A recent survey in Singapore shows that 30% of singles are completely uninterested in dating, while more than 40% of married couples have no plans to have children.
According to Lianhe Zaobao, the PAP Women's Wing released the survey on marriage, romance, and childbirth at their annual conference on the 20th. The two surveys, each with over 1,000 participants, were conducted in collaboration with the NTUC Women's and Family Affairs Department.
The dating survey revealed that 30% of respondents are completely uninterested in dating, 39% are open to trying it, and nearly half (46%) admitted that finding a suitable partner is the biggest challenge. Respondents also indicated that the three most important criteria when choosing a partner are whether their values align, financial stability, and physical appearance.
For the survey targeting married or divorced individuals, the top three expectations for marriage are mutual respect and understanding, sharing of responsibilities, and economic stability.
Among couples without children, 44% have no plans to have children. Of these, 48% are deterred by financial pressures, 41% feel they are beyond the appropriate age for childbirth, and 36% choose a child-free lifestyle.
●Housing Policies Impact Marriage and Childbearing
Among respondents who already have children, key factors for parenting include financial stability, emotional maturity and psychological preparedness, and partner support. However, most respondents emphasized that raising children imposes a heavy financial burden and called for greater government support, such as affordable childcare services, domestic helper subsidies, transportation allowances, and more flexible parental leave arrangements.
For both singles and married couples, housing policy is a crucial factor affecting marriage and childbearing decisions. The lack of sufficient space, or having to live with parents or in-laws, makes it difficult to start a family plan.
Some respondents also said that one of the reasons for postponing or giving up childbirth is the concern that children will grow up in a highly competitive and stressful environment. They hope that society can foster a more positive atmosphere, allowing the next generation to grow up in a healthy and encouraging environment.