A Historic Demographic Low
Singapore has recorded fewer than 30,000 births in 2025, marking the lowest figure since the nation gained independence in 1965. According to the Report on Registration of Births and Deaths 2025 released by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on July 27, 2026, the country saw only 29,864 births, representing an 11.4% decline from the previous year.
This milestone reflects a long-term downward trend in fertility. By comparison, in 1965, the year of independence, 55,725 babies were born. The sustained decline is compounded by a rising median age for first-time mothers, which climbed to 32.1 years in 2025 from 31.3 years in 2021.
The Narrowing Gap
While births have plummeted, the number of deaths has seen a slight increase to 26,499, up from 26,442 in 2024. This trend has significantly narrowed the surplus of births over deaths to just 3,365 in 2025, down from 7,261 in 2024 and 14,380 in 2021. Experts warn that the nation is approaching a point where deaths will outnumber births, a development that would necessitate a fundamental shift in economic and social policy.
Mathew Mathews, head of the Institute of Policy Studies Social Lab, noted that this trend places acute pressure on the working-age population. With fewer young people entering the workforce and a growing elderly population, the burden on healthcare, elder care, and social spending is expected to intensify.
Government Response and Policy Challenges
The government has classified these demographic shifts as an existential challenge. In response, an inter-agency body, the ‘Marriage and Parenthood Reset Workgroup,’ was formed in early 2026 to identify new support mechanisms for families. Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong has previously emphasized that without intervention, the citizen population could begin to contract by the early 2040s.
The policy response remains a delicate balancing act. While the primary focus is on supporting family formation, the government acknowledges the necessity of ‘carefully managed immigration’ to supplement the workforce. However, sociology experts, including Assistant Professor Shannon Ang from Nanyang Technological University, caution that rapid increases in immigration must be navigated carefully to maintain social cohesion.