Singapore’s total fertility rate fell to 0.87 in 2025, marking a record low that a top official warned could profoundly reshape the city-state’s society and economy.
Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong told parliament on Thursday that the citizen population is projected to begin shrinking by the early 2040s without new measures. The fertility rate declined from 0.97 in 2024, which was also a record low. A decade ago, it stood at 1.24.
“This is a significant drop,” he said. “Over time, it will be practically impossible to reverse the trend.”
The falling birth rate underscores the difficulty the government faces in persuading people to have more children despite years of pro-family incentives. A shrinking workforce and rapidly aging population can reduce tax revenue and strain pension and health care systems.
While the issue is global it’s of acute concern in Asia, where the total fertility rate across the region in 2024 fell to 1.9, below what’s considered replacement level, according report this week from Bank of America, which noted cities such as Seoul, Shanghai and Hong Kong have hit record lows.
“The ultra-low fertility levels create a structural demographic headwind for Asia: populations will age more rapidly, begin shrinking sooner, and become more top‑heavy with elderly residents,” the bank’s analysts wrote.
South Korea’s overall fertility rate rose for a second year in 2025, data showed this week, although it’s still among the lowest globally at 0.8. Japan on Thursday reported births fell for a 10th year.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s government recently announced plans to spend nearly S$7 billion ($5.5 billion) on marriage and parenthood initiatives in the 2026 financial year.
Singapore is on track to become a “super-aged” society this year, with 21 percent of its population 65 and older. The low fertility rate comes as marriages have also declined. Singapore recorded 24,687 marriages last year, a 6.2 percent drop from 2024, The Straits Times reported, citing government data.
Even with immigration, Gan said Thursday the growth of Singapore’s citizen population has slowed over the past decade from 0.9 percent per annum between 2015 and 2020 to 0.8 percent between 2020 and 2025. Last year, citizen population growth was just 0.7 percent, he said.