Fewer births, more deaths as Singapore population ages

SINGAPORE — Last year, the number of babies born fell to a seven-year low, while the number of deaths was the highest in at least two decades.

A total of 39,615 births were registered, four percent fewer than the 41,251 in 2016. Last year’s number was also the lowest since 2010, when 37,967 babies were born.

On the other hand, the number of deaths rose by four percent from 20,017 in 2016 to 20,905 last year, the Report on Registration of Births and Deaths 2017 showed. The report was released by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on Wednesday.

The number of deaths has been on an upward trajectory since at least 1998, as the number of people aged 65 and older has more than doubled in that time frame, academics say. There were 15,657 deaths in 1998, the furthest back that the 2017 ICA report goes.

The most common causes of death were cancer and heart and hypertensive diseases, which accounted for slightly over half of all deaths last year. More than 80 percent of those who died were aged 60 and above.

Sociologists said the 4 percent decline in births is significant, given Singapore’s declining total fertility rate, which stood at 1.16 last year – far lower than the 2.1 needed for the population to replace itself.

Sociologist Tan Ern Ser said fewer babies are being born as a result of more Singaporeans remaining single or marrying later, trends that are unlikely to change.

Job uncertainty because of economic restructuring and cost of living may also factor into baby-making plans, he said, noting: “Couples may be less willing to reproduce if they are worried about the future.”

Of the babies born last year, 59 percent were Chinese, 19 percent Malay, 11 percent Indian and 11 percent other races.

With fewer births and more deaths, this creates challenges for society, experts said.

Dr. Tan Poh Lin, assistant professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, said fewer babies born means a smaller workforce, which affects the attractiveness of Singapore as a place to invest in.

Coupled with the ageing population, there are just fewer people of working age to support a growing pool of elderly, which may increase the strain on families, among other woes.