Singapore Begs Families To Give Birth to More Children, Announces Amount To Give Complying Parents
- Singapore PM Lawrence Wong announced a major overhaul of child payments and parental leave during his National Day Rally speech
- The city-state recorded a fertility rate of 0.87 children per woman in 2024, among the lowest ever registered in the country
- Singapore is on course to become a 'super-aged' society in 2025, with over 21% of its population aged 65 or older
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Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has announced a sweeping package of financial incentives designed to encourage more families to have children, as the country grapples with one of the lowest birth rates in the world.
Wong unveiled the measures during his annual National Day Rally address on Sunday, August 23, saying the government wanted to "make it easier for Singaporeans who want children to start and raise a family."
Source: Getty Images
What Singapore is offering families
Under the new structure, the government will provide close to S$70,000 (about US$76,935) in direct financial support per child up to the age of 17.
That includes a S$10,000 cash gift at birth and a further S$10,000 set aside to help cover future education costs. The remaining payments will be spread across the child's early years, rather than concentrated around the time of birth as was previously the case.
Wong also confirmed that parental leave entitlements will be expanded, with the government taking on a greater share of costs for employers, particularly for families with more than one child. Additional support for families looking to purchase their first home through Singapore's subsidised housing scheme was also announced.
Birth rate crisis driving policy shift
Singapore, home to just over six million people, recorded a fertility rate of 0.87 children per woman last year, a record low and a drop from 0.97 the previous year. The figure is approaching South Korea's rate of 0.8, currently the lowest in the world. Demographers generally consider a rate of 2.1 necessary to keep a population stable without relying on immigration.
The combination of falling birth rates and longer lifespans means Singapore is expected to become a "super-aged" society this year, a designation the United Nations applies when more than 21 per cent of a country's population is aged 65 or above. By 2030, that share is projected to reach one in four Singaporeans.
Despite the scale of the package, Wong cautioned against unrealistic expectations.
"Despite all that we do to support families, we have to be realistic — our total fertility rate is still likely to fall far short of replacement," he said.
He acknowledged that many young Singaporeans were choosing to delay having children or forgoing parenthood entirely, often citing financial concerns.
To offset the demographic shortfall, Wong reaffirmed that immigration would remain a central pillar of the government's population strategy, but said new arrivals would be admitted "at a measured and sustainable pace" to ensure that "Singaporeans remain the majority in our own country."
He warned that both the overall population and the labour force would grow more slowly in the years ahead.
China begs parents to give birth to more children
Previously, Legit.ng reported that in a bid to reverse its declining birth rate, China has launched its first nationwide subsidy for families with young children. Under the new scheme, parents will receive 3,600 yuan (around £375 or $500) each year for every child under the age of three.
The move, announced by state broadcaster CCTV on Monday, July 28, is the government’s latest effort to ease the financial burden of raising children and encourage larger families.
Source: Legit.ng
