Singapore residents stay single for longer, fewer babies born

SINGAPORE: More Singaporeans are staying single for longer and having fewer children.

Single female residents aged 25 to 29 saw the largest increase, rising to 73.4% in 2025 from 69% in 2020, according to a Singapore statistics department survey report on Tuesday. Men who were single at 30-34 years old had the biggest gain, climbing to 47.6% last year.

The growing share of young adults who remain single comes as Singapore continues to grapple with record low birth rates. Over the years, the city-state has introduced measures including baby bonus cash gifts, longer paternity leave and relaxed egg-freezing rules to support parenthood.

Earlier this month, prime minister Lawrence Wong said the government would focus on making Singapore a better place to raise families, rather than relying primarily on financial incentives to encourage citizens to have more children.

Married couples with children made up less than half of all households in 2025. Married women in their 40s had an average of 1.67 children last year, a decline from 1.76 in 2020.