Singapore to give parents S$70,000 per child as birth rate hits record low

SINGAPORE — The government announced a support package worth more than US$55,000 per child in an effort to counter a record-low birth rate, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said. The package includes direct financial support of S$70,000, paid in stages until the child turns 17, covering birth-related payments and education costs, along with measures to help families with children purchase their first home. Wong said Singapore recorded its lowest birth rate on record in 2025, with an average of 0.87 children per woman. He also noted that people over 65 are projected to make up about a quarter of the population by 2030. The prime minister said the government would continue backing families, but officials anticipate the birth rate will remain below the level needed to replace the population. That outlook, he added, is driving Singapore to maintain a controlled immigration policy. No further details on the timeline for the package’s rollout were immediately available.