Financial costs prevent married Singaporeans from having more children: survey

About half  of the couples (51%) had fewer than two children.

Married couples consider financial costs the most when making parenthood decisions (61%), the 2021 Marriage and Parenthood (M&P) survey showed.

Couples (48%) also said they will have more children only if they feel financially secure.

Single respondents had the same concern, with more than eight in 10 (89%) saying they are uncertain whether they want to have any children because the cost of raising one is too high.

The ideal number of children for Singaporeans is two or more (92%), but in practice, about half of married respondents (51%) had fewer than two children.

Apart from financial costs, both single (71%)  and married respondents (34%) cited difficulty in managing work and family demands for not having any or more children.

Married respondents said flexible work arrangements (FWAs) will make it easier for them to start a family (90%) and have more children (81%).

Most of the married respondents are also likely to join an organisation that provides FWAs (92%) and stay in such an organisation (94%).