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Singapore offers $76,000 per child to boost birth rate
🇰🇷 South Korea /Culture & Society

Singapore offers $76,000 per child to boost birth rate

From Dong-A Ilbo · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Singapore is offering S$70,000 (approx. $76 million) per child until age 17 to combat its record-low birth rate.
  • The comprehensive package includes cash support, extended parental leave, and subsidized childcare.
  • The government aims to reduce the financial and practical burdens of raising children amid increasing economic pressure on families.

Singapore is rolling out a significant financial incentive package, offering up to S$70,000 per child until the age of 17, in a bold move to address its critically low birth rate. This initiative aims to alleviate the financial pressures faced by families and encourage childbirth in the city-state, which recorded a historic low fertility rate of 0.87 last year.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced the new measures during the National Day Rally, stating, "Today, families worldwide are facing increasing (economic) pressure. We want to fundamentally change the way we support families." The S$70,000 support will be disbursed in stages as the child grows, including a S$10,000 (approx. $10,880) baby bonus. This financial aid is part of a broader strategy to make raising children more manageable.

Today, families worldwide are facing increasing (economic) pressure. We want to fundamentally change the way we support families.

— Lawrence WongSingapore's Prime Minister explains the rationale behind the new pro-natalist policies.

Beyond direct cash transfers, the government is enhancing support for parents through extended paid parental leave and subsidized childcare. Paid childcare leave will be significantly increased, with couples eligible for 8 days each for one child, 10 days for two, and 12 days for three or more children under 12. Monthly fees for government-supported full-day childcare centers will be capped at S$150 (approx. $160).

Addressing housing concerns, a major factor for Singaporean families, the government will prioritize couples with children or those expecting a child in applications for public housing. "We want to help families with growing numbers of family members to secure their homes sooner," Wong added. These measures come as Singapore anticipates entering a super-aged society, with over 20% of its population expected to be aged 65 and above by 2026-2027. The government plans to allocate S$7 billion (approx. $7.6 trillion) to low-birthrate initiatives in the 2026-2027 fiscal year.

We want to help families with growing numbers of family members to secure their homes sooner.

— Lawrence WongThe Prime Minister addresses housing support for families.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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