SINGAPORE — Singapore, where the total fertility rate has fallen to a record low, unveiled a sweeping package of parenting support, including up to 70,000 Singapore dollars (about 76 million won) per child from birth until age 17 to encourage childbirth.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced the measures to ease the burden of childbirth and child-rearing in a National Day address marking the country's 61st anniversary the previous day, pledging "a fundamental shift in the way we support families," according to Bloomberg and other outlets on the 24th.
Each Singaporean newborn will receive 10,000 Singapore dollars (about 10 million won) as a birth gift. The government will then provide a total of 70,000 Singapore dollars in direct support through various programs until the child turns 17.
Parental leave and childcare support will also be expanded. Dual-income couples will be able to take additional paid parental leave of eight days each for one child, 10 days for two children, and 12 days for three or more.
The government is also considering extending paid parental leave, currently a total of seven months and 15 days. For now, however, it will keep the existing system in place to give employers time to adapt to the changes.
Childcare costs will also be lowered. The government plans to cut monthly fees at government-subsidized full-day childcare centers to about 150 Singapore dollars (about 160,000 won).
Housing support will be tailored to families with children as well. The Singapore government will give priority to couples who have children or are expecting when applying for public housing. It also plans to review additional housing assistance for families with many children.
Singapore is sharply strengthening this childbirth and parenting support because low birth rates and population aging are intensifying at the same time.
Singapore's total fertility rate stood at 0.87 last year, a record low. This year, people aged 65 and over account for about 20% of the population, prompting assessments that the country has entered a super-aged society.
The Singapore government has formed a working group to review marriage and parenting policies, and plans to spend 7 billion Singapore dollars (about 7.6 trillion won) on related programs in the 2026-2027 fiscal year, running from April 2026 to March 2027.
Wong also unveiled measures to protect children from online risks. He said the government would apply stronger safety standards to social media platforms and consider raising the minimum age for social media use to 13.
Wong stressed that while most social media platforms currently rely on users self-reporting their age, the method does not work properly, and that a reliable age-verification system is needed to enforce the minimum age effectively.
