The number of babies born in Singapore in 2023 is the lowest in 50 year

The number of babies born in Singapore in 2023 is the lowest in 50 years

Named

15/07/2024
Analysis of population birth order data shows a clear trend that first-time mothers are increasingly postponing births to later stages of their lives.

SINGAPORE: The number of babies born in Singapore in 2023 fell to the lowest level in at least 50 years, The Straits Times (ST) reported .

It said based on the "2023 Birth and Death Registration Report" published on July 11, a total of 33,541 babies were born in 2023 - a 5.8 percent decrease from the 35,605 births recorded in 2022 and 13.3 percent lower than the 38,672 births in 2021.

ST said the 2023 figure was the lowest since at least 1971 when 47,088 babies were born, based on birth and death statistics posted on the website of the Immigration and Checkpoint Authority (ICA).

ICA administers the Registration of Births and Deaths Act 2021 (RBDA 2021).

In February, it was announced that the population's total fertility rate (TFR) fell below one for the first time in Singapore's history, although the exact number of babies born in 2023 was not disclosed.

The TFR, which refers to the average number of babies per woman over their reproductive period, was 0.97 in 2023 - among the lowest in the world.

Analysis of population birth order data shows a clear trend that first-time mothers are increasingly delaying births until later in life.

The median age of first-time mothers increased from 30.8 years in 2019 to 31.6 years in 2023.

According to the 2023 report, the number of live births among teenagers aged 19 and under was 228, showing an increase of 4.6 percent compared to the 218 births recorded in 2022.

Meanwhile, in 2023, the total number of registered deaths was 26,888, a decrease of three cases from the 26,891 deaths registered in 2022.

About 4.9 percent of the deaths registered in 2023 were non-residents, including holders of work passes, dependent passes, student passes, tourists and short-term visitors. Most of them were Malaysians (424 deaths) and Indonesians (196 deaths).

The main causes of death in the republic last year were heart disease and hypertension as well as lung and respiratory diseases, which collectively accounted for 50.8 percent of all registered deaths.

In addition, malignant neoplasms and cerebrovascular diseases are the main factors, accounting for 24.6 percent and 5.6 percent of deaths, respectively.

"Unnatural causes such as accidents, suicides and other external causes, accounted for 2.3 percent of the total cases," according to the report