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Earlier housing for couples, whole-day childcare – how we can get birth rates up
Some factors are clearly contributing to Singapore’s low fertility rate. Let’s remove those obstacles.
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If we are to have any hope of stopping the total fertility rate freefall, we need bold, visionary changes, says the writer.
PHOTO: ST FILE
Kanwaljit Soin
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Alamak! is the word that came to mind when I read that the total fertility rate (TFR) in Singapore has fallen to a historic low and is now below 1
The TFR refers to the average number of babies each woman would have during her reproductive years. It has been falling from 1.12 in 2021 to 1.04 in 2022 and now to below 1, according to the preliminary estimates for 2023. This is possibly the second lowest TFR in the world, with South Korea topping the list at 0.72
