Singapore
Singapore
UMR Index Rank
#3
(+3)
Score: 66%
Sustainable Mobility
#22
(-11)
Score: 58.9%
Public Transit
#1
(+2)
Score: 74.2%
Technology Adoption
#6
Score: 59.6%
| Population | 6.0 million |
| Surface area (km2) | 523 |
| Population-density (people/km2) | 11,515 |
| GDP per capita ($) | 82,808 |
UMR Index Rank
#3
(+3)
Score: 66%
Sustainable Mobility
#22
(-11)
Score: 58.9%
Public Transit
#1
(+2)
Score: 74.2%
Technology Adoption
#6
Score: 59.6%
What Singapore Does Well In Urban Mobility
Singapore ranks third in this edition of the Urban Mobility Readiness Index and tops the sub-index for Public Transit.
The city’s public transit system is world class, offering a diverse selection of modes, affordable fares, fast commute times, and stations within easy walking distance for residents. And Singapore aims to further improve accessibility: As part of its “45-minute city” plan, the city- state is investing in an expanded rail network that would put 80% of households within 10 minutes of a station by 2030. Singapore also does well on autonomous vehicles, having conducted tests and pilots since the early 2020s in areas such as the one-north technology cluster and the resort island of Sentosa, with an aim at future citywide deployment. Private operators are also intending to launch autonomous shuttle services in 2024.
With a relatively low car ownership rate and a leading traffic management approach, Singapore has comparatively little congestion. Low car ownership is in part due to expensive licenses, called Certificates of Entitlement, which residents must purchase via a bidding process and can cost more than SG$100,000 ($75,000) in 2024.
Urban Mobility Readiness Index, Sustainable Mobility, Public Transit, and Technology Adoption scores
Source: Oliver Wyman Forum and University of California, Berkeley
Challenges And Opportunities For Singapore’s Transportation System
Similar to many Southeast Asian cities, Singapore lags in electric vehicle (EV) charging station density and EV market share in sales. Despite year-on-year improvements, EV market share in sales in Singapore is less than half the market share in Shanghai. In recent years the city-state has taken measures to improve its EV infrastructure, including installing more than 600 public charging points in 2022. Expansion of the charging network continues, including investments in both slow and fast charging infrastructure. Singapore also offers discounted car ownership permits for EVs as part of a plan to phase out sales of internal combustion engine vehicles by 2030.
Few residents opt for walking or biking in their day-to-day transit, and the city-state remains wary of e-scooters, which have been restricted to cycling paths since late 2019 and must be registered with the Land Transport Authority. However, Singapore’s “Friendly Streets” initiative aims to repurpose some roads to accommodate more cyclists and pedestrians, including by building wider footpaths and barrier-free crossings.
Dimensions of the Urban Mobility Readiness Index score
Source: Oliver Wyman Forum and University of California, Berkeley
How Singapore Can Improve Its Urban Mobility Performance
While Singapore has strong public transit ridership and low car ownership, it has yet to embrace cycling and walking. The hot and humid climate understandably discourages active mobility, but the government can do more to encourage e-bikes. It can support bike- sharing companies, invest more in bike-sharing stations, and encourage consumer use with public awareness campaigns. Additionally, the city can focus on improving its pedestrian and cycling infrastructure by building dedicated and connected lanes on popular roadways. Previously mentioned plans to build more cycling infrastructure show progress, but further efforts can increase the appeal of active mobility measures.
Singapore also can do more on electrification. While efforts to expand EV charging infrastructure demonstrate progress, the network is still developing. The city also can increase government-backed investments in public charging stations. Singapore already offers co-funding for home installation of EV charging stations, but this support is limited to a maximum of 2,000 chargers or the end of 2025, whichever comes earlier. Extending the existing co-funding support can help Singapore improve further. The city also can consider more direct EV incentives to help boost electric market share in sales.
Urban Mobility Readiness Index relative ranking evolution (2020-2024)
Source: Oliver Wyman Forum and University of California, Berkeley