Singapore officials call for marriage and parenthood 'reset' as birth rate falls to historic low

Reports from Singapore shows that the country's birth rate for 2025 was just 0.87 children per woman — a historic low.

Key Takeaways:

• Singapore's Gan Kim Yong revealed February 26 that the country's birth rate is falling at an unprecedented rate.

• In 2025, just 27,500 resident births were recorded — an 11% drop from 2024.

• A decline in marriage and willingness to raise children is partially to blame.

• Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah called for a "marriage and parenthood reset," and said the government will be focusing on promoting marriage and family life, and calling for employers to adopt more family-friendly policies.

The Details:

During an address to Parliament on February 26, deputy Gan Kim Yong revealed the plummeting population, as he noted that births are falling at an unprecedented rate.

“If no new measures are taken, our citizen population will start to shrink by the early part of the 2040s,” said Gan.

According to figures shared by The Online Citizen, there were 27,500 resident births in 2025, the lowest number ever recorded, and an 11% decrease from births in 2024.

Gan said that if measures aren't taken to combat the declining birth rate, it will be “practically impossible” for the nation to recover from the effects of a shrinking population.  

Zoom In:

According to officials like Gan, a decline in marriage, as well as an unwillingness for couples to have children, is partially to blame. “The overall trend is also of grave concern. Marriage rates have come down, and those who are married have fewer children or no children,” he explained.

As The Diplomat reported, Gan's comments echo the National Population and Talent Division, which stated in 2025, “the trend of low fertility reflects a generational shift where younger Singaporeans value and prioritize other life goals ahead of marriage and parenthood.” The decision to marry and have children is also “influenced by a wide range of factors, including the costs of raising children, ability to manage work and family commitments and expectations around what it means to be a good parent.”

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah said that a "marriage and parenthood reset" is needed to combat the falling population.

She explained that the reset would include "first how marriage and family are viewed and supported; second, how workplaces can evolve to better align work and family; and third, how everyone can play their part."

Rajah outlined a broad plan as to how the government hopes to address and implement these changes, which included working to cultivate a more positive view of marriage and family and encouraging employers to adopt more family-friendly practices.

The Bottom Line:

Like many other nations, Singapore is facing a demographic crisis that is due in part to the pervasive ideology that children are a burden and not a blessing.

Until that view changes and couples are willing to marry and be open to life, nations will continue to struggle with declining populations.