Singapore records historic low birth rate in 2025

In 2025 Singapore saw fewer than 30,000 live births, the lowest total since the nation’s independence in 1965. The number of births fell to 29,864, an 11.4% decline from the previous year and down 8,800 from 2021. The total fertility rate dropped to a record low of 0.87, down from 0.97 in 2024.

First‑time mothers are increasingly older and more educated: 67.7% hold a university degree and 85.7% are employed, with the average age rising to 32.1 years. High housing costs and a rapidly aging population are adding pressure to the public‑health system, which recorded 26,499 deaths in 2025. Singapore’s population reached 6.11 million, a 1.2% increase over the previous year, but officials warn that the population could begin to shrink in the early 2040s if the trend continues.

The government has created a task force on marriage and parenting to promote family formation and is emphasizing immigration management to offset a shrinking labour force. The task force is expected to release its findings in early 2027, with possible interim recommendations before then.