Factors Leading to Higher Number of Babies in 2024 and Singapore's Long-term Parameter for Infrastructure Planning with Population Crossing Six Million-mark

55 Mr Ang Wei Neng asked the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance (a) what are the factors that have contributed to the higher number of babies born in 2024; and (b) whether Singapore's long-term population parameter that is used for infrastructure planning will remain at 6.9 million given that the population has crossed six million for the first time in 2024.

Ms Indranee Rajah: There were 29,237 Citizen births in 2024, a 1.2% increase from the 28,877 citizen births in 2023.

The overall increase in Citizen births was primarily due to an increase in Chinese births between 2023 and 2024. The increase in Chinese births was due in part to the effect of the dragon year in 2024. However, the dragon year effect has diminished over time, reflecting a shift away from traditional beliefs among younger generations in their childbearing decisions.

Our total population was 6.11 million as of June 2025. Based on current trends and the various scenarios we use to plan for the long term, our total population is expected to remain significantly below 6.9 million by 2030 and this figure continues to remain relevant as a planning parameter for the 2030s.