Singapore Sees Slight Increase in Births in 2024, But No Baby Boom in Year of the Dragon

Historically, there has been a baby boom each dragon year, which falls every 12 years in the zodiac cycle.

Singapore did not experience a baby boom in the Year of the Dragon, but there was a slight increase in births in 2024. A total of 33,703 babies were born in 2024, up by 0.5% from the previous year, according to the Report on Registration of Births and Deaths 2024 released by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority on July 18.

Singapore has one of the world's lowest birth rates, and efforts have been made by the Government to encourage more births. The number of deaths decreased in 2024, marking the first decline in almost a decade. The leading causes of death were cancer and heart diseases.

In the Chinese zodiac calendar, the Dragon Year is traditionally seen as an auspicious time to have children. However, the dragon year effect has been diminishing over the years due to changing attitudes and priorities among young couples.

Despite efforts to boost the birth rate, Singapore's total fertility rate remained at 0.97 in 2024, the same as in 2023 when it fell below 1 for the first time.

Historically, there has been a baby boom in each dragon year, with notable increases in births during those years. The Government has implemented various measures to address the low birth rate in Singapore over the past two decades.

According to the source: The Straits Times.