Singapore’s total fertility rate (TFR) has plunged to an unprecedented low of 0.87, confirming deepening demographic challenges within the nation. This stark revelation was announced by Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong during a parliamentary session on 26 February 2024. The significant decrease in fertility rates poses a formidable challenge to the country’s future.
The Alarming Statistics
- The TFR dipped below 1.0 for the first time in 2023, registering at 0.97, and has seen a continued decline to 0.87 in 2025.
- In 2024, there were just 29,237 citizen births — an increase of 1.2% from 2023, but down to about 27,500 last year, marking the lowest on record.
- With the current trends, every 100 residents would likely have only 44 children and 19 grandchildren.
Government Concerns
Mr Gan stated that this demographic trend will