Singapore's fertility rate drops below 1 for the first time

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Demographics News

Singapore,Fertility Rate,TFR

The resident total fertility rate (TFR) in Singapore dropped below 1 for the first time in the Republic’s history. The persistently low fertility rate comes alongside an ageing population, posing twin demographic challenges for Singapore. Various reasons for this decline were discussed, including the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on couples' marriage and baby plans.

The resident total fertility rate ( TFR ) in Singapore dropped below 1 for the first time in the Republic’s history. Preliminary estimates indicate a resident TFR of 0.97 in 2023, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Indranee Rajah said in Parliament on Feb 28. The persistently low fertility rate comes alongside an ageing population , posing twin demographic challenges for Singapore , she said.

The TFR, which refers to the average number of babies each woman would have during her reproductive years, fell even further from 1.04 in 2022 and 1.12 in 2021. Ms Indranee gave various reasons for this, including the Covid-19 pandemic disrupting some couples’ marriage and baby plans, and laid out the measures the Government has taken in recent years to support marriage and parenthood. A TFR of 0.97 places Singapore among those countries with the lowest birth rates globally, with South Korea topping the list with a TFR of 0.72 in 2023. Singapore’s fertility rate is well below the replacement rate of 2

Singapore Fertility Rate TFR Ageing Population Birth Rate Covid-19

 

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