‘Help people have the kids they want’: US has lessons to learn from Singapore’s strategies to raise its birth rate

Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong unveiled a series of measures aimed at encouraging couples to have children during his National Day Rally speech on August 23. This announcement generated widespread coverage from international media outlets, including The Guardian, CNBC, Bloomberg, and The Japan Times. As fertility rates continue to decline in various developed countries, governments, such as Singapore's, are actively seeking solutions to address this issue.

An article published by Connecticut Public, a public media organization, highlighted that US experts believe there are valuable lessons to be learned from Singapore's strategies. These measures include direct financial assistance of nearly S$70,000 for each Singaporean child from birth until the age of 17, as well as additional childcare leaves, more affordable childcare options, and improved access to housing.

Karen Guzzo, an expert on family development and demographic trends, expressed her admiration for Singapore's approach, stating that investments in children and families over an extended period are crucial.

The article also pointed out a concerning trend in the US: the aging population, with a significant increase in retirement-age seniors, while the number of individuals under 25 is decreasing. The US total fertility rate stands at 1.63, which is notably lower than Singapore's fertility rate of 0.87, albeit at a historic low point.

Guzzo believes that current measures will not suffice to reverse this trend and that the country must act sooner rather than later to prevent its birth rate from dropping to levels comparable to Singapore's.