Singapore is betting on new economic incentives to counter the collapse in birth rates, offering families nearly 70,000 Singapore dollars, about 47,000 euros, in direct support for each child up to 17 years old. The new package was announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong during the traditional National Day Rally speech. “We want to make it easier for Singaporeans who want to have children to start and raise a family,” Wong explained, as quoted by the Financial Times.
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Among the measures are a contribution of 10,000 Singapore dollars (about 6,700 euros) at birth and another 10,000 intended for future education, as well as an expansion of parental leave and incentives for the purchase of the first home.
Fertility rate at historic lows
The city-state, which has just over six million inhabitants, is facing a particularly deep demographic crisis, with one of the lowest birth rates in Asia (only Taiwan and South Korea do worse, along with Hong Kong and Macao). In 2025 the fertility rate dropped to a historic low of 0.87 children per woman, compared to 0.97 the previous year and far from the threshold of 2.1 needed to ensure generational replacement.
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Singapore is also set to become a “super-aged” society this year, according to United Nations standards, with at least 21% of the population aged 65 or older, thus joining the group of countries that includes, among others, Japan, Italy, and Germany. By 2030, one in four Singaporeans is expected to be at least 65 years old.
The role of immigration
“If you choose to have children, the government will be by your side. We will provide greater support and for a longer period,” Wong assured, while admitting that “our total fertility rate will likely remain well below replacement level.” Without the contribution of immigration, the prime minister warned, the population would decline and age even faster.
