A young child flanked by his parents in front of the Rain Vortex waterfall inside the Jewel Changi Airport mall in Singapore. Government data showed that Singapore’s total fertility rate fell to a historic low of 0.97 last year. - Photo: EPA-EFE via South China Morning Post
SINGAPORE: A social media post by tech magnate Elon Musk declaring that Singapore is “going extinct” has struck a nerve in the city state, where demographic challenges including record-low fertility rates are testing its policies to sustain economic growth.
On Thursday, Musk retweeted a user’s post referring to Singapore’s use of robots, which were “stepping in where manpower is falling short”. The user also noted that by 2030, nearly one in four Singaporeans would be over 65.
In his retweet, Musk added that “Singapore (and many other countries) are going extinct”.
In a Reddit thread about the post, which has garnered more than 1,500 likes, netizens debated the city state’s use of immigration and how this would affect Singapore’s national identity.
“In 200 years the Singaporeans today will be all new immigrants of today. Like we are from immigrants 200 years ago ... Singaporeans will always be here. The national identity will evolve. Just hopefully still remain as [an] independent Singapore and not under another country as a vassal or puppet state,” said one user.
Government data showed that Singapore’s total fertility rate fell to a historic low of 0.97 last year.
In the annual Population in Brief report released in September that outlines Singapore’s population trends, the government noted that the decline in fertility could have been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, which “resulted in economic uncertainty and disrupted marriage and parenthood plans for some Singaporean couples”.
The government also noted that declining birth rates are happening across advanced societies, where more people are postponing having families and having fewer children to prioritise their careers, while attitudes are shifting towards marriage and parenthood, and there are concerns about child-raising costs, among other things.
Calling “ultra low” fertility rates an “existential challenge”, Leong Chan-Hoong, a senior fellow and head of Social Cohesion Research Programme at S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, said: “If we can’t reverse or address this problem, it will have a long-term impact on our social and national fabric.”
In a recent social media exchange, Elon Musk spotlighted Singapore’s steep decline in fertility rates, a trend he described as an existential challenge. Responding to a post by Mario Nawfal—a prominent personality on X (formerly Twitter)—about the nation’s "baby crisis" and the potential role of robotics in addressing the issue, Musk remarked, “Singapore (and many other countries) are going extinct.”
This statement has reignited global discussions on the demographic struggles of developed nations, where falling birth rates pose long-term economic and social challenges.
Musk, a vocal advocate for population growth, has frequently warned of the adverse consequences of shrinking populations, emphasizing the importance of addressing these issues for global sustainability.
The post highlights broader concerns about aging societies and their impact on labor markets, innovation, and healthcare systems, while underscoring the rising interest in technologies like robotics to compensate for declining human workforce numbers.
Singapore has witnessed a significant decline in its Total Fertility Rate (TFR) over the past three decades. In 2023, the country’s resident TFR dropped to a historic low of 0.97—the first time it has fallen below 1.0. This means that, on average, each woman is having fewer than one child.
The primary cause of this decline lies in shifting societal norms. According to Singapore government data, a growing number of women in their prime childbearing years (25–34) are choosing to remain single.
Additionally, the marital fertility rate for women in their 20s has seen a marked drop, contributing to around 32% of the overall decline in TFR. From 1990 to 2005, marital fertility rates among women aged 25–34 fell sharply, although a slight recovery was observed in 2023.
Despite the concerning fertility trends, Singapore's technological advancements might help mitigate the demographic impact, a Newsweek article, cited by Mario Nawfal said . The city-state ranks second globally in robot density, with 770 industrial robots per 10,000 workers, according to the International Federation of Robotics.
This technological edge allows Singapore to offset its labor shortages, especially given its high labor costs and small manufacturing base.
Musk, who is also the CEO of Tesla, a company investing heavily in humanoid robots designed to perform repetitive and hazardous tasks, appears optimistic about the role of robotics in addressing such challenges.
Musk’s comments and Singapore’s demographic trends have sparked a wide range of reactions online. While some emphasized Singapore's robust immigration policies as a buffer against population decline, others highlighted the deeper societal and economic issues underlying low birth rates.
Others pointed to societal and economic factors contributing to the reluctance to have children. Rising costs of living, paycheck-to-paycheck lifestyles, and concerns about financial stabilitywere frequently cited as barriers to starting or expanding families.
The burden of ensuring a secure future for children in an increasingly competitive world appears to weigh heavily on many individuals.
Singapore’s struggles with low fertility rates mirror challenges faced by many developed nations. Declining birth rates threaten long-term economic growth, social stability, and labour force sustainability.
Another netizens said that Singapore is grappling with a skyrocketing cost of living, with housing costs surging to unprecedented levels.
As basic necessities like shelter and groceries become increasingly unaffordable, many residents are delaying or avoiding starting families altogether.
This trend highlights the profound societal impact of financial instability, leading to declining birth rates and long-term demographic challenges, the person said, adding that the situation serves as a for the United States, where similar affordability issues are emerging.
