Singapore government dating pilot for fertility

To address declining fertility rates, which reached a historic low of 0.87 in 2025, the Singaporean government has launched a pilot dating platform called ‘FirstDate’. Developed by the Government Technology Agency (GovTech), the service is currently restricted to single, widowed, or divorced public servants aged 21 to 35.

Moving away from traditional swiping mechanics, the platform utilizes the Gale-Shapley stable marriage algorithm to match users based on 30-question surveys regarding interests, values, and lifestyle preferences. The system analyzes these responses to propose potential matches. To encourage real-world engagement, the pilot includes ‘Date Quest’ challenges that allow users to earn rewards for activities such as trying new cuisines. Security is maintained through the national digital identity system, Singpass, to ensure data protection and prevent fake profiles.

Under the current pilot structure, the system proposes a single match to each user, who is then given a 72-hour window to either accept or reject the pairing. This experimental matchmaking initiative is part of a broader suite of national policies aimed at combating an aging population, which includes various financial incentives for families with children.