Singapore’s Ministry of Social and Family Development has released its Family Trends Report 2025, offering a deep dive into how families are evolving — and what that might mean for the nation’s future.

While two-child households remain the norm, there’s a noticeable uptick in one-child families and a growing number of women reaching their 40s without children. At the same time, policies like paternity leave and childcare support have gained traction, and more parents are tapping into flexible work arrangements.

But beyond the numbers lies a bigger question: What do these shifts mean for Singapore’s long-term population outlook? Are we simply seeing changing preferences, or are we headed for deeper demographic challenges — from low fertility to an ageing society?

On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Dr Tan Poh Lin, Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Policy Studies, National University of Singapore, to find out more.

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