A new study by the Singapore government found that more people than ever are using English as their main language at home. This trend is true across all major ethnic groups and age ranges, though it's most pronounced among younger and more educated individuals.
Key Findings:
- English usage: Nearly half (48.3%) of residents over 5 now speak English most often at home, up from 32.3% in 2010.
- Ethnic groups: English use increased for all major groups, with Mandarin and Chinese dialects decreasing.
- Age: Younger residents are more likely to use English than older ones.
- Education: People with higher education are more likely to use English at home.
- Chinese: English use rose from 32.6% in 2010 to 47.6% in 2020, surpassing Mandarin (40.2%).
- Malay: English use rose from 17% to 39%, though Malay remains dominant (60.7%).
- Indian: English use rose from 41.6% to 59.2%.
Overall, the study suggests that English is becoming increasingly important in Singaporean homes, reflecting the country's multicultural society and globalized economy.
The study also found that most English speakers at home still use another language as well, often a "vernacular" language like Mandarin or Malay.
