SINGAPORE \u2013 The past year of raising his daughter, who turned one in December 2025, has been \u201cdeeply rewarding\u201d for 31-year-old Mr Chen. Seeing her grow and laugh has been priceless, he said. <\/p>\n
Still, he and his wife, a nurse, have decided that one child is enough. <\/p>\n
Despite expanded parental leave, the dual-income couple say the time and commitment required to raise a child well, together with limited childcare leave, make the prospect of a second daunting. <\/p>\n
They had initially hoped for two children, so the siblings could keep each other company. <\/p>\n
Since their daughter was born, Mr Chen and his wife, who used to host dinner parties with friends almost weekly, have had less time for social events.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter seeing the time and effort it takes to properly bring my daughter up with love and care, I don\u2019t think I can in good conscience have another,\u201d said Mr Chen, who declined to give his full name. <\/p>\n
Wanting to be a present parent, the business consultant fears that adding a second child to the mix in Singapore\u2019s fast-paced work culture will make it impossible to give both children the attention they deserve.<\/p>\n
\u201cEmployers do not benefit from giving their employees more time with their families,\u201d he said. \u201cThey would profit more from someone who can dedicate more time to the job, not someone rushing off to fetch their child from school or leaving to take a kid to the clinic.\u201d<\/p>\n
Several couples, like Mr Chen and his wife, interviewed for this story declined to give their full names, saying they feared being judged for preferring to have fewer children \u2013 or none at all. <\/p>\n
Their views reflect a broader shift in attitudes here towards parenthood, as Singapore\u2019s preliminary resident total fertility rate (TFR) fell to a historic low of 0.87<\/span><\/a> in 2025, down from 0.97 in 2024.<\/p>\n This refers to the average number of babies each woman would have during her reproductive years. <\/p>\n Preliminary figures show there were about 27,500 resident births in 2025 \u2013 the lowest number in Singapore\u2019s records and about 11 per cent fewer than the 30,808 births in 2024. <\/p>\n A resident birth refers to a child born to at least one parent who is a Singaporean or permanent resident.<\/p>\n Without new measures, Singapore\u2019s citizen population may start to shrink by the early 2040s, said Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, stressing that supporting Singaporeans in starting families is a \u201ctop priority\u201d<\/span><\/a>. <\/p>\n Speaking in Parliament on Feb 26, he illustrated what it means for the country if the TFR remains at 0.87. For every 100 residents today, they will have just 44 children, and a mere 19 grandchildren.<\/p>\n \u201cOver time, it will be practically impossible to reverse the trend because we will have fewer and fewer women who can bear children,\u201d he added. <\/p>\n Associate Professor Intan Azura Mokhtar, assistant provost at the Singapore Institute of Technology, said a TFR of 0.87 means that a couple will have fewer than one child in their lifetime. A TFR of 2.1 is needed for a population to just replace itself.<\/p>\n In the long run, this could translate into a much heavier ageing burden. For every economically active adult, there would be 2.3 seniors to support. <\/p>\n Such a demographic shift would require more healthcare and social services to support an aged population, along with higher government spending and a heavier financial burden on working-age adults, she said.<\/p>\n \u201cThis may lead to working adults deciding not to get married or settle down to start a family, as the direct costs may be too high to bear. It may mean we end up in a vicious circle, down a slippery slope,\u201d said the former MP.<\/p>\n Singapore Management University law don and former Nominated MP Eugene Tan said a dwindling labour force could result in a less vibrant economy, with gaps not just in numbers but also the quality of workers. <\/p>\n \u201cWe probably have to get used to a smaller labour force but one of diverse capabilities,\u201d he said, adding that advanced technologies like artificial intelligence can help to multiply impact.<\/p>\n Singapore has grappled with shifting fertility patterns for decades. <\/p>\n In the 1970s, the Government\u2019s \u201cStop at 2\u201d campaign successfully encouraged families to limit themselves to two children. <\/p>\n ST ILLUSTRATION: MANNY FRANCISCO<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Today, policymakers face the opposite challenge: persuading couples to have more, if any. <\/p>\n The pressures come as marriage rates have also fallen. Singapore recorded 24,687 marriages in 2025,<\/span><\/a> a 6.2 per cent fall from 2024. It marked the third consecutive annual decline and the lowest number since 2020, when Covid-19 restrictions\u00a0upended many wedding plans.<\/span><\/a> <\/p>\n Over the years, policymakers have tried to lift fertility through measures that include baby bonuses, childcare subsidies and housing priority schemes for larger families. <\/p>\n But these have had limited impact on reversing long-term trends, with the TFR still far below the replacement level of 2.1. <\/p>\n The lower fertility rates reflect shifts in the personal and professional priorities of millennials and Gen Zs, with higher education levels contributing to delayed parenthood and greater career trade-offs \u2013 especially for women \u2013 leading some to rethink if and when to have children.<\/p>\n Prof Intan said many couples marry later as they want to focus on careers or travelling. Those who do start families often stop at one child. <\/p>\n Ms Haslinda Hassan, 37, said she has no intention of having children, citing the high cost of living in Singapore as a major factor.<\/p>\n \u201cI am happy where I am,\u201d said the nurse, who is single. \u201cMaybe I\u2019m a bit selfish; I just want time to myself. I don\u2019t need kids to feel complete.\u201d<\/p>\n Beyond personal choices, practical considerations also shape family decisions. <\/p>\n Concerns about the high cost of living and the desire to provide the best opportunities for children weigh heavily on couples. Access to public housing, convenient transport, workplace flexibility and worries about the future can make parenthood feel daunting, even with financial support.<\/p>\n Mr Ben Wong said he feels pressure to match what other parents provide. <\/p>\n \u201cYou hear your colleagues taking leave to help their kids with PSLE, or sending them for enrichment classes like dance. I would feel the need to give my children the same,\u201d said the 38-year-old, who works in aviation leasing. <\/p>\n Mr Wong said he and his wife still hope to have children soon, but want to be prepared given the costs and childcare arrangements involved. <\/p>\n The latest figures give the matter of raising Singapore\u2019s TFR a new urgency, said Minister in the Prime Minister\u2019s Office Indranee Rajah in Parliament on Feb 26. <\/p>\n<\/picture><\/div>