Singaporeans Who Do Not Have a SingPass Account
Prime Minister's OfficeSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the adoption rates of SingPass among Singaporeans, particularly seniors, and registration options for those without digital devices. Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin and Dr Tan Wu Meng inquired about the proportion of residents lacking accounts and the demographic breakdown of SingPass usage. Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean replied that 96% of eligible residents and nearly 90% of seniors have accounts, with 69% of these seniors being active users. He noted that residents can register via the website, physical counters, or CitizenConnect Centres, while the SG Digital Office provides digital skills training. To improve inclusiveness, the Government also offers the Mobile Access for Seniors scheme to provide subsidized smartphones and mobile plans for low-income seniors.
Transcript
3 Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin asked the Prime Minister (a) what percentage of seniors aged 65 and above do not have a SingPass account; and (b) whether the Smart Nation Digital Government Office will be exploring ways to allow seniors without a computer or smartphone to register for SingPass without having to physically register at a counter.
4 Dr Tan Wu Meng asked the Prime Minister what is the (i) number and (ii) proportion of Singaporeans who do not have an active SingPass account, broken down by age group.
Mr Teo Chee Hean (for the Prime Minister): All Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents aged 15 years old and above are eligible for a SingPass account. Of these 3.6 million eligible Singapore Residents, 3.45 million (or about 96%) have a SingPass account.
Among seniors aged 65 and above, close to 90% have SingPass accounts, up from approximately 80% in 2017. Among seniors with SingPass accounts, 69% are active SingPass users who have used the account in the past 12 months. The adoption of SingPass by age groups is at Table 1.
Eligible residents may set up a SingPas account via the SingPass website or at any of the 45 SingPass counters located at Community Centres/Clubs and selected Government agencies island-wide. Seniors without computing devices can also access the SingPass website and register for SingPass via the CitizenConnect Centres (CCC+) located at the Public Service Centre @ Our Tampines Hub and 25 Community Centres/Clubs.
Our goal is an inclusive Smart Nation that enables all to benefit from technology. To achieve this, the Government has several initiatives to improve digital inclusiveness. The SG Digital Office is supporting seniors to pick up digital skills, including the use of SingPass Mobile for Government digital services. Low income seniors may also approach the SG Digital community hubs to apply for support under the Mobile Access for Seniors scheme, which offers eligible seniors a subsidised smartphone and mobile plan.
