Singapore Ethnics

Singapore comprises of difference ethnics constitute to a peaceful country as one nationality and one nation. All the ethnics here called themselves Singaporean. Most of the Singapore ethnics are Chinese, Indian, and Malay.

Chinese Ethnic

Chinese Singaporeans are people of Chinese ethnicity who hold Singaporean nationality. Chinese Singaporeans constitute 74% of Singapore’s resident population, or approximately three out of four Singaporeans, making them the largest ethnic group in Singapore. Outside Greater China, Singapore is the only country in the world where ethnic Chinese constitute a majority of the population and is also home to one largest Overseas Chinese communities in the world.  Ethnic Chinese in Singapore tend to identify themselves primarily as Singaporeans Chinese.

Chinese Singapore are  belong to several linguistic-cultural groups, originating from mainly the southern parts of China, predominantly from Fujian, Guangdong and Hainan province. The Hokkiens, Teochews and Cantonese jointly form more than three-quarters of the Chinese population. The Hakka, Hainanese and other groups account for the rest.  These are generally the descendants of the migrants from southern China during the 19th and early half of 20th century (first and second wave of migration) and are typically known as “local Singaporean Chinese” . The 1990s and early 21st century saw Singapore experiencing a third wave of new Chinese migration from different parts of China as Singapore government open the door to China migrant as a effort to enter China market.

Indian Ethnic

Indian Singaporean form 9% of the country’s citizens and permanent residents, making them Singapore’s third largest ethnic group after Chinese and Malays. Among counties, Singapore has one of the largest overseas Indian populations.

The mass migration of Indians to the island began with the founding of modern Singapore by the British Stafford Raffles in 1819. Initially, the Indian population was transient, mainly comprising young men who came as workers, soldiers and convicts. By the mid-20th century, a settled community had emerged, with a more balanced gender ratio and a better spread of agegroups. Indian Singaporean population is notable for its class stratification, with large elite and low income groups. This has grown more visible since the 1990s with an influx of both well-educated and unskilled migrants from India.

Indian Singaporean are linguistically and religiously diverse, with ethnic Tamils and nominal Hindus forming majorities. Indian culture has endured and evolved and diffused within a broader Singaporean culture. Prominent Indian Singaporean individuals have  made a mark in Singapore as leaders of various fields in national life. Indians are well represented in areas such as politics, education, diplomacy and the law.

Malay Ethnic

Malay Singaporean is the second largest population in Singapore. Although Malays have inhabited in Singapore since the 17th century as a native, most of the Malay Singaporean today are immigrants from Indonesia and Malaysia since 1945 and their descendents.From the 19th century until World War II, Malays enjoyed favorable treatment and disproportionate employment to British colonial governmental posts. This was causes to sharp  increase in the Malay population by immigration to Singapore from Java, Sumatra, and the Malay Peninsula.

Since independence, Malays Singaporean have experienced a decline in socioeconomic status, mainly because of lack of English language competency, but Malay Singaporean have benefit from special constitutional protection and affirmative action policies.

Most of  Malay Singaporean are Sunni Muslims whose religion are Islam. They pray to God, which is Allah swt in their religion, five times a day, and eat only halal food and fast during Ramadan.  Hari Raya Puasa is celebrated at the end of Ramadan, the fasting month of Ramadan. After morning prayers in the mosque, Malays  invite friends home to enjoy the feast together.