Singlehood among Singaporeans aged 25 to 29 climbs to 73pc for women, 86pc for men, new survey finds

SINGAPORE, June 30 — More young Singaporeans are remaining single than they were five years ago, pointing to a continued shift towards later marriage as the city-state’s household and family patterns evolve.

The latest General Household Survey 2025, published by the Department of Statistics and reported by The Straits Times, found that 73.4 per cent of female residents aged 25 to 29 were single this year, up from 69 per cent in 2020. Among men in the same age group, the share rose from 81.6 per cent to 85.9 per cent.

The sharpest increase was among men aged 30 to 34, where the proportion who were single climbed from 41.9 per cent to 47.6 per cent over the five-year period.

Singlehood and later marriage remained more common among Chinese residents than among Malays and Indians. In 2025, 38 per cent of Chinese resident men and 30.7 per cent of Chinese resident women aged 30 to 39 were single, higher than the corresponding proportions among the other major ethnic groups.

Even as more young adults delayed marriage, married couples with children remained the most common household type, accounting for 47.6 per cent of resident households. That was down slightly from 50.4 per cent in 2020, reflecting gradual changes in family structures.

The survey also highlighted Singapore’s growing reliance on dual-income households. The proportion of couples in which both spouses were employed rose from 52.5 per cent in 2020 to 56.6 per cent in 2025, while households with only the husband in work became less common. The increase was most pronounced among couples aged 35 to 49 and those aged 50 to 64.

Singapore’s population also continued to become more highly educated. Nearly two-thirds of residents aged 25 and above — 64.8 per cent — held post-secondary or higher qualifications in 2025, compared with 58.3 per cent five years earlier.

Educational attainment within marriages became increasingly similar, with 52 per cent of couples now sharing the same highest qualification, up from 46.6 per cent in 2020. At the same time, the share of marriages in which wives had lower qualifications than their husbands fell from 30.8 per cent to 26.7 per cent.

English further strengthened its position as the language most frequently spoken at home. In 2025, 58.1 per cent of residents aged five and above said English was their primary household language, up from 48.3 per cent in 2020. However, bilingualism remained widespread, with more than 80 per cent of English-speaking residents also using a vernacular language at home.

Literacy remained high, with 98.6 per cent of residents aged 15 and above able to read in at least one language. Among literate residents under 45, nine in 10 could read two or more languages.

Taken together, the survey paints a picture of a society in gradual transition — one where marriage is increasingly delayed, dual-income households have become the norm, and education and English proficiency continue to reshape everyday life.