Singapore marriages drop to lowest level in 2025 since 2020 as fertility outlook weakens

Singapore's marriage rates fell to their lowest level in five years in 2025, raising fresh concerns about the city-state's long-term demographic health. According to preliminary figures released by the Department of Statistics (DOS), 24,687 marriages were registered in 2025.

This total represents a 6.2 per cent decrease from the 26,328 unions recorded in 2024. The 2025 figure is the lowest since 2020, when the number of weddings plunged to 22,651 amid strict Covid-19 pandemic protocols.

According to a report by The Straits Times, academics specialising in family and population trends view this 6.2 per cent fall as significant. It marks the third consecutive year of decline following a post-pandemic peak in 2022, when 29,389 couples wed after the easing of social distancing measures.

Experts suggest the continued slide in nuptials will exert further downward pressure on Singapore’s ultra-low total fertility rate (TFR). The TFR, which measures the average number of children a woman would have during her reproductive years, stood at a historic low of 0.97 in 2024.

Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong (Gan) provided a sobering outlook on the 2025 fertility figures during a dialogue at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) annual Singapore Perspectives conference. Gan stated that he was not likely to give good news on the TFR front for the coming year.

Gan noted that while past Dragon Years in the lunar calendar typically saw a "baby blip" or temporary surge in birth rates, the TFR for 2024 remained unchanged from 2023. He suggested this indicates the underlying fertility base has continued to erode.

Dr Mathew Mathews (Dr Mathews), a principal research fellow at IPS, pointed out that the current numbers follow a period of artificial inflation. He noted that the post-pandemic rush of 2021 and 2022 included many couples who had been forced to postpone their plans in 2020.

Professor Jean Yeung (Prof Yeung) from the National University of Singapore (NUS) attributed the 2025 decline to a shrinking cohort of "marriageable age" residents. She identified those aged between 20 and the early 30s as a particularly diminished demographic group.

Prof Yeung further noted that an uncertain global economic future, the rising cost of living, and geopolitical tensions have likely deterred many young Singaporeans from making long-term matrimonial commitments.

The IPS researchers also highlighted longer-term social shifts. Dr Mathews observed that Singaporeans are spending more time searching for the right partner or focusing on relationship development, leading to a higher median age at first marriage.

Dr Tan Poh Lin (Dr Tan), a senior research fellow at IPS, stated that many individuals now prioritise career advancement and financial security. She noted that some view later marriage as the social norm or find the modern dating landscape difficult to navigate.

Data shows the median age at first marriage has risen steadily over two decades. For men, it rose from 29.4 in 2004 to 31.1 in 2024. For women, the increase was more pronounced, rising from 26.7 to 29.6 over the same period.

Dr Tan also identified a "growing minority" who view marriage as unnecessary or incompatible with their lifestyle goals. This trend is particularly concerning for birth rates, as births outside of marriage are not widely accepted socially or legally in Singapore.

Prof Yeung concluded that because the marriage rate is the primary predictor of births in the local context, a decline in unions will almost certainly lead to a further decrease in the number of children born annually.