On the 26th, Singapore released data showing that the country’s overall birth rate will drop to 0.87 in 2025, setting a new record low. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Heng Swee Keat stated that although the government has actively supported citizens in starting families and raising children, it is still necessary to carefully introduce new immigrants to offset the problem of low birth rates. In the next five years, Singapore is expected to accept 25,000 to 30,000 new citizens annually.
According to Sing Tao Daily, Heng Swee Keat revealed in Parliament on the 26th that the country welcomed 27,500 newborns last year, and the overall birth rate of 0.87 is significantly lower than the 0.97 in 2024, and much lower compared to 1.24 ten years ago. He said this is the lowest birth rate in the country’s history, and the trend is concerning. The number of registered marriages in Singapore has also declined, while the pace of population aging is accelerating. Last year, one in every five citizens was already 65 years old or above.
Heng Swee Keat said that Singapore needs to carefully introduce new immigrants to compensate for the issue of low birth rates. Last year Singapore admitted 25,000 new citizens. Heng Swee Keat stated that in the next five years, the annual number of new citizens Singapore will admit is estimated to be between 25,000 and 30,000.
In addition, the number of permanent residents the country admits also needs to be adjusted. In the next five years, it is estimated that about 40,000 new permanent residents will be accepted each year, more than the 35,000 admitted last year.