Around 900 Singapore born citizens and 300 naturalised citizens give up their citizenship yearly, said Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean.

Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, Teo said that renunciation rates for both citizens born inSingapore and foreigners who take up citizenship were "low" at 0.1 percent or less, reported Channel NewsAsia (CNA)

According to CNA, the given renunciation rates were for the years between 2007 and 2011.

Teo also offered reasons as to why people chose to give up their citizenship. "The reasons for emigration vary. Some emigrants leave for family reasons, necause of marriage or to reunite the family members overseas, while others do so for a different living environment, "CNA reported him as saying.

He added that every application for permanent residence or Singapore citizenship is "evaluated holistically" on a range of criteria, which includs economic contributions, qualifications, age, family profirle, and length of stay in Singapore ,according to CNA.

Teo also reiterated that it is compulsory for all Singapore citizens and permanent residents who own HDB flats to sell them if they renounce their citizenship, reported CNA.