Singapore launches FirstDate dating pilot to combat low fertility

The Government Technology Agency (GovTech) of Singapore has launched a pilot dating platform called ‘FirstDate’ to address the nation’s declining fertility rates. Currently available exclusively to civil servants aged 21 to 35, the service aims to facilitate meaningful connections through a structured matching process.

Unlike traditional dating apps that rely on continuous swiping, FirstDate utilizes the Nobel Prize-winning Gale-Shapley algorithm to match users based on questionnaires regarding interests, values, and preferences. Once a match is made, users have 72 hours to accept the introduction before contact details are exchanged. To encourage real-world interaction, the platform includes ‘Date Quest’ challenges, such as trying new cuisines together, which can earn users rewards.

Security is managed through Singpass, the national digital identity system, to prevent fake profiles and ensure data is handled according to government security standards. This initiative follows a period of significant demographic shifts; Singapore’s total fertility rate dropped to a historic low of 0.87 last year. The pilot is a product of a GovTech hackathon and may be expanded to the general public depending on the results of the trial.