SINGAPORE
Singapore’s total fertility rate drops below 1, reaching historic low
Singapore’s total fertility rate falls to 0.97 in 2023, marking a historic low below the replacement level of 2.1, as reported by Minister Indranee Rajah during the Committee of Supply debate for the Prime Minister’s Office.
Published
9 mins ago
on
28 February 2024
By
Staff writer
Singapore has witnessed a historic decline in its total fertility rate (TFR), with the figure dropping below 1 for the first time, indicating profound demographic shifts within the nation.
Preliminary estimates reveal a TFR of 0.97 in 2023, as announced by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Indranee Rajah, during the Committee of Supply for the Prime Minister’s Office concerning population issues.
This downturn in fertility rates places Singapore significantly below the replacement level of 2.1, which is necessary for a population to naturally replace itself without migration.
The trend is a continuation from previous years, with the TFR falling from 1.04 in 2022 and 1.12 in 2021, signalling a persistent decline that situates Singapore among countries with the lowest birth rates globally, only surpassed by South Korea’s record low of 0.72 in 2023.
In her address, Ms Indranee highlighted that the decline in fertility rates is accompanied by a reduction in resident marriages and births, comparing the averages of the past five years to those of the preceding period. Despite 26,500 resident marriages and 30,500 resident births recorded in 2023, the overall trend points towards a decrease in these numbers over the last decade.
Ms Indranee shared that the challenges faced by Singapore are multifaceted, comprising both the persistently low fertility rate and an aging population, a scenario that is not unique to the island nation.
Similar trends are observable in various countries across the globe, including European nations like Italy and Spain, as well as Singapore’s neighbours, Malaysia and Thailand, all of which have reported declining fertility rates, said the Minister.
In response to these demographic challenges, the Singaporean Government is said to have initiated a series of measures aimed at bolstering marriage and parenthood rates.
Notable among these initiatives is the doubling of government-paid paternity leave to four weeks, effective from January 1, alongside an increase in Baby Bonus benefits. Furthermore, the adoption of flexible work arrangements has been promoted to aid working parents in balancing professional and familial responsibilities, with a tripartite work group currently developing compulsory guidelines for employers on this matter, slated for implementation later in 2024.
Mr Faisal Manup, a Member of Parliament for Aljunied GRC from the Workers’ Party, had voiced concern over the declining TFR against the backdrop of an aging population.
