In a pivotal address to Singapore’s Committee of Supply on February 26, 2026, Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong sounded the alarm on one of the country’s most pressing issues: the drastic decline in the resident Total Fertility Rate (TFR). For the first time in Singapore’s recorded history, resident births in 2025 plummeted to just 27,500, driving the TFR down to 0.87 from 0.97 in the previous year, and continuing a decade-long downward trend from 1.24. These figures reflect more than numbers—they foreshadow an aging population, with one in five citizens now over the age of 65, compared to one in eight just over ten years ago.
DPM Gan described this trend as an “existential challenge.” Should the TFR persist at current lows, projections indicate the citizen population could begin to contract by the early 2040s. The societal implications are far-reaching: fewer working-age residents, a surge in elderly dependents, strains on healthcare, weakened family support networks, and even potential risks to national security and economic vitality.
In response, the government is doubling down on a measured but essential strategy: sustained immigration. In 2025 alone, Singapore welcomed about 25,000 new citizens through carefully selected processes, with plans to continue this intake at 25,000–30,000 per year over the next half-decade. Permanent residency will also see a boost, targeting around 40,000 new PRs annually. These numbers will be adjusted over time in line with population trends and infrastructural capacities.
To address public concerns about job competition and social cohesion, the government emphasizes selectivity and robust integration programs, such as the Singapore Citizenship Journey and PR Journey. Infrastructure investments—spanning housing, transport, and social services—are being closely coordinated with population planning to ensure the city-state remains livable for all.
Despite concerns, recent public sentiment is largely supportive. A 2021 survey by the Institute of Policy Studies found that more than 75% of Singaporeans view immigrants as an economic asset, and 62% believe they enrich the nation’s cultural fabric.
As Singapore moves forward, it must balance the urgency of demographic realities with the opportunities and challenges brought by thoughtful immigration. The government’s data-driven, adaptive approach reflects a commitment to sustaining both population numbers and the values that define the nation.
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