To assess the relative efficiency of the SF-8, SF-12, and SF-36 in capturing health-related quality of life deficits associated with chronic medical conditions in the population health survey. Data collected in a cross-sectional population health survey in Singapore was used. The SF-8, SF-12 and SF-12 physical component and mental component summary (PCS and MCS) scores were calculated based on US weights because the local weights are currently not available. The relative efficiency (RE) of the scores in discriminating between respondents with and without one of 8 chronic medical conditions was measured using the F-statistic from the analysis of variance test. A total of 7529 respondents (female: 52.6%; Chinese: 65.3%; mean age: 50 years) completed both the SF-36 and the SF-8 questionnaires. The RE values of SF-12 versus SF-36 ranged from 0.858 to 1.473 for PCS and 0.435 to 1.455 for MCS. Compared with the SF-36 PCS score, the SF-8 PCS score was less, similarly, and more efficient in 3 conditions (hypertension, diabetes, and coronary heart disease; range of RE values: 0.493-0.781), 4 conditions (stroke, lung disease, pain, and mental illness; range of RE values: 0.755-2.232), and cancer (RE value: 1.756), respectively. SF-8 MCS scores were more, similarly, and less discriminative than the SF-36 MCS score in 3 conditions (diabetes, pain, and coronary heart disease; range of RE values: 1.741-2.224), 4 conditions (hypertension, stroke, cancer, and mental illness; range of RE values: 0.679-2.756), and lung disease (RE value: 0.406), respectively. The SF-8 and SF-12 have similar efficiency as the SF-36 in measuring health burden of chronic conditions in population health surveys. The SF-12 and the SF-8 are preferred to the SF-36 when only summary health outcomes measures are needed. The results, however, may be different when the local weights are applied.