Marriage & Parenthood

Marriage and Parenthood Trends

There were 21,671 citizen marriages in 2025, 5.6% lower than the 22,955 citizen marriages in 2024 (Chart 3).^[1]

The average number of citizen marriages per year from 2023 to 2025 (23,000) was lower than from 2016 to 2019 (23,500).^[2] The median age at first marriage for citizen grooms and brides was 30.8 and 29.1 years in 2025, up from 30.1 and 27.9 years respectively in 2015.

Chart 3: Citizen marriages

Source: Department of Statistics
The figures are based on the full calendar year (January to December).

There were 26,071 citizen births in 2025, 10.8% lower than the 29,237 citizen births in 2024 (Chart 4).^[3] The average number of births per year over 2021 to 2025 (29,300) was lower than in the preceding five years (32,500).

Chart 4: Citizen births

Source: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
The figures are based on the full calendar year (January to December).

The resident total fertility rate (TFR), which has been declining over the past few decades, was 0.87 in 2025, a decrease from 0.97 in 2024.^[4]

In addition to citizen births in Singapore, there are also children born overseas to at least one citizen parent. In 2025, 1,646 children born overseas to at least one citizen parent were granted citizenship by descent (Chart 5).

Chart 5: Number of children granted citizenships by descent

Source: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
The figures are based on the full calendar year (January to December).

Marriage and parenthood are ultimately personal decisions, influenced by a variety of factors including changing social norms and personal priorities. Our approach has been to foster an environment where Singaporeans continue to aspire towards marriage and parenthood, and are supported to start, raise and grow their families.

Supporting Singaporeans to fulfil their aspirations to marry and have children continues to be our priority. The inter-agency Marriage & Parenthood (M&P) Reset Workgroup was set up in April 2026 to strengthen support for Singaporeans across their marriage and parenthood journey, mobilise whole-of-society action, and support a broader societal reset.

Since its formation, the Workgroup has engaged young people, couples, parents, employers and community partners, and is reviewing concerns across the M&P journey, including work-life demands, child-raising costs, caregiving, housing, fertility and maternity health, relationship formation and education stress.

At the 2026 National Day Rally, the Prime Minister announced the first set of policy enhancements arising from the Workgroup’s recommendations. These enhancements mark an important shift in how the Government supports marriage and parenthood. First, support is no longer concentrated mainly around a child’s early years, but strengthened and sustained across the journey of raising children. Second, unlike past enhancements that mainly applied to new births, the enhancements also strengthen support for existing parents and children.

These measures include the SG Child Support Package, increased childcare leave and Government reimbursement for the full duration of all child-related leave schemes, lower preschool fees and expanded access to Government-supported preschools, as well as enhanced housing support for families. More details can be found at https://www.madeforfamilies.gov.sg/ndr-2026-supporting-families ↗ (opens in new tab)

Through close partnerships across Government agencies, and with community partners, employers, businesses and the broader society, a range of support is available to Singaporeans at every stage of their marriage and parenthood journey. The Marriage & Parenthood Package provides comprehensive support to help couples start and raise their families. Key measures in the Package include:

• Priority housing schemes and grants to help couples own their first home

• Healthcare schemes to defray the costs of assisted conception procedures, maternity services and newborn care

• Financial support through the Baby Bonus scheme, comprising a Cash Gift, First Step Grant and Government co-matching contributions to the Child Development Account (The new SG Child Support Package, announced at the 2026 National Day Rally, will replace the Baby Bonus Scheme and Large Families Scheme. Those currently on the Baby Bonus Scheme will be automatically transitioned to the new package. In the meantime, existing payouts will continue as usual. Learn more here ↗ (opens in new tab).)

• MediSave Grant for Newborns to defray children’s healthcare expenses

• Government-Paid Parental Leave schemes including Maternity Leave, Paternity Leave, Shared Parental Leave and Childcare Leave

• Subsidised infant care, and childcare services

The Workgroup will continue its engagements and review of further support measures, and will release its final report in early 2027.

Ultimately, we must all do our part to build a Singapore where marriage and parenthood is valued and supported, and seen as sources of joy and strength, such that Singaporeans aspire, feel confident and are assured in starting and raising their families.

[1] Citizen marriages refer to marriages involving at least one citizen.

[2] Data for 2020-2022 have been excluded from the average due to fluctuations in the number of marriages arising from disruptions in marriage plans due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

[3] Citizen births refer to babies born to at least one citizen parent.

[4] Total fertility rate refers to the average number of live-births each female would have during her reproductive years (15-49 years old) if she were subject to the prevailing age-specific fertility rates in the population in the given year.