Senior Minister of State at the Prime Minister’s Office Josephine Teo (Source: straitstimes.com)
Singapore (VNA) – Singapore’stotal fertility rate (TFR) fell from 1.24 to 1.20 in 2016, nearly equal to thelowest level of 1.16 in 2010.
TFR measuresthe average number of babies born per woman.
SeniorMinister of State at the Prime Minister’s Office Josephine Teo, who is incharge of population matters, said more people got married last year in thechild-bearing age range of 25-39. However, the country’s birth rate has yet toimprove, she noted.
Statisticsindicated that 33,161 babies were born in Singapore in 2016, about 600 fewerthan the previous year, pulling down the TFR to 1.20. Meanwhile, thereplacement rate for Singapore’spopulation is 2.1 percent, and the country’s birth rate has been lower than themortality rate for the past 30 years.
This means Singapore stillneeds overseas workers to hit its economic growth targets.
Teo said totackle with the low birth rate and mitigate the impact of an aging population,the government will implement policies encouraging couples to have babies.
In March2017, Singapore will announce measures supporting locals with accommodation,jobs, and education so that married couples can have children while pursuingtheir career, she added.-VNA
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Senior Minister of State at the Prime Minister’s Office Josephine Teo (Source: straitstimes.com) 
