Signs of social cohesion coming under strain in Singapore: IPS director

While Singapore might not be in dire straits compared with what is observed elsewhere, it should work to replenish its social capital, said IPS director Janadas Devan. - Lianhe Zaobao

SINGAPORE: The number of close friends that Singaporeans have has shrunk over the past six years, from 10.67 on average in 2018 to 6.49 in 2024, a study by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) has found.

The findings, which will soon be released in full, also show that younger people aged 18 to 35 were more likely to have fewer close friends compared with their older peers, regardless of socio-economic status (SES).