Singapore’s Fertility Freefall: Record Low Rate Triggers Alarm for Aging Nation

The total fertility rate (TFR) of Singapore residents hit a new low of 0.87 in 2025, according to preliminary statistics. This downward trend, coupled with a rapidly aging population, is causing concern about how it will impact Singapore’s societal and economic structure.

Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong expressed his concerns on February 26, stating that the unprecedented fall in birth rates could lead to a reduction in Singapore’s citizen population by the early 2040s if there are no new interventions.

There has been a noticeable drop in marriage rates. Furthermore, those who do get married are having fewer children or none at all. These factors culminated in approximately 27,500 resident births in 2025, the smallest recorded number in Singapore’s history.

The Deputy Prime Minister also pointed out that the growth of the citizen population, even taking immigration into account, was only 0.7% in 2025, a rate that has been slowing down over the past decade.

He emphasized that the aging of Singapore’s population is accelerating at a rapid pace. In 2025, one out of every five citizens was aged 65 or older, an increase from one in eight in 2015.