SINGAPORE: For the first time ever, Singapore’s resident total fertility rate has dropped below 1.0.
Preliminary estimates show that the total fertility rate fell to 0.97 in 2023, declining further from the previous record of 1.05 in 2022 and 1.12 in 2021.
“There are various reasons for Singapore’s low fertility. Some are temporal, for instance, couples that had their marriage plans disrupted by COVID-19, which may have in turn delayed their parenthood plans,” Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Indranee Rajah said in parliament on Wednesday (Feb 28).
Others also cited concerns about the financial costs of child-raising, pressures to be an excellent parent, or difficulties managing work and family commitments, she added.
Laying out the PMO’s plans, Ms Indranee said the government is looking at how paid parental leave can be increased.
“We must recognise that this requires workplace adjustments, and that employers may face challenges in making arrangements to cover for employees’ extended absences,” she said.
The government will engage with tripartite partners on further enhancements, and pace out any proposed changes, Ms Indranee added.
She also noted parents’ feedback that care needs are greatest during a child’s first 18 months.
The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) has been “ramping up” infant care capacity and plans to grow childminding services as an additional infant care option for families, Ms Indranee said, adding that the ministry will provide more details later.
On concerns regarding child-raising costs, she said MSF will lower childcare fee caps in anchor and partner operator preschools by S$40 in 2025 – as announced during Budget 2024.
Ms Indranee also pointed to measures announced at Budget 2023 to boost support for parents and families, such as increasing government-paid paternity leave to four weeks.
The government will mandate the additional leave “as soon as possible, to benefit more fathers”, she said.