Kannada
Korean kor: Users: 11,000 in Singapore (2018 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Koreanic
Madura mad: Scattered. Users: 900 in Singapore (1985). Ethnic population: 28,000 (2018 J. Leclerc). Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Basa Mathura, Madhura, Madurese Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Madurese
Malay zlm: Users: 602,000 in Singapore (2016 census). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Colloquial Malay, Local Malay, Malayu Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Malayo-Chamic, Malayic, Malay
Malay, Baba mbf: Mainly Kallang district, near city center; Geylang and Jao Chiat districts. Users: 10,000 in Singapore (Pakir 1986). Ethnic population: 250,000 (1986). Total users in all countries: 12,000. Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Baba, Chinese Malay, Low Malay, Straits Malay Autonym: Peranakan Classification: Creole, Malay based
Malay, Standard zsm: Widespread. Users: Few L1 speakers. L2 speakers include ethnic Malays and some others, particularly the older generation. Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1963, Constitution, Article 153A(2)), not dominant despite status. Alternate Names: Bahasa Malaysia, Formal Malay, Malay, Malayu, Melayu, Melayu Baku Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Malayo-Chamic, Malayic, Malay
Malayalam mal: Scattered. Users: 26,300 in Singapore (2010 census). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Alealum, Malayal, Malayalani, Malean, Maliyad, Mallealle, Mopla Classification: Dravidian, Southern, Tamil-Kannada, Tamil-Kodagu, Tamil-Malayalam, Malayalam
Musi mui: Users: 11,000 in Singapore (2018 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Malayo-Chamic, Malayic, Malay
Orang Seletar ors: North-Eastern Islands district, Johor strait area; scattered elsewhere. Users: 1,200 in Singapore (2018 J. Leclerc). Status: 8a (Moribund). Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Malayo-Chamic, Malayic, Malay
Punjabi, Eastern pan: Scattered. Users: 5,670 in Singapore (2010 census). Ethnic population: 25,000 (2018 J. Leclerc). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Eastern Panjabi Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Panjabi
Sindhi snd: Scattered. Users: 3,970 in Singapore (2010 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Northwestern, Sindhi
Singapore Sign Language sls: Scattered. Users: 6,000 (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated signing deaf, assuming 0.1% of total population. Very few monolinguals. Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: SGSL, SgSL Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Sinhala sin: Scattered. Users: 3,140 in Singapore (2010 census). Ethnic population: 16,000 (2018 J. Leclerc). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Chingalese, Singhalese, Sinhalese Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Southern, Sinhalese-Maldivian
Tagalog tgl: Users: 155,000 in Singapore (2018 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Greater Central Philippine, Central Philippine, Tagalog
Tamil tam: Users: 186,000 in Singapore (2016 census). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national working language (1963, Constitution (amended), Article 153A(1)). Classification: Dravidian, Southern, Tamil-Kannada, Tamil-Kodagu, Tamil-Malayalam, Tamil
Telugu tel: Scattered. Users: 800 in Singapore (2018 J. Leclerc). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Dravidian, South-Central, Telugu
Thai tha: Users: 5,650 in Singapore (2010 census). Ethnic population: 46,000 (2018 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Kra-Dai, Kam-Tai, Tai, Southwestern
Urdu urd: Users: 3,000 in Singapore (2010 R. Jain). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Western Hindi, Hindustani

Languages by Status

1 (National)

Chinese, Mandarin

[cmn] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1963, Constitution (amended), Article 153A(1)). 2,840,000 in Singapore, all users. L1 users: 1,960,000 in Singapore (2016 census). L2 users: 880,000.

Tamil

[tam] 1 (National). Statutory national working language (1963, Constitution (amended), Article 153A(1)). 186,000 in Singapore (2016 census).

Malay, Standard

[zsm] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1963, Constitution, Article 153A(2)), not dominant despite status. Few L1 speakers. L2 speakers include ethnic Malays and some others, particularly the older generation.

English

[eng] 1 (National). Statutory national working language (1963, Constitution (amended), Article 153A(1)). 2,355,000 in Singapore, all users. L1 users: 215,000 in Singapore (2018 J. Leclerc). L2 users: 2,140,000 (2019 World Factbook).

5 (Dispersed)

Gujarati

[guj] 5* (Dispersed). 4,120 in Singapore (2010 census).

Hindi

[hin] 5* (Dispersed). 50,000 in Singapore (2017 The Straits Times), all users. L1 users: 13,100 (2010 census).

Sindhi

[snd] 5* (Dispersed). 3,970 in Singapore (2010 census).

Telugu

[tel] 5* (Dispersed). 800 in Singapore (2018 J. Leclerc).

Chinese, Yue

[yue] 5* (Dispersed). 227,000 in Singapore (2015 World Factbook). Ethnic population: 409,000 (2010 census).

5 (Developing)

Chinese, Min Dong

[cdo] 5* (Developing). 56,000 in Singapore (2018 J. Leclerc). Ethnic population: 70,800 (2010 census).

Chinese, Pu-Xian

[cpx] 5* (Developing). 27,000 in Singapore (2018 J. Leclerc). Ethnic population: 25,600 (2010 census).

Singapore Sign Language

[sls] 5 (Developing). 6,000 (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated signing deaf, assuming 0.1% of total population. Very few monolinguals.

Malay

[zlm] 5* (Developing). 602,000 in Singapore (2016 census).

6b (Threatened)

Bengali

[ben] 6b* (Threatened). 76,000 in Singapore (2018 J. Leclerc).

Chinese, Hakka

[hak] 6b* (Threatened). 233,000 in Singapore (2010 census).

Malayalam

[mal] 6b* (Threatened). 26,300 in Singapore (2010 census).

Chinese, Min Bei

[mnp] 6b* (Threatened). 18,000 in Singapore (2018 J. Leclerc).

Punjabi, Eastern

[pan] 6b* (Threatened). 5,670 in Singapore (2010 census). Ethnic population: 25,000 (2018 J. Leclerc).

Sinhala

[sin] 6b* (Threatened). 3,140 in Singapore (2010 census). Ethnic population: 16,000 (2018 J. Leclerc).

7 (Shifting)

Javanese

[jav] 7 (Shifting). 35,500 in Singapore (2004 J. Leclerc). Ethnic population: 88,600 (2010 census).

Madura

[mad] 7 (Shifting). 900 in Singapore (1985). Ethnic population: 28,000 (2018 J. Leclerc).

8a (Moribund)

Malay, Baba

[mbf] 8a (Moribund). 10,000 in Singapore (Pakir 1986). Ethnic population: 250,000 (1986). Total users in all countries: 12,000.

Orang Seletar

[ors] 8a (Moribund). 1,200 in Singapore (2018 J. Leclerc).

Language Vitality Profile

Click to enlarge with explanation

Language Status Profile