The 2025 data from the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) tells the story of a resilient, evolving economy. After years of post-pandemic stabilization, Singapore saw a definitive return to growth in 2025, with 77,579 new registrations—an 8.5% increase year-on-year.
But headline numbers only tell half the story.
Our analysis of over 2 million company records—combining ACRA’s official database with cross-referenced data from CompaniesHouse.sg and industry classification data from SSICData.com—reveals a distinct “Flight to Quality.” While volume is up, the nature of these companies is changing. We are seeing a surge in asset-holding structures and IP-heavy sectors, a decoupling of operations from the CBD, and a distinct “survival gap” between industries.
This report breaks down the state of incorporation in Singapore for investors, policy watchers, and founders.
Quick Facts at a Glance
- 213 new companies registered every single day
- 49% of companies survive past 5 years
- Tuesday is the most popular day to incorporate (18.9%)
- 31% of all registrations come from just 5 industries
- 23% of companies use virtual office addresses
- Co-working offices have the highest survival rate (58%) — beating both virtual and dedicated offices
1. Annual Velocity: A Decade of Growth
2025 broke the 77,000 mark—the highest volume in the last decade. After relatively flat growth from 2015-2019, the momentum shifted dramatically post-pandemic.
| Year | Registrations | YoY Change | 5-Year Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 63,480 | +3.1% | 313,901 |
| 2021 | 65,150 | +2.6% | 314,120 |
| 2022 | 63,991 | -1.8% | 315,998 |
| 2023 | 70,159 | +9.6% | 324,353 |
| 2024 | 71,516 | +1.9% | 334,296 |
| 2025 | 77,579 | +8.5% | 348,395 |
“Singapore registered 77,579 new companies in 2025—that’s 213 new businesses every single day, or roughly 9 companies being incorporated every hour.”
2. The December Anomaly
While growth was steady throughout Q1-Q3, the year ended with a massive outlier event. December 2025 saw 6,233 new registrations—a stunning 43.5% increase over December 2024.
This year-end surge suggests aggressive fiscal planning and corporate restructuring ahead of the 2026 tax year, likely driven by Global Minimum Tax (GMT) considerations for multinational groups.
Monthly Seasonality (2024 vs 2025)
| Month | 2024 | 2025 | YoY Variance |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6,444 | 5,948 | -7.7% |
| February | 5,061 | 5,919 | +17.0% |
| August (Peak) | 6,421 | 7,140 | +11.2% |
| December | 5,338 | 6,233 | +43.5% |
Key insight: The typical December “slump” did not happen in 2025. Instead, Q4 momentum accelerated—a signal of strategic year-end positioning.
3. Industry Analysis: The “Net Retention” Index
For the first time, we introduce the Net Retention Index—a metric that looks at the 2025 cohort and subtracts companies struck off within the same year. This filters out “burn and churn” businesses to reveal true economic value.
Top 10 Industries by Volume (2025)
| Industry (SSIC) | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wholesale Trade (46900) | 6,614 | 6,830 | 7,587 | +11.1% |
| Holding Companies (64202) | 5,023 | 4,928 | 5,848 | +18.7% |
| Management Consulting (70201) | 6,213 | 5,751 | 5,809 | +1.0% |
| Software Development (62011) | 3,693 | 3,446 | 3,571 | +3.6% |
| IT Consultancy (62021) | 1,570 | 1,541 | 1,619 | +5.1% |
| Data Processing (63201) | 1,256 | 1,382 | 1,365 | -1.2% |
| Restaurants (56111) | 1,148 | 1,176 | 1,223 | +4.0% |
| Freight Transport by Sea (50021) | 461 | 551 | 757 | +37.4% |
| Freight Forwarding (52292) | 369 | 354 | 683 | +92.9% |
Key Strategic Movements
- Holding Companies (64202) grew by 18.7% with a near-perfect 99.2% retention rate. This confirms Singapore’s status as the preferred “safe deposit box” for Asian assets.
