SINGAPORE \u2013 Youth in Singapore know that total fertility rate (TFR) is falling, but 40 per cent of them are in no hurry to marry, a new survey on youth perceptions found.<\/p>\n
A quarter remain undecided, according to the poll of 1,114 respondents aged between 14 and 35, by youth nonprofit Heartware Network.<\/p>\n
The findings, released on May 16, show that of those aged 26 to 35, 23.53 per cent are eager to marry and start a family, while 22.06 per cent entirely rule out starting a family.<\/p>\n
This comes amid hurdles in forming social connections, with 57.72 per cent of respondents saying it is not easy to form meaningful relationships today \u2013 a problem that intensifies with age.<\/p>\n
While 41.9 per cent of those under 16 find social connection \u201csomewhat easy\u201d, that figure halves to 20.6 per cent for those aged 26 to 35.<\/p>\n
These issues were discussed during a dialogue on May 16 between 70 young people, Minister in the Prime Minister\u2019s Office Indranee Rajah and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Community and Youth Goh Hanyan, held at *SCAPE.<\/p>\n
Singapore\u2019s resident TFR fell to a historic low of 0.87 in 2025<\/span><\/a>. This has triggered public conversations and the formation of the Marriage and Parenthood Reset Workgroup<\/span><\/a> chaired by Ms Indranee.<\/p>\n The TFR was 0.97 in 2024.<\/p>\n Ms Indranee had previously said that if this trajectory were to continue, it would have serious consequences for Singapore.<\/p>\n During the hour-long session, participants from tertiary institutions and adults up to 35 years old raised concerns about the psychological, social and physical trade-offs of family planning in a competitive city-state.<\/p>\n A student from Raffles Institution, Lau Jia Hern, 18, asked how the Government could help citizens build families by focusing on psychological and social barriers rather than financial grants and leave from work.<\/p>\n Ms Indranee replied that the survey shows young people place policies and grants at the bottom of their priorities.<\/p>\n Respondents prioritise the cost of living and housing (18.94 per cent), finding a partner (16.75 per cent) and personal readiness (15.43 per cent) over government support schemes, which were cited by fewer than 4 per cent.<\/p>\n Ms Indranee said the Government will do its part and added that what young people really want is personal stability \u2013 a good job, steady income and being able to afford a home \u2013 before considering starting a family.<\/p>\n She highlighted that public housing remains highly subsidised, accessible and affordable through grants.<\/p>\n Ms Indranee said: \u201cDoing some thinking about planning for your future, and making sure that you have the assurance of income and a financial safety net is very important.\u201d<\/p>\n Minister in the Prime Minister\u2019s Office Indranee Rajah (centre) and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Community and Youth Goh Hanyan (right) during a dialogue on May 16.<\/p>\n ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Ms Goh said her ministry is creating dedicated physical hangout spaces across Singapore where young people can meet and build a sense of belonging.<\/p>\n Other questions raised touched on the anxieties of the \u201csandwich generation\u201d, career trade-offs and how the Government will manage the financial burden of an ageing population without passing it on to the next generation.<\/p>\n Ms Indranee and Ms Goh pointed to state support helping seniors age independently and with dignity through initiatives like Healthier SG, and housing policies that support families living within the same precinct to make caregiving more manageable.<\/p>\n Ms Indranee added that Singapore\u2019s long-term sustainability is reinforced by fiscal policies and the national reserves.<\/p>\n A Singapore Management University student had questioned whether a declining fertility rate is an inevitable and necessary trade-off for the city-state\u2019s development, and asked if a competitive culture naturally suppresses family growth.<\/p>\n Ms Goh said that open, early communication with employers can help mitigate workplace penalties when a woman takes maternity leave, however a strong domestic partnership is equally important.<\/p>\n Ms Indranee challenged the idea that competition must inherently paralyse young people, and said the Government will continue to create diverse pathways to help young people progress.<\/p>\n \u201cIf we take that step back and see it in that perspective, then the competition may not worry us so much, because we know that no matter which route you take, there is a way to get to where you want to be,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Closing the session, a student from Singapore Polytechnic asked what roles young people can play to adapt to the looming demographic shifts.<\/p>\n Ms Goh urged the young to step forward as organic community organisers to foster human empathy and connection. \u201cInvesting in your own personal relationships… is what really outlasts even your career.\u201d<\/p>\n Jia Hern said the dialogue helped him understand that subsidies are not a one-size-fits-all solution, but a part of many layers.<\/p>\n \u201cEverything is interlinked, like personal readiness, commitment and finances,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cAs much as the Government can provide, it\u2019s also on our part to truly understand what we are looking for and how we can help ourselves in terms of financial planning,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/picture><\/div>