S’pore needs to reset views on marriage, parenthood; new work group to study issues: Indranee
The Straits Times
Singapore forms a new workgroup to address its record-low fertility rate, aiming for a societal reset on marriage and parenthood. Read more at straitstimes.com.
SINGAPORE - A new workgroup will be formed to look into marriage and parenthood issues, amid Singapore hitting its lowest preliminary resident total fertility rate (TFR) to date at 0.87 in 2025.
A societywide reset on how marriage and parenthood are viewed and supported, how workplaces can better align work and family, and how everyone has a role to play in the issue is needed if Singapore is to change its trajectory, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah said in Parliament on Feb 26.
The new workgroup to be formed with relevant agencies will be chaired by Ms Indranee, who is also Second Minister for Finance and National Development.
The Government will also enhance its Marriage and Parenthood Survey in 2026 to gain deeper insights on how attitudes and perceptions have evolved, she said during her speech during the Prime Minister’s Office’s debate on its budget.
Singapore’s preliminary resident TFR dropped from 0.97 in 2024 to 0.87 in 2025, a historic low for the country.
“Trying to raise our TFR has always been a priority, but with the latest figures, this has acquired a new urgency,” said Ms Indranee, who oversees the marriage and parenthood portfolio.
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