- Freight & Logistics saw explosive growth—freight forwarding up 92.9%, sea transport up 37.4%. Supply chain restructuring continues post-pandemic.
- Tech sector (software + IT consulting) remains strong with 5,190 combined registrations, though growth is moderating.
4. Survival Analysis: The “Kill Zone”
For investors, the most sobering data comes from our 5-year cohort analysis. We tracked companies registered in 2020 to see their status today.
The Reality: Only 49.0% of companies registered in 2020 are still active after 6 years.
| Reg Year | Age (Years) | Total Registered | Still Active | Struck Off | Survival Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 6 | 63,480 | 31,127 | 19,132 | 49.0% |
| 2021 | 5 | 65,150 | 35,579 | 17,341 | 54.6% |
| 2022 | 4 | 63,991 | 39,936 | 13,828 | 62.4% |
| 2023 | 3 | 70,159 | 51,977 | 10,465 | 74.1% |
| 2024 | 2 | 71,516 | 60,051 | 4,944 | 84.0% |
| 2025 | 1 | 77,579 | 75,982 | 951 | 97.9% |
Note: A 49% survival rate after 6 years is actually typical for small businesses globally. The US Small Business Administration reports similar rates.
Industry Survival: Winners and Losers
Not all industries face the same risks. The difference between the “safest” and “riskiest” sectors is drastic.
Highest Survival Rates
- Fund Management: 76.5%
- Freight Transport (Sea): 73.4%
- Construction: 71.6%
- Holding Companies: 70.4%
- Medical Clinics: 68.3%
Lowest Survival Rates
- Retail – Clothing: 22.6%
- Private Hire Cars: 25.9%
- Courier Services: 26.9%
- Mobile Phone Repair: 28.4%
- Beauty & Spa: 31.4%
What This Means: High survival industries tend to have higher barriers to entry, require more capital, or serve B2B markets. Low survival industries typically have low barriers to entry and face intense competition—retail clothing (22.6% survival) and gig-economy services see high turnover as individuals try entrepreneurship with limited capital.
5. Geographic Distribution: Decentralization is Here
The data busts the myth that you need a CBD address to be a “real” Singapore company. In 2025, 83% of new companies registered outside the traditional CBD core.
While Raffles Place remains the HQ for Finance and Holding Companies, operational businesses are clustering in specific decentralized hubs:
- Geylang/Kallang: The new darling for SMEs and Tech Startups (11.6%)
- Tampines/Pasir Ris: The Logistics & Trade hub (6.4%)
- Jurong West: The Industrial & Manufacturing center (6.1%)
- Yishun/Sembawang: Growing residential-commercial mix (6.0%)
Virtual Office Reality Check
A significant finding from our geographic analysis: 23% of all companies use virtual office addresses—locations that host 100+ companies at the same address. These are typically corporate service providers offering registered address services.
We identified 465 virtual office addresses in Singapore, and analyzed the survival correlation:
| Address Type | Definition | 5-Year Survival (2020 Cohort) |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Office | 100+ companies at same address | 49.5% |
| Shared Office | 10-99 companies (co-working) | 58.4% |
| Dedicated Office | <10 companies | 46.6% |
Surprising insight: Companies at shared offices (co-working spaces) have the highest survival rate at 58.4%—outperforming both virtual office users and those with dedicated addresses. This may reflect that growth-stage startups with funding often choose co-working spaces, while dedicated addresses include many home-based businesses with higher failure rates.Top 5 Virtual Office Addresses
Note: Virtual office usage is common and legitimate. Many entrepreneurs use them to reduce costs or maintain privacy. The variance in survival rates (45% to 99%) across providers suggests that service quality and client screening differ significantly.
6. The “Tuesday Effect” and Operational Insights
If you felt like business picked up on Tuesdays, you were right. Tuesday is the busiest day for new registrations (18.9%), while weekends remain quiet (combined 10.3%).
| Day | Registrations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 13,668 | 17.6% |
| Tuesday | 14,646 | 18.9% |
| Wednesday | 14,275 | 18.4% |
| Thursday | 13,682 | 17.6% |
| Friday | 13,335 | 17.2% |
| Saturday | 4,258 | 5.5% |
| Sunday | 3,715 | 4.8% |
This pattern suggests corporate secretarial firms batch-process applications early in the week.
