SINGAPORE — Singapore is expanding financial and social support for families as the country’s fertility rate falls to a record low of 0.87 births per woman, intensifying concerns over population ageing and a shrinking workforce.
The government is offering families nearly S$70,000 (about US$55,000) per child, alongside expanded parental leave and additional housing support aimed at making it easier and more affordable for couples to raise children.
The policy comes as Singapore moves closer to becoming a “super-aged” society, with people aged 65 and above accounting for more than 21% of the population.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong acknowledged that financial incentives alone are unlikely to reverse the country’s declining birth rate. He pointed to delayed parenthood, workplace pressures and changing preferences as some of the factors discouraging people from having larger families.
Singapore’s government is therefore combining stronger family-support measures with continued immigration to help address potential workforce shortages and slow the effects of demographic decline.
The country’s challenge reflects a wider trend across developed economies, where rising living costs, delayed marriage and parenthood, demanding work environments and changing social attitudes are contributing to historically low fertility rates.
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