The number of marriages and births in Singapore dropped in 2023, according to the annual Population in Brief report released on 24 September 2024 by the National Population and Talent Division (NPTD) of the Prime Minister’s Office. The report also revealed that Singapore’s total population has exceeded 6 million for the first time, reaching 6.04 million as of June 2024, marking a 2 per cent increase from 2023. The growth in the non-resident population contributed to more than half of this increase.
Background
The Population in Brief report provides a comprehensive overview of demographic trends in Singapore, highlighting key statistics on marriages, births, and population growth. The decline in marriages and births comes amidst a backdrop of economic uncertainty and changing societal attitudes towards family formation. The report also underscores the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on these trends, which has led to disruptions in marriage and parenthood plans for many Singaporean couples.
Fewer citizen marriages
In 2023, there were 24,355 citizen marriages, a 1.7 per cent decrease from the record high of 24,767 in 2022, but still higher than the 22,165 marriages in 2019. The average number of citizen marriages per year over the last five years was 22,800, lower than the preceding five-year average of 24,000.
Median age at first marriage
The median age at first marriage for citizen grooms and brides increased in 2023, reaching 30.7 and 29.0 years respectively, up from 30.1 and 27.8 years in 2013.
Inter-ethnic marriage
Approximately one in six citizen marriages in 2023 were inter-ethnic, a proportion that has remained stable over the past decade.
Singles up
There was a higher proportion of singles among the citizen population aged 25 to 49 years in 2023 compared to 2013, observed across almost all age groups for both males and females.
Fewer citizen births, historically low TFR
Citizen births in 2023 totalled 28,877, a 5.1 per cent decrease from the 30,429 births in 2022. The average number of births per year over the last five years was 31,100, lower than the preceding five-year average of 33,000. The median age of citizen mothers at first birth rose to 31.4 years in 2023 from 30.2 years in 2013. The resident total fertility rate (TFR) hit a historic low of 0.97 in 2023, a decline exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic and economic uncertainties.
Transnational families
The report highlighted a growing proportion of transnational marriages, defined as marriages between a citizen and a non-citizen. Over the past decade, more than one-third of citizen marriages each year were transnational. The proportion dipped in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid-related travel restrictions but increased again, making up 36 per cent of citizen marriages in 2023, similar to the pre-Covid proportion of 37 per cent in 2019. As of June 2023, 176,900 citizens were married to non-citizen spouses, and more than one in four of the 28,877 citizen births in 2023 were to couples comprising citizens and non-citizens.
Changing profile of transnational marriages
The profile of transnational families has evolved over the past decade. Three in four transnational marriages today are between citizen grooms and non-citizen brides. Non-citizen brides are now older and have higher educational qualifications at the point of marriage. The proportion of non-citizen brides aged below 25 decreased from 18.0 per cent in 2013 to 6.5 per cent in 2023, while the proportion with a university degree increased from 36.6 per cent in 2013 to 47.4 per cent in 2023. For non-citizen grooms, the proportion aged over 35 increased from 31.3 per cent in 2013 to 40.3 per cent in 2023, with 57.3 per cent holding degree qualifications in 2023, comparable to 60.8 per cent in 2013.
Future implications
The declining birth rates and changing marriage patterns in Singapore reflect broader global trends in advanced societies, where economic factors, career prioritisation, and shifting attitudes towards marriage and parenthood influence family formation. These trends pose significant challenges for policymakers aiming to sustain population growth and address the socio-economic impacts of an ageing population. Future strategies may need to focus on creating supportive environments for marriage and parenthood, addressing economic uncertainties, and promoting work-life balance to encourage higher fertility rates.
