MINDEF - Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Singapore

02/12/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 02/12/2026 05:55

Written Reply by Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing on the Ten-Year Breakdown of Full-Time National Servicemen Numbers on 12 Feb 2026

Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat asked the Coordinating Minister for Public Services and Minister for Defence (a) how many Full-time National Servicemen were enlisted in each of the last 10 years, broken down by the SAF, SPF, and SCDF; and (b) in each of those years, how many Full-time National Servicemen were serving in their second year of national service.

Coordinating Minister for Public Services and Minister for Defence, Mr Chan Chun Sing:

As the enlistment numbers vary from year-to-year, it is more meaningful to compare them over longer time periods, as follows.

Full-Time National Servicemen Enlisted

(Rounded to the nearest 100)

Annual Average

(2016 to 2020)

Annual Average

(2021 to 2025)

Full-Time National Servicemen

Enlisted to the SAF

19,100

17,300

Full-Time National Servicemen

Enlisted to the SPF

2,400

2,200

Full-Time National Servicemen

Enlisted to the SCDF

1,900

1,800

The percentage of enlistees who progress to complete their two-year term has consistently exceeded 95%. The small numbers who are unable to complete the two-year term are mostly due to medical reasons.

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