Written Answer by MND on ethnic breakdown for all HDB neighbourhoods in percentage terms on an annual basis from 1989 at 31 December each year to date

Jul 26, 2021


Mr Pritam Singh: To ask the Minister for National Development with regard to the HDB Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP) (a) what is the ethnic breakdown for all HDB neighbourhoods in percentage terms on an annual basis from 1989 at 31 December each year to date, including the population size of each neighbourhood as at the same date; (b) how many blocks in each neighbourhood surpassed the EIP limits for at least one race at any given year from 1989; and (c) since 1989, how many times has HDB purchased a flat affected by the EIP at the flat’s posted price, market price or valuation price.

Answer: 

In view of the large number of HDB blocks and neighbourhoods, and the long time period involved, we have provided aggregated statistics at five-yearly intervals for the number of HDB neighbourhoods and blocks affected by the Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP) limits. Please see Tables 1 and 2 for details. 

Table 1: Number and proportion of neighbourhoods (NHs) where at least one EIP limit was reached 

Table 1: Number and proportion of neighbourhoods (NHs) where at least one EIP limit was reached
* The total number of EIP-affected neighbourhoods may be smaller than the sum of the neighbourhoods affected by the Chinese, Malay, and Indian/Others limits as some neighbourhoods were affected by more than one EIP limit.



Table 2: Number and proportion of blocks where at least one EIP limit was reached

Table 2: Number and proportion of blocks where at least one EIP limit was reached
^ These blocks had reached at least one EIP limit at the neighbourhood level, block level or both levels.


Until 2000, HDB accepted the voluntary surrender of flats for any reason. Flat owners who chose to surrender their flats to HDB were not required to indicate a reason for doing so, and HDB did not track if surrendered flats were affected by the EIP limits. After 2000, as the resale market had become more developed and sellers had more options for sale on the resale market, HDB stopped accepting the voluntary surrender of flats that are eligible to be sold on the open market.