Bukit Merah
A mix of old-school heartland and rapidly gentrifying pockets like Tiong Bahru.
Central-South · Singapore's oldest-skewing population
- total resident population
- 151,250 (2020 census)
- HDB-resident population
- 124,950 (Bukit Merah, as at 31 Mar 2025 — HDB-resident population only, per HDB Annual Report)
- housing mix
- HDB 53,875 · Condo/apt 5,429 · Landed 190 (of 59,700 total households, 2020 census)
2020 census, most recent full breakdown
31 Mar 2025, HDB Annual Report — most recent available, but counts HDB residents only, not private property
2020 census
Singapore only publishes a full per-area population breakdown every 10 years at the census. The HDB figure above is the most recent official update available, but it only covers HDB residents — it can't be directly compared to the total population figure.
What it's like to live here
Bukit Merah is two neighbourhoods in one — old-school heartland blocks alongside Tiong Bahru, which has become one of the most gentrified pockets in Singapore, full of cafés in art deco shophouses.
Who it suits
Buyers chasing Tiong Bahru's lifestyle premium specifically. Downsizers and retirees drawn to the area's established amenities and slower pace elsewhere in the planning area. Less suited to large families needing bigger floor plans in the older blocks.
Popular schools
Primary
- Gan Eng Seng Primary School
- Radin Mas Primary School
Secondary
- Gan Eng Seng School
- Bukit Merah Secondary School
Must-try food
- Tiong Bahru Market & Food Centre — Jian Bo Shui Kueh, Tow Kwar Pop (Michelin Bib Gourmand)
- ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre
Nature spots
- Mount Faber Park
- Southern Ridges (HortPark to Telok Blangah Hill Park)
Interesting fact
Bukit Merah has Singapore's oldest-skewing population of any planning area — roughly 2 in 10 residents are aged 60 or above, well above the national average.
MG's honest take
"Tiong Bahru gets all the Instagram attention, but the rest of Bukit Merah is where I send clients who actually want value."
Thinking about Bukit Merah? Let's talk through whether it actually fits what you need.
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