Amid a ‘friendship recession’, some young Singaporeans are building bonds through shared interests
Friendship circles in Singapore are shrinking, with only 48 per cent of young people in 2025 saying they have more than three close friends, down from 56 per cent in 2013.
Friendship circles in Singapore have been shrinking over the years, with only 48% of young people in 2025 saying they have more than three close friends, compared to 56% in 2013. Young people are finding it harder to maintain these ties due to busy schedules and competing interests. Maintaining friendships requires unstructured time and shared interests, which are harder to come by outside of school, work or home.
The SG Youth Plan aims to help young Singaporeans develop confidence, forge meaningful connections, and give back to society. One initiative is the creation of 12 "third spaces" – casual places where youth can hang out. NYC will also create around 20,000 social, hobby, and interest-based opportunities for youth to explore their interests.
These opportunities can be found on NYC's digital platform Discover. Volunteering, joining ground-up projects, and helping others are also ways for young people to forge connections and find a support system.
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