NDR 2026: What support were Singapore singles hoping for? 

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During the National Day Rally (NDR) on August 23, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced the increased support for parents and parents-to-be; $70,000 child support packages, additional childcare leave days, drops in childcare fees and more.  

The measures come as Singapore grapples with a record-low Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of 0.87 in 2025, down from 0.97 in both 2023 and 2024. But while families took centre stage during the speech, singles naturally had less of the spotlight.

Still, Mr Wong was quick to assure singles that they aren’t being left behind.

“And to our singles - we have not forgotten you. Many of you are caring for ageing parents or supporting your families in different ways. I know housing remains an important concern.

“Tonight, I focus on families with children.

“But we are looking at how we can better support singles too, and we intend to take further steps within this term of government,” said Mr Wong.

His comments sparked conversations online, with many sharing concerns about the realities of singlehood – from managing rising living costs to navigating housing and caring for ageing parents.

And so, the nationwide conversation continues. We spoke to singles in Singapore about what they really want, and where they feel they need more support.

There’s more to single life than meets the eye

For some singles, their biggest hope was simply to hear that there were policies or schemes in the works that account for the different ways they may be managing their finances, careers and family responsibilities.

31-year-old Averiel was looking to just hear about any concrete plans to help singles. 

“(I was hoping for) more holistic, comprehensive information on how the government can help in terms of subsidies, housing, employment.” 

Having a home of their own is part of the plan 

One of the most commonly raised points was the minimum age for singles to buy a Build-To-Order (BTO) flat, which currently stands at 35.

The possibility of lowering the age requirement for singles has been brought up in Parliament numerous times. It was first raised in 2022 and was most recently addressed on July 28, when Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat said that the policy was “under careful review”.

For 26-year-old Zach, the NDR would have been an opportunity to hear more about how housing options for singles could potentially evolve in the future, whether through changes to the existing age requirement or an expansion to the current policies for housing. 

He adds that he hopes larger room options would be available for singles BTO as well. Currently, singles’ BTO units are only limited to 2-room Flexis in Standard, Plus, and Prime housing locations. 

For younger singles, the prospect of owning a home can also be closely tied to their plans for independence and their desired timeline for moving out. 

Serene*, 23, sees getting her own house as one of her top priorities as she gets older. She says that she’s worried that she might have to remain in her parents house longer than expected without a partner to share the costs of a home with. 

“I know I’m still young but I personally hope to move out latest in my late 20s and I want to plan for it,” she says. 

It’s getting harder to pay the bills

For many younger singles, navigating the difficult job market while managing rising costs of living has not been easy. Some hoped that future measures could help singles manage these pressures, whether through employment support or other forms of financial assistance.

Hui Ling, 23, a fresh graduate, has seen her peers struggle to find jobs hence financial independence.

Louisa*, 44, says that while she herself is comfortable and living well, her concerns were for the younger generation of singles, specifically on the employment front.

“If we’re not having kids, how about providing us opportunities to contribute to the country (and earn money) in other ways,” she says.

When caregiving responsibilities come in 

Another consideration is the responsibility of physically, emotionally and financially supporting their ageing parents, especially without someone to share the responsibility with. 

For Theresa*, 24, this aspect is particularly important for her. She hoped to hear from the NDR schemes to promote more inclusivity and elderly caring initiatives. 

For her, the question of starting a family is one that sits alongside existing family responsibilities, and she hopes there can be support for Singaporeans navigating both. 

Farah, 27, was looking forward to more breathing room for singles shouldering expenses and their careers. 

What if singles want to have children? 

Belle adds that she hoped more measures could have also been announced to alleviate the struggles of getting pregnant for singles and Singaporeans starting families late. 

Currently the estimated cost of IVF treatment in Singapore is $15,000 - $18,000 according to the Singapore General Hospital. The current government co-funding rate for couples is 75 per cent; up to $7,700 for IVF, and $2,200 for Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET).

But... does everyone want more?

Some singles, on the other hand, understood the government’s prioritisation of families and parents-to-be during the NDR. 

Serene* shares a similar sentiment, adding that she still appreciates singles being recognised in Mr Wong’s speech and anticipates future measures to support them.