Singapore has announced a new child support package that will provide up to S$62,000 (about US$49,000) in government support for every Singaporean child from birth to the age of 17, in a renewed effort to encourage families to have more children.
The SG Child Support Package, announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong during the 2026 National Day Rally, will replace the country's existing Baby Bonus Scheme and Large Families Scheme, providing more sustained financial support to families regardless of the child's birth order.
Under the new package, Singaporean children born from April 1, 2027 will receive a S$10,000 Baby Gift in cash, paid in two instalments within the first 12 months after birth.
The package will also provide S$32,000 in Child Credits, with S$2,000 paid annually from the year a child turns one until the year they turn 16. The government will further provide education-related support, including around S$2,500 for students in government-funded primary and secondary schools.
The new measures come as Singapore confronts a sharp decline in fertility. The country's total fertility rate fell to a record low of 0.87 children per woman in 2025, raising concerns over population ageing and the future size of the workforce.
Prime Minister Wong said the measures were intended to make it easier for Singaporeans who want children to start and raise families, while acknowledging that financial incentives alone may not be enough to reverse the country's declining birth rate.
The new package is expected to begin paying out from April 2027. Children already enrolled in the existing Baby Bonus Scheme will automatically transition to the new arrangement.
The announcement represents a significant expansion of Singapore's longstanding efforts to encourage parenthood, as the city-state seeks to address the economic and social pressures associated with a rapidly ageing population.
