Age Group Trend

Visualization

When exploring age group trends in Singapore, the data may not always uncover hidden complexities or revolutionary insights, but it still tells an important story. Each year, the shifts in population across different age brackets provide a snapshot of how the country’s demographics are evolving. These changes, while often subtle, highlight long-term trends that can influence various aspects of society, from public policy to resource allocation.

In this analysis, we focus specifically on the annual changes in age group distribution. Using straightforward visualizations, such as animations and river plots, we provide an accessible view of how the population is shifting year by year. While this data alone may not answer every question about Singapore’s demographic future, it serves as a valuable starting point for understanding the gradual changes occurring in the population structure.

The animations, for instance, illustrate the pace at which certain age groups are growing or shrinking over time, making it easier to grasp the flow of demographic change. Similarly, the river plot visually tracks the continuous movement of the population across age categories, emphasizing the transitions that may be less apparent in static figures. Together, these visuals offer a clear, year-by-year breakdown of Singapore’s evolving population landscape.

Sources

2 original datasets

Combination of divorce duration data and marriage count data from UK's office for national statistics.

Click the image on the right for the edited dataset that is a reformat of the source datasets for the plot.

Tracing the Shifts

River of Singapore’s Age Groups from 1957 to 2023

The river plot showcases the flow of Singapore’s population across five-year age brackets from 1957 to 2023. Each layer represents an age group, allowing you to visually track how these cohorts have expanded, contracted, and shifted over time.

While the numbers themselves tell a simple story of growth and aging, the river plot captures the continuity of these changes, demonstrating how demographic bulges move through the timeline. For instance, the post-war baby boom is evident in the widening bands of the younger age groups in the earlier decades, only to taper off as they age into the middle and older brackets.

This visualization doesn't reveal hidden insights but offers a compelling way to observe the gradual evolution of Singapore’s population structure over the years. With each year that passes, the ripple effect of aging becomes more pronounced, giving a clear picture of how a nation’s population distribution transforms over time.

Main takeaway

Rising Median Age in Singapore’s Population

One of the most striking trends observed in this animation is the clear shift in the median age group. In 1957, the population was largely concentrated in the youngest bracket, with 0-4 years being the dominant age group. However, over the years, this has steadily changed. By 2023, the median age group has shifted to 30-34 years, reflecting the aging of Singapore’s population.

This upward shift in the median age highlights a broader demographic trend—fewer births and a growing proportion of older adults. As the population ages, the center of demographic gravity continues to move upward, with younger age groups no longer as dominant as they once were. This animation allows us to visualize this transformation year by year, making the gradual rise in the median age both clear and accessible.

Age Group Trend

Sources

Tracing the Shifts

Main takeaway

Stat Skim

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