For the first time ever, Singapore’s resident total fertility rate has dropped below 1.0. Preliminary estimates show that the total fertility rate fell to 0.97 in 2023, declining further from the previous record of 1.04 in 2022 and 1.12 in 2021.

What are the factors leading to the new low? And should we be worried? 

Dr Mathew Mathews, Head, Social Lab, and Principal Research Fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies, National University of Singapore shares his views. 

For the first time ever, Singapore’s resident total fertility rate has dropped below 1.0. Preliminary estimates show that the total fertility rate fell to 0.97 in 2023, declining further from the previous record of 1.04 in 2022 and 1.12 in 2021.
What are the factors leading to the new low? And should we be worried? 
Dr Mathew Mathews, Head, Social Lab, and Principal Research Fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies, National University of Singapore shares his views.

Your Way Home with Hongbin Jeong is your 4–8pm drive companion, guiding you through the day’s biggest headlines, trending conversations and the issues shaping Singapore and the world.

From news and current affairs to lifestyle insights and generational perspectives, the show helps you make sense of what’s happening — with clarity, context and a touch of personality.

Whether you’re catching up after a long day or tuning in on the move, Your Way Home keeps you informed, engaged and connected — all the way home.

And she closes the day with a song that says it all.

Your Way Home with Hongbin Jeong is your 4&ndash;8pm drive companion, guiding you through the day&rsquo;s biggest headlines, trending conversations and the issues shaping Singapore and the world.
From news and current affairs to lifestyle insights and generational perspectives, the show helps you make sense of what&rsquo;s happening &mdash; with clarity, context and a touch of personality.
Whether you&rsquo;re catching up after a long day or tuning in on the move, Your Way Home keeps you informed, engaged and connected &mdash; all the way home.
And she closes the day with a song that says it all.

Your Way Home with Hongbin Jeong

A recap of the biggest news stories so you do not miss a thing, even while you were busy working.

A recap of the biggest news stories so you do not miss a thing, even while you were busy working.

The Weekly Wrap-Up

MONEY FM 89.3 is Singapore’s first and only Business and Personal Finance station. MONEY FM is a 24-hour English talk format station featuring local and international business and financial news. We provide you with financial market and currency updates and insights from analysts, economists, policy makers, industry experts and business owners.

In the lighter hours, listen to discussions on social issues and features on topics that include health, education, arts and music.

MONEY FM 89.3 is Singapore&rsquo;s first and only Business and Personal Finance station. MONEY FM is a 24-hour English talk format station featuring local and international business and financial news. We provide you with financial market and currency updates and insights from analysts, economists, policy makers, industry experts and business owners.
In the lighter hours, listen to discussions on social issues and features on topics that include health, education, arts and music.

MONEY FM 89.3 is Singapore’s first and only Business and Personal Finance station.

MONEY FM 89.3

Your Way Home with Hongbin Jeong is your 4–8pm drive companion,

Weekly Wrap Up: Singapore's fertility rate hits record low, should we be worried?

New numbers from the Ministry of Manpower show that real wages grew by 4% in 2025, meaning workers are, in theory, seeing their spending power improve as inflation eases. But beneath the headline, the story is far more mixed.

Some industries are seeing stronger salary growth, others are slowing down. Fewer companies are giving raises despite stronger profits, and many Singaporeans still say the cost of living feels high.

So are workers genuinely better off right now? Which sectors are winning the wage race, and which ones may be falling behind? And as global uncertainty continues, can Singaporeans expect salary growth to continue into the years ahead?

On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Terence Ho, Executive Director, Institute for Adult Learning, Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), to break down the numbers and what they really mean for workers, businesses and job seekers.

New numbers from the Ministry of Manpower show that real wages grew by 4% in 2025, meaning workers are, in theory, seeing their spending power improve as inflation eases. But beneath the headline, the story is far more mixed.
Some industries are seeing stronger salary growth, others are slowing down. Fewer companies are giving raises despite stronger profits, and many Singaporeans still say the cost of living feels high.
So are workers genuinely better off right now? Which sectors are winning the wage race, and which ones may be falling behind? And as global uncertainty continues, can Singaporeans expect salary growth to continue into the years ahead?
On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks to&nbsp;Terence Ho, Executive Director, Institute for Adult Learning, Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), to break down the numbers and what they really mean for workers, businesses and job seekers.

The Big Story: Does your paycheck feel stagnant? Here’s why. 

For many young Singaporeans, buying a home used to feel like a clear life milestone, you graduate, get a stable job, apply for a BTO, settle down. But today, with rising property prices, higher cost of living, delayed marriages, and changing priorities among Gen Zs and millennials… the path doesn’t seem so straightforward anymore.

So when should you actually start thinking about buying your first home? And is the traditional BTO route still the only sensible option?

On The Agenda, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Nicholas Mak, Chief Research Officer, MOGUL.sg to find out when would be a good time to start thinking about purchasing your first home.

For many young Singaporeans, buying a home used to feel like a clear life milestone, you graduate, get a stable job, apply for a BTO, settle down. But today, with rising property prices, higher cost of living, delayed marriages, and changing priorities among Gen Zs and millennials&hellip; the path doesn&rsquo;t seem so straightforward anymore.
So when should you actually start thinking about buying your first home? And is the traditional BTO route still the only sensible option?
On The Agenda, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Nicholas Mak, Chief Research Officer, MOGUL.sg&nbsp;to find out when would be a good time to start thinking about purchasing your first home.

The Agenda: When should you start thinking about buying your first home?

On What's Trending, Hongbin Jeong, Nadiah Koh and Nazirul Asrar dive into the latest announcement by Meta where they will soon be rolling out subscription plans for Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp.

From better analytics to premium stickers to use in private conversations, the trio discusses whether these new perks offered in the 'plus' versions of the apps are worth paying for, and why people might still go ahead and pay for these.

On What's Trending, Hongbin Jeong, Nadiah Koh and Nazirul Asrar dive into the latest announcement by Meta where they will soon be rolling out subscription plans for Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp.
From better analytics to premium stickers to use in private conversations, the trio discusses whether these new perks offered in the 'plus' versions of the apps are worth paying for, and why people might still go ahead and pay for these.

Weekly Wrap Up: Singapore's fertility rate hits record low, should we be worried?

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