Singapore's government has unveiled a major overhaul of family benefits, offering nearly S$70,000 (around £40,000) per child from birth to age 17, as it battles a record-low birth rate and rapid population ageing. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced the package, calling it a "fundamental shift" in how the state supports families, though he acknowledged that financial incentives alone are unlikely to lift fertility back to sustainable levels and that immigration will remain central to sustaining the population.

The scheme begins with a S$10,000 (£7,330) "baby gift" at birth, followed by a matching payment at age 17 for further education, alongside health and childcare grants, reduced nursery fees, expanded parental leave and help buying a first home. It comes after Singapore's fertility rate fell to a record-low 0.87 children per woman last year, down from 0.97 in 2024 and edging close to South Korea's world-lowest 0.8, far below the 2.1 needed to maintain a stable population. A recent YouGov survey found almost a quarter of adults aged 18-44 had no plans to have children, and 30% said no government action would change their stance, while officials warn a quarter of Singaporeans could be aged 65 or over by 2030.