Average of 10 to 11 NSFs died during service per year in last decade: Chan Chun Sing

Consistent with the national trend for males aged 10 to 30, the leading causes of death were suicide, followed by road traffic accidents.

National servicemen in Singapore. (File photo: CNA/Jeremy Long)

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SINGAPORE: An average of 10 to 11 full-time national servicemen (NSFs) died during service annually from 2016 to 2025, Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing said on Tuesday (Nov 3).

These were due to various causes, including suicides, road traffic accidents and natural causes such as illnesses, said Mr Chan in a written parliamentary answer.

Mr Chan was responding to a question filed by MP Fadli Fawzi (WP-Aljunied) about the number of NSFs in the last decade who have died of unnatural causes in the Singapore Armed Forces, Singapore Police Force and Singapore Civil Defence Force. He also asked for the main causes of these deaths and the steps taken to reduce their incidence.

CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less Every year, about 45,000 male Singaporeans and permanent residents serve their full-time national service in the three uniformed services. “Over the same period, an average of about four NSFs per year passed away due to suicide. This translates to an average annual suicide rate of 0.009 per cent among NSFs,” said Mr Chan. He noted that this was lower than the national suicide rate of 0.014 per cent for males in 2024, which was the most recent year for which national suicide numbers were finalised. “Beyond these numbers, every death represents a tragic loss of life, leaving behind grieving families and loved ones. We take every loss of life seriously, and our deepest condolences go out to the families affected,” said Mr Chan. He added that the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) take the safety and well-being of every NSF seriously. Every death is thoroughly investigated and, where relevant, measures are put in place to reduce the likelihood of recurrence, said Mr Chan. Responding to a question from MP Kenneth Tiong (WP-Aljunied) about the publishing of the figures, Mr Chan said that MINDEF and MHA already issue news releases when there is a death of a serviceman in camp, or while on duty.

Every year, about 45,000 male Singaporeans and permanent residents serve their full-time national service in the three uniformed services.

“Over the same period, an average of about four NSFs per year passed away due to suicide. This translates to an average annual suicide rate of 0.009 per cent among NSFs,” said Mr Chan.

He noted that this was lower than the national suicide rate of 0.014 per cent for males in 2024, which was the most recent year for which national suicide numbers were finalised.

“Beyond these numbers, every death represents a tragic loss of life, leaving behind grieving families and loved ones. We take every loss of life seriously, and our deepest condolences go out to the families affected,” said Mr Chan.

He added that the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) take the safety and well-being of every NSF seriously.

Every death is thoroughly investigated and, where relevant, measures are put in place to reduce the likelihood of recurrence, said Mr Chan.

Responding to a question from MP Kenneth Tiong (WP-Aljunied) about the publishing of the figures, Mr Chan said that MINDEF and MHA already issue news releases when there is a death of a serviceman in camp, or while on duty.

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与全国 10 至 30 岁男性死亡趋势一致，主要死因是自杀，其次是道路交通事故。

新加坡国民服役人员。（资料照片：CNA/Jeremy Long）

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新加坡：国防部长陈振声周二（11月3日）表示，从2016年到2025年，每年平均有10至11名全职国民服役人员（NSF）在服役期间死亡。

陈先生在书面国会答复中表示，这些死亡是由多种原因造成的，包括自杀、交通事故和疾病等自然原因。

陈先生是在回应议员法德利·法兹（工人党-阿裕尼选区）提出的问题时作出的答复。法德利·法兹询问过去十年中，新加坡武装部队、新加坡警察部队和新加坡民防部队中因非自然原因死亡的国民服役人员人数。他还询问了这些死亡的主要原因以及为减少此类事件发生而采取的措施。

CNA游戏 猜词游戏 逐行破解单词 流行词游戏 用给定的字母组成单词 迷你数独 小谜题，脑力挑战 迷你填字游戏 小方格，大挑战 单词搜索 尽可能多地找出单词 显示更多 显示更少 每年，约有45,000名新加坡男性公民和永久居民在三个制服部队服役，完成全职国民服役。“同期，平均每年约有4名国民服役人员自杀身亡。这意味着国民服役人员的年平均自杀率为0.009%。”陈先生说。他指出，这一数字低于2024年男性全国自杀率0.014%，2024年是全国自杀数据最终确定的最近年份。“除了这些数字之外，每一次死亡都代表着生命的悲剧性逝去，留下悲痛欲绝的家人和爱人。我们严肃对待每一位逝者，并向受影响的家庭致以最深切的慰问。”陈先生说。他补充说，国防部和内政部非常重视每一位国民服役人员的安全和福祉。陈先生表示，每一起死亡事件都会得到彻底调查，并在必要时采取措施，以降低再次发生的可能性。针对议员张建宗（工人党-阿裕尼选区）关于公布死亡人数的提问，陈先生表示，国防部和内政部在有军人在营地或执行任务期间死亡时，都会发布新闻稿。

每年约有 45,000 名新加坡男性公民和永久居民在三个制服部队服全职国民服役。

陈先生说：“同期，平均每年约有四名国民服役人员自杀身亡。这意味着国民服役人员的年平均自杀率为0.009%。”

他指出，这一数字低于 2024 年男性全国自杀率 0.014%，2024 年是全国自杀人数最终确定的最近年份。

“除了这些数字之外，每一例死亡都代表着生命的逝去，留下悲痛欲绝的家人和亲人。我们严肃对待每一例生命的逝去，并向受影响的家庭致以最深切的慰问，”陈先生说。

他还补充说，国防部和内政部非常重视每一位国民服役人员的安全和福祉。

陈先生表示，每起死亡事件都会进行彻底调查，并在相关情况下采取措施降低再次发生的可能性。

针对议员张建宗（工人党-阿裕尼）关于公布相关数据的问题，陈先生表示，国防部和内政部在军人在营地或执行任务期间死亡时，都会发布新闻稿。

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