What this lesson teaches
I can explain how nationality shapes people's identities and adds to diversity in society.
Syllabus K230, Issue 2, Guiding Question 1. Nationality
Make a guess
A girl was born in Singapore and lives here, but she holds only British citizenship. What do you think her nationality is?
- Singaporean, because she lives here and speaks like a local Singaporean.
- British, because nationality is a legal link through holding citizenship.
- Singaporean, because she was born in Singapore.
Show the answer
British, because nationality is a legal link through holding citizenship.
Nationality is a legal status. Being born or living somewhere does not by itself make you a citizen.
Nationality is your legal link to a country, usually through citizenship. It is not the same as ethnicity, birthplace or where you live.
Nationality is a legal link to a country, usually through citizenship. It connects people through rights and duties, national institutions and shared experiences such as National Day. Learning a country's history or joining national events can also build belonging. One nationality can include many ethnic and religious groups.
Nationality is different from birthplace and from where you live. Someone can live abroad and keep their nationality, or live in a country without being its citizen. Being born somewhere does not tell you a person's nationality now. Use evidence of citizenship, not guesses from a name, accent, food or appearance.
National identity is also a feeling about your connection to a country. People with the same nationality can feel that connection differently, keep different traditions and disagree about public issues. Legal status and personal belonging are linked, but one does not fully describe the other.
New citizens show how one nationality includes people from many places. In 2018, 198 new citizens from more than ten countries received their citizenship at one ceremony for West Coast and Pioneer. A programme called the Singapore Citizenship Journey helps new citizens learn Singapore's history and cultures, and meet people in the community. Shared duties also link citizens: male citizens and second-generation permanent residents serve National Service from age 18.
- Nationality
- A legal link to a country, usually citizenship.
- Not the same as
- Ethnicity, birthplace or current home.
- National identity
- A feeling of connection to the country.
Real examples to use
National Citizenship Ceremony, 2018
A ministry speech welcomed 198 new citizens from West Coast and Pioneer who came from more than ten countries. Use it to show one nationality bringing together people of many origins.
Singapore Citizenship Journey
A programme for new citizens covering Singapore's history and cultures, with chances to meet the community. Use it to show legal status supported by efforts to build belonging.
Worked example: Birthplace, home and citizenship
Ravi was born in India and later became a Singapore citizen. His colleague Ben was born in Singapore but is a British citizen living here. Both say their neighbourhood feels like home.
- Ravi's birthplace and nationality differ.
- Ben lives in Singapore but has British nationality.
- Both feel they belong, which is separate from legal status. We are not told their ethnicity or religion, so we should not guess them from their names or birthplaces.
Watch out for this
You can tell someone's nationality from their birthplace, accent or favourite food.
Nationality is a legal status. Only legal evidence, such as citizenship, shows it.
Check your understanding
Mei is ethnically Chinese and a Singapore citizen. Her cousin, also ethnically Chinese, is a Malaysian citizen working in Singapore. How do their nationalities compare?
- Different, because each holds a different country's citizenship.
- The same, because they share the same Chinese ethnic background and family.
- The same, because they both live and work in Singapore.
Show the answer
Different, because each holds a different country's citizenship.
Right. Nationality is the legal link of citizenship, so Mei is Singaporean and her cousin is Malaysian.
Check your understanding
Tan was born in Malaysia, moved to Singapore aged five and became a Singapore citizen at 21. What is his nationality?
- Both, because he grew up in Singapore but was born in Malaysia.
- Malaysian, because a person keeps the nationality of where they were born.
- Singaporean, because he now holds Singapore citizenship by law.
Show the answer
Singaporean, because he now holds Singapore citizenship by law.
Nationality is a legal status, not a birthplace.