Singapore’s fertility rate has not stabilised; citizen core will shrink without action, says DPM

DPM Gan Kim Yong (left) and IPS director Janadas Devan speak during the dialogue at the panel session at the IPS Singapore Perspectives conference on Jan 26. -- ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG

SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/ANN): Many think that Singapore’s total fertility rate (TFR) has stabilised after it held steady in 2024, but it has not and if nothing is done the country’s core of citizens will begin to shrink, said Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong.

A declining citizen population will result in Singapore losing dynamism and affect its ability to remain competitive, he said.