Singapore recorded 24,688 marriages in 2025, a 6.2 per cent decline from the previous year. This marks the third consecutive year of falling marriage numbers since the post-pandemic peak in 2022. Data from the Ministry of Social and Family Development and the Department of Statistics indicates that residents are increasingly choosing to stay single, particularly those aged 25 to 34. Among female residents aged 25 to 29, the proportion of singles rose to 73.4 per cent in 2025, up from 69 per cent in 2020. For men aged 30 to 34, the proportion of singles climbed to 47.6 per cent from 41.9 per cent over the same period.
Despite the downward trend in marriage registrations, the quality of existing marriages appears robust. A 2025 survey by the Ministry of Social and Family Development found that nearly 95 per cent of married respondents reported being happy with their relationships. Furthermore, 88 per cent of those surveyed rarely or never considered ending their marriage. Stability has also improved among recent cohorts, with the cumulative proportion of marriages ending in divorce before the 10th anniversary declining from 17 per cent for the 2005 cohort to 13.5 per cent for the 2014 cohort.
Experts suggest that the rise in singlehood and the delay in marriage are influenced by evolving social norms, personal priorities, and the demands of modern life. While married couple-based households with children remain the most common living arrangement, they now account for 47.6 per cent of resident households, down from 50.4 per cent in 2020. As the population continues to age and household structures shift, the government remains focused on fostering an environment that supports families, including recent enhancements to shared parental leave provisions.