Elderly residents aged 65 years and above made up 8.4 percent of the 3.553 million resident population comprising citizens and permanent residents in 2005, up from 7.3 percent in 2000.

More younger Singaporeans are also delaying marriage, and having children.

Men with no secondary school education have the highest tendency to stay single.

While women who are university graduates have the fewest children - just 1.9 compared to 2.3 for those less educated.

In general, more married women now prefer to stay childless or have just one child.

The survey found that Singaporeans across all races are better educated and qualified compared to 5 years ago.

And there was an increase in the use of English at home, all round.

29 percent of Chinese homes now speak English at home, compared to 24 percent in 2000,

The proportion also rose from 7.9 to 13 percent among Malay homes, and 36 to 39 percent among the Indians.

The use of Chinese dialects at home dropped from 31 to 24 percent, and almost half - 47 percent, up from 45 percent in 2000 - of Chinese families now speak Mandarin at home.

However, Singaporeans worked longer hours than years ago, up from 47.9 working hours a week to 48.4 in 2005.

And more people kept a 60-hour work week.

Last year, 24 percent of men worked 60 hours or more, while 12% of women did so. - CNA /dt

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