http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/Singapore/Story/STIStory_391556.html
Birth rate falls slightly
By Zakir Hussain
Thus, the Government's Marriage and Parenthood Package, which was enhanced last August, gives financial and physical support to Singaporean couples to marry and raise a family. -- ST PHOTO: LAU FOOK KONG
SINGAPORE'S birth rate dipped slightly to 1.28 last year, down a notch from 1.29 the previous year.
At the same time, the proportion of elderly folk aged 65 and above rose to 8.7 per cent last year, up from 6.8 per cent a decade ago.
These twin trends of low fertility and an ageing population were updates provided on Wednesday by the Government's National Population Secretariat which oversees population issues.
It explained the need to continue working on long-term strategies to boost the population even though Singapore is in the midst of an economic downturn.
These strategies include getting more Singaporeans to marry and procreate, attracting foreigners here and helping them integrate into the society, and staying connected to Singaporeans abroad.
The statistics also showed that more Singaporeans are marrying later or staying single.
They are also having children later, and having fewer of them or none at all.
At a media briefing on Wednesday morning, Ms Quah Ley Hoon, director of the National Population Secretariat at the Prime Minister's Office, said growing Singapore's population 'is a long-term issue'.
'To build a sustainable, connected and integrated population, we will need to continue to encourage marriage and parenthood, engage overseas Singaporeans, as well as facilitate the naturalisation and integration of suitable foreigners,' she said.
Thus, the Government's Marriage and Parenthood Package, which was enhanced last August, is even more important in this downturn, she added.
It gives financial and physical support to Singaporean couples to marry and raise a family. 'We encourage couples to actively tap on its benefits to support their family decisions,' said Ms Quah.
On foreigners, she said as more choose to sink roots here, they need a hand to bond with locals and there are plans to have social integration efforts.
Engaging overseas Singaporeans also remains very crucial, as more of them go abroad to work and study, she added. The Government will expand the network of Overseas Singaporean Clubs in major foreign cities.
Birth rate falls slightly
By Zakir Hussain
Thus, the Government's Marriage and Parenthood Package, which was enhanced last August, gives financial and physical support to Singaporean couples to marry and raise a family. -- ST PHOTO: LAU FOOK KONG
SINGAPORE'S birth rate dipped slightly to 1.28 last year, down a notch from 1.29 the previous year.
At the same time, the proportion of elderly folk aged 65 and above rose to 8.7 per cent last year, up from 6.8 per cent a decade ago.
These twin trends of low fertility and an ageing population were updates provided on Wednesday by the Government's National Population Secretariat which oversees population issues.
It explained the need to continue working on long-term strategies to boost the population even though Singapore is in the midst of an economic downturn.
These strategies include getting more Singaporeans to marry and procreate, attracting foreigners here and helping them integrate into the society, and staying connected to Singaporeans abroad.
The statistics also showed that more Singaporeans are marrying later or staying single.
They are also having children later, and having fewer of them or none at all.
At a media briefing on Wednesday morning, Ms Quah Ley Hoon, director of the National Population Secretariat at the Prime Minister's Office, said growing Singapore's population 'is a long-term issue'.
'To build a sustainable, connected and integrated population, we will need to continue to encourage marriage and parenthood, engage overseas Singaporeans, as well as facilitate the naturalisation and integration of suitable foreigners,' she said.
Thus, the Government's Marriage and Parenthood Package, which was enhanced last August, is even more important in this downturn, she added.
It gives financial and physical support to Singaporean couples to marry and raise a family. 'We encourage couples to actively tap on its benefits to support their family decisions,' said Ms Quah.
On foreigners, she said as more choose to sink roots here, they need a hand to bond with locals and there are plans to have social integration efforts.
Engaging overseas Singaporeans also remains very crucial, as more of them go abroad to work and study, she added. The Government will expand the network of Overseas Singaporean Clubs in major foreign cities.
