Featuring green bicycle trails, rooftop splash parks, and family-friendly dining spots, the east coast of Singapore stands as one of the island city-state’s premier locations for bringing up children.
Lee, who works in finance, resides in a condominium in this area alongside his spouse and two feline pets, yet akin to a growing proportion of Singapore’s population, they do not plan on having kids. The couple expresses concern regarding the difficulties of child-rearing as well as the upheavals it would bring to their daily routine.
He is well aware of his parents’ desire for grandchildren: “They brought it up a couple of times when we were younger, but now they don’t bring it up any more.”
The 34-year-old resident, who asked that merely his surname be published, explains that he and his partner share this viewpoint. “We are happy with our lives right now, so adding a kid will kind of complicate that,” which encompasses sacrificing vacations and forgoing dining out at restaurants.
A survey published this month by YouGov revealed that numerous citizens share this sentiment, with a quarter of respondents indicating they have no plans to become parents. Confronted by an unprecedented low fertility level, the city-state rolled out extensive initiatives to incentivize couples to start families, though the effectiveness of these policies remains uncertain.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced that the administration will disburse nearly S$70,000 (US$55,048; £40,647) in direct monetary assistance per child up until they reach age 17. The scheme initiates at childbirth with a S$10,000 baby bonus, accompanied by two distinct $5,000 subsidies intended for healthcare and education costs.
Additional benefits comprise S$2,000 in “child credits” spanning ages one through 16, capping state-subsidized preschool fees at S$150 per month, and expanding parental leave entitlements.
“Singapore’s future will only be as strong as the families that build it,” Wong stated.
Singapore’s fertility measure for reproductive-age women—termed the total fertility rate—stands at a historic low of 0.87. While a figure beneath the 2.1 “replacement level” has become standard globally in recent years, Singapore belongs to a group of Asian nations recording the lowest numbers worldwide, alongside peers such as South Korea and Taiwan.
To public policymakers, this shifting demographic presents severe economic hurdles, resulting in a shrinking workforce responsible for sustaining an expanding senior demographic. Singapore is anticipated to attain “super-aged” classification this year, a threshold designated by the UN when more than 21% of a country’s populace is 65 years or older.
The Prime Minister’s incentives have met with varied reactions, as individuals contemplating parenthood continue to harbor anxieties over the financial burden of raising children.
The expenses of daily life in Singapore are “insanely high” notes 27-year-old Iqbar Hisham, an administrative coordinator in the construction sector, yet the newly announced measures have offered her and her fiance renewed optimism regarding parenthood down the road.
“These supports do encourage me to have children as soon as possible once I’m married,” Hisham remarks, highlighting especially the childcare assistance.
Societal pressures, encompassing an intensely competitive educational environment and high-pressure career environments, coupled with the reliance on childcare provisions when both spouses are employed, are similarly fueling hesitation among certain Singaporeans toward starting a family.
Reflecting modern societal conditions, the intense emphasis placed on academic performance has propelled an expansive private tuition market as guardians strive to secure an advantage for their offspring.
Sociologist Teo You Yenn, author of Unease: Life in Singapore Families, mentioned to the Straits Times that while conducting research for her publication, she was astonished by how intensely preoccupied Singaporean parents were with supplementary academic tutoring beginning in preschool.
During his address, the prime minister conceded that numerous citizens “worry about the future their children will inherit, and whether they are doing enough to help them succeed”.
Lee maintains that monetary aid provided by the authorities does not resolve every dilemma.
“I think there will be a large portion of time that me and my partner will need to take out in order to raise a child correctly,” he states. “That is something that we are not able to provide at the moment.”
Shu Rong Teo, a 41-year-old planning manager and mother of three, explains that raising children has perpetually been a personal priority.
However, sustaining a family while continuing her career at the Singapore Chinese Orchestra was attainable solely through the assistance of a live-in domestic worker and by cohabiting with her parents-in-law.
“Our experience is a testament that it takes a village to raise a child – and that family support remains indispensable for working parents navigating the demands of parenthood.”
She appreciates the policy updates, particularly the expanded childcare leave allowances, enabling her to dedicate greater time to her offspring.
“I used to have two days of childcare leave. Outside the two days, I had to take my annual leave to take care of my children, but with the new measures [my husband and I] have 12 days each.
“The biggest difference will be having more time.”
Originally published at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/01/singapore-baby-payment-bonus-grant.
