Singapore has introduced a new family support package that could provide each child with almost US$55,000 in government support from birth to age 17 as the country battles a record-low fertility rate.
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Singapore announced a new support package that will provide each eligible Singaporean child with almost S$70,000 (about US$55,000) in direct government support from birth until age 17.
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The package includes a S$10,000 Baby Gift, annual child credits, education support and childcare-related assistance.
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The move comes as Singapore’s fertility rate falls to a record low of 0.87 births per woman, intensifying concerns about an ageing population.
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Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said the government is shifting from simply encouraging births to providing longer-term support for families raising children.
Singapore has announced a new family support package that could give each eligible child nearly S$70,000 (around US$55,000) in government assistance as the country attempts to address its declining birth rate.
The package, announced by Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong during the country’s National Day Rally, is designed to provide financial support throughout a child’s upbringing instead of focusing only on payments immediately after birth.
Under the new SG Child Support Package, each Singaporean child will receive up to S$62,000 in new support from birth through age 17. When combined with existing benefits, the total support could reach almost S$70,000 per child.
The package includes a S$10,000 Baby Gift, which will be paid in two instalments during the first year after birth, as well as S$2,000 in annual Child Credits for 16 years, amounting to S$32,000.
Other components include a S$5,000 Child Development Account First Step Grant, up to $5,000 in government co-matching contributions, and a S$10,000 top-up to the child’s Post-Secondary Education Account.
The government said the package will replace existing financial support schemes, including the Baby Bonus Scheme and Large Families Scheme, while ensuring that eligible children receive the same level of support regardless of birth order.
The move comes as Singapore faces one of the world’s lowest fertility rates. The country’s fertility rate fell to a record 0.87 births per woman, far below the replacement rate of about 2.1 needed to maintain population levels without migration.
Singapore has spent years introducing incentives aimed at encouraging people to have children, but birth rates have continued to decline as many young couples delay parenthood due to factors such as housing costs, career pressures and the rising cost of raising children.
Prime Minister Wong said the government’s approach is shifting from simply encouraging people to have children to creating an environment where families feel more supported while raising them.
“We want to make a fundamental shift in how we support families,” Wong said while announcing the measures.
Beyond direct financial support, Singapore is also expanding measures such as childcare assistance, parental leave and housing support for families with children.
However, Wong acknowledged that financial incentives alone may not be enough to reverse the country’s declining birth rate, as decisions about having children are influenced by broader social and economic factors.
The policy reflects Singapore’s wider effort to address an ageing population and ensure long-term support for families as fewer people choose to have children.
