Singapore's fertility rate sinks to new low, raising concerns

Citizen population may start to fall by early 2040s without new measures: DPM Gan

- Theresa Tan Senior Social Affairs Correspondent

Singapore’s resident total fertility rate (TFR) sank to a new low of 0.87 in 2025, according to preliminary figures, deepening concerns over how this trend and the rapidly ageing population will reshape society and the economy.

Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong said on Feb 26 that with birth rates falling at an unprecedented pace, Singapore’s citizen population may start to shrink by the early 2040s without new interventions.

DPM Gan, who spoke at the debate on the budget for the Prime Minister’s Office, said the top priority will be to continue supporting Singaporeans in forming families.

But he also illustrated what it means for Singapore if the TFR, which refers to the average number of babies each woman would have during her reproductive years, remains at 0.87.

This would translate to just 44 children and 19 grandchildren for every 100 residents today, he said.

"Over time, it will be practically impossible to reverse the trend, because we will have fewer and fewer women who can bear children," he added.

DPM Gan stressed the need to therefore have a "carefully managed immigration flow to augment our low birth rate".

Depending on demographic trends, the Government expects to take in between 25,000 and 30,000 new citizens a year over the next five years, he said.

About 25,000 individuals became Singapore citizens in 2025. An average of 21,300 citizenships were granted yearly between 2020 and 2024, according to the Population In Brief 2025 report.

Similarly, the number of new permanent residents (PRs) is also expected to increase to about 40,000 a year over the next five years, DPM Gan said. In 2025, around 35,000 people became PRs.