Sourced fact
The News
Singapore has launched a government-sponsored dating app, FirstDate, for government employees to address the country's declining fertility rates. The service was launched this week for individuals aged 21 to 35 and relies on the Gale-Shapley algorithm, which won the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2012. The app uses the national digital identity system for registration and gathers information on users' interests, habits, and values.
The service has elicited mixed reactions from the public, with some describing it as "dictatorial," while others express a desire to try it out. Elizabeth, a defense ministry employee, believes that dating through apps will not change significantly, but she appreciates the reduced risk of scams. However, some social media users have criticized the service due to age limits and restrictions on government employees.
This initiative comes amid a historic low in Singapore's fertility rates, with fewer than 30,000 babies born in 2025 for the first time in 60 years. At the same time, the number of deaths in the country has increased, indicating an aging population. In August, the Singaporean government announced a package of new measures to support families and encourage couples to have children, including financial support of approximately 70,000 Singapore dollars (54,000 US dollars) per child by age 17.
Singapore has previously launched programs to encourage dating among young people, such as the Social Development Unit in 1984, which was later discontinued due to criticisms of discrimination against non-degree holders. In the context of governments addressing declining fertility rates, Tokyo launched an AI-supported dating app in September 2024, leading to 265 marriages by July of this year.
Analysis & context
Analysis & Context
From an analytical perspective, Singapore faces significant challenges in increasing the birth rate, with the number of births falling below 30,000 in 2025 for the first time in 60 years. In a broader context, many countries are using advanced algorithms and technologies to improve marriage prospects and increase birth rates, such as Japan's AI-supported dating app. This reflects the global challenges related to demographic changes and the economic pressures faced by families in finding partners and starting families.