7. Company Naming Trends: What Founders Are Thinking
The most frequently used words in 2025 company names (excluding generic terms like PTE, LTD, Singapore) reveal market sentiment:
| Rank | Word | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ENGINEERING | 1,092 | 1,083 | 1,124 | Stable |
| 2 | STUDIO | 698 | 690 | 947 | +37% Rising |
| 3 | LOGISTICS | 438 | 435 | 935 | +115% Rising |
| 4 | CONSULTANCY | 804 | 746 | 691 | Declining |
| 5 | BEAUTY | 540 | 543 | 649 | +20% Rising |
| 6 | CONSTRUCTION | 562 | 573 | 621 | Stable |
| 7 | VENTURES | 496 | 576 | 614 | Stable |
| 8 | ADVISORY | 299 | 336 | 564 | +68% Rising |
Key observations:
- “STUDIO” (+37%) — Sharp rise in creative/digital agencies and boutique practices
- “LOGISTICS” (+115%) — Reflecting the e-commerce supply chain boom
- “ADVISORY” (+68%) — Professional services demand growing
- “CONSULTANCY” declining — Being replaced by more specific terms
8. The “Lucky Number” Myth
In Singapore’s business culture, auspicious numbers carry significance. Some entrepreneurs pay premium prices to secure UENs with lucky number sequences like 88888, 66666, or 12345.
We tracked 64 companies that purchased premium UENs between 2020-2025.
Result: 9% (6 of 64) of these “Lucky” companies have already failed or are being struck off.
Notable failures include:
- 202088888K — EVERYWHERE INC PTE. LTD. — Struck Off
- 202188888N — COVENANT PROJECT MANAGEMENT — Struck Off
- 202177777C — LUCIFER SERVICES PTE. LTD. — Struck Off
Verdict: While a premium UEN looks impressive on a business card, it offers zero statistical advantage in survival. Perhaps lucky numbers don’t guarantee business success after all!
9. Key Takeaways and Opportunities for 2026
For Entrepreneurs
- Timing matters: Consider registering mid-week (Tuesday-Wednesday) for smoother processing
- Industry choice impacts survival: High-barrier industries show 70%+ survival rates vs 22-30% for low-barrier retail/services
- The 3-year mark is critical: Most business failures occur in the first 3 years—plan your runway accordingly
Strategic Recommendations
- Structure for IP, Not Labor: The data signals Singapore is shedding its low-cost back-office role. Use Singapore entities to hold Software, Brands, and Regionally Distributed Assets.
- The Holding Company Advantage: With a 99.2% retention rate and 70% 5-year survival rate, the Investment Holding Company (64202) is the most resilient business structure in the country.
- Address Strategy: Unless you are in Finance, look to Geylang/Kallang or Tampines. The clustering data shows robust ecosystems with lower rent and better logistical access than Raffles Place.
- The Co-Working Advantage: Companies at shared office spaces (co-working) show 58% 5-year survival—higher than both virtual offices (50%) and dedicated offices (47%). If you’re starting out, a co-working space may provide both cost efficiency and ecosystem benefits.
Market Trends to Watch
- Logistics boom: Freight forwarding registrations up 92.9%—supply chain restructuring continues
- Holding company surge: Up 18.7% YoY—more corporate structuring activity ahead of GMT
- Advisory services rising: “Advisory” in company names up 68%—professional services demand growing
- Studio culture: “Studio” naming up 37%—creative and boutique businesses on the rise
Interactive Data Charts
The charts below are generated live from the 2025 ACRA dataset.
Data Sources: ACRA Information on Corporate Entities via data.gov.sg | CompaniesHouse.sg | SSICData.com
Analysis covers 2,060,838 companies from 2015-2025
Generated: February 2026
