Singapore (Commonwealth Union)_ Elon Musk, the visionary CEO behind Tesla and SpaceX, recently sparked a global conversation with his alarming prediction about Singapore’s declining fertility rates. In a response to a social media post by prominent influencer Mario Nawfal, Musk described the nation as facing a dire future, stating, “Singapore (and many other countries) are going extinct.” Accordingly, his comments have ignited widespread debate regarding the challenges posed by falling birth rates and their potential consequences for Singapore and other developed nations.
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Singapore’s Baby Crisis
Musk’s statement touches on the grave issue of low fertility rates, which have been a growing concern for many nations across the globe. In Singapore, this trend has reached a critical point. The country’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) plummeted to a historic low of 0.97 in 2023, the first time it has dipped below 1.0. This means that, on average, each woman in Singapore is having fewer than one child. Additionally, experts argue that the declining fertility rate could also result in significant demographic and economic challenges for the country.
Over the past few decades, the population trends in Singapore have shown a clear shift. An increasing number of women in their prime childbearing years, from ages 25 to 34, are choosing to remain single, further exacerbating the fertility crisis. Additionally, the marital fertility rate, which refers to births within marriage, has seen a significant decrease. Between 1990 and 2005, the marital fertility rate for women in their 20s dropped sharply, contributing to around 32% of the overall decline in the TFR. While there was a slight recovery in the fertility rate in 2023, it remains clear that Singapore is grappling with profound societal changes.
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Reasons behind a low birth rate
The reasons behind this trend are multifaceted. Many individuals cite economic pressures, including rising housing costs and concerns over financial security, as primary deterrents to having children. As housing prices soar, many Singaporeans find themselves struggling with the cost of living and the uncertain future of their financial stability. This issue is not unique to Singapore. In South Korea, similar challenges are prompting women of childbearing age to forgo dating, marriage, and parenthood altogether. Experts predict that if these trends continue, South Korea’s population could also shrink by half by 2100.
Robotics to address labour shortage
These broader global demographic shifts likely influenced Musk’s comments about the potential extinction of countries like Singapore. However, his statement also highlights an important aspect of technological advancement as a potential solution to these challenges: robotics. Despite its shrinking population, Singapore has invested heavily in automation and robotics to address its labor shortages. According to the International Federation of Robotics, Singapore ranks second globally for robot density, with 770 industrial robots for every 10,000 workers. This remarkable technological achievement has allowed the country to maintain high productivity levels, even with a diminishing workforce.
Musk, a staunch advocate for the potential of robotics, expressed optimism about how these technologies can help overcome labor shortages. Tesla, the company he leads, is also making significant strides in humanoid robots designed to take on repetitive and hazardous tasks in industries such as manufacturing and logistics. Musk believes that automation could play a key role in mitigating the impact of declining birth rates and workforce shortages, offering a potential lifeline for countries like Singapore. However, the debate over Singapore’s declining birth rates extends beyond technological solutions.
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A warning for the entire world
Many critics emphasize that the root causes of low fertility rates lie in broader social and economic challenges. Rising living costs, the pressure of maintaining financial security, and a competitive job market all contribute to discouraging individuals from starting or expanding families. This growing trend serves as a cautionary tale not only for Singapore but also for other developed nations, including the United States, where similar issues are emerging. Accordingly, in the United States, rising housing prices and stagnant wage growth are prompting concerns about the country’s future workforce. As the cost of living continues to outpace wage increases, many young people are delaying marriage and childbirth, exacerbating the challenges faced by an ageing population.
Musk’s comments, while provocative, underscore the urgency of addressing these demographic challenges. Whether through technological innovation, policy changes, or addressing the underlying social and economic pressures, countries like Singapore and the United States face critical decisions about how to adapt to a rapidly changing world. While robots may help bridge some of the labor gaps, the long-term solution likely lies in addressing the broader societal issues that impact the decision to have children.
