PM Wong says higher wages, not one-off payouts, tackle cost pressures; Singapore fertility hits new low of 0.87, population decline looms: Singapore live news

The Government will also enhance its Marriage and Parenthood Survey in 2026 to better understand how attitudes and perceptions have shifted, she said during the debate on the Prime Minister’s Office budget.

Singapore’s TFR declined from 0.97 in 2024 to 0.87 in 2025, the lowest on record.

“Trying to raise our TFR has always been a priority, but with the latest figures, this has acquired a new urgency,” said Indranee, who oversees the marriage and parenthood portfolio.

She noted that Singapore is not alone in facing falling birth rates. Countries once seen as models of relatively higher fertility, such as France and the Nordic nations, are also experiencing declines.

In the region, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam have also seen downward trends, while in China, deaths now outnumber births.

“The Government is wholly committed to addressing this issue head-on and we will spare no effort to arrest and reverse this decline,” Ms Indranee said.

However, she stressed that the challenge cannot be tackled by the Government alone and requires a collective effort across society.

For more on the work group to study marriage and parenthood issues, read here.