SINGAPORE - Singapore will allocate nearly 7 billion Singapore dollars (about $5.18 billion) to marriage and parenthood initiatives in the financial year 2026 (April 2026 - March 2027), up from over 4 billion Singapore dollars in 2020, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Indranee Rajah told the parliament on Wednesday.

The announcement came during a parliamentary debate on a motion supporting Singaporeans in starting and raising families. The motion calls for continuous review and updates to policies that better support families and align with Singaporeans' marriage and parenthood aspirations.

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Supporting families remains a top national priority, even as family formation and fertility rates decline in Singapore and globally due to shifting social norms, said Rajah, also second minister for finance and national development.

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She also noted that the 7 billion Singapore dollar budget is in addition to existing government subsidies in areas such as education and housing.

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During the debate, many suggestions focused on enhanced housing and financial support to encourage parenthood, as well as greater caregiving assistance for families.