Young, old, single, divorced: The many faces of Singapore’s one-person households

From young singles seeking a home of their own to seniors ageing independently, more people in Singapore are living alone. As the number of one-person resident households rises, experts said supporting their diverse needs will require rethinking housing, caregiving and how we structure social connection.

As one-person households now make up roughly one in six resident households, experts said this is a large enough group to have implications for housing, caregiving and social policy. (Illustration: CNA/Clara Ho)

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Standing in his newly purchased condominium unit amid the renovation work, 32-year-old Shelton Chang couldn't shake off a surreal feeling.

He was finally getting the space of his own that he had dreamed of since his 20s, and which for many years had seemed out of reach.

As an unmarried Singaporean, he would have had to wait until he was 35 to purchase a flat from the Housing and Development Board (HDB), and, up until recently, he did not have the financial means to buy a home on the private market.

The public relations professional has long desired his own space as he grew up having to share a bedroom with two siblings. When he was 28, the living situation became so uncomfortable that he moved out and rented a common room in an HDB flat.

Then, his father died of cancer earlier this year, leaving him with a sizeable inheritance – enough for him to purchase a two-bedroom condominium unit in the north.

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Mr Shelton Chang at his condominium that is being renovated on Sep 8, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Lim Li Ting)

"It was ⁠not expected as he had an aggressive cancer that took him within two months of diagnosis – I was planning to wait till 35 to get a resale HDB near my parents so I could be involved in their retirement," said Mr Chang.

"It is bittersweet – it made me feel like I had to lose a lot in order to get home ownership personally as without his inheritance I would have needed to wait till after 35. My new home is a remembrance of his legacy and his sacrifice for the family."

Meanwhile, 71-year-old divorcee Mohamed Amin Mohamed Salleh has been navigating the realities of ageing as a single person with limited means.

The retiree, who pr eviously worked as a security guard, has lived in a one-room public rental flat for the past 10 years.

He underwent heart bypass surgery in 2016 and now gets around with the help of a personal mobility device subsidised by the Agency for Integrated Care.

Mr Amin also receives help from charities such as Yong-en Care Centre, which helps him pack his medication and provides monthly fresh food rations, under its food security programme.

Such support has allowed him to remain largely independent. But living alone in old age means stretching his monthly Central Provident Fund payout across rent, utilities, food and transport. He also strives to maintain his health, knowing there may not always be someone around when something goes wrong.

Mr Mohamed Amin Mohamed Salleh in his flat on Sep 8, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Lim Li Ting)

"My neighbour passed away, after falling inside the toilet, and (after a while) a smell came out. No one knew," said Mr Amin, who has two adult children he keeps in touch with.

Mr Chang and Mr Amin are among a diverse and growing population of single adults in Singapore who form one-person households. They include never-married young adults, divorcees, widows and widowers, single parents and solo seniors whose children have left the nest.

According to the Singapore Department of Statistics, there were around 247,900 one-person households in 2025, making up around 16.7 per cent of overall resident households last year.

This is up from around 146,000 one-person households in 2015, or about 11.9 per cent of the overall resident households then.

The growth of this demographic will have broad implications for society.

As Assistant Professor Yeow Hwee Chua from Nanyang Technological University's (NTU) School of Social Sciences noted, one-person households now make up roughly one in six resident households, which is a large enough group to have implications for housing, caregiving and social policy.

This does not mean Singapore will have to jettison its longstanding family-centric policies, he said, adding that s upporting marriage and parenthood can co-exist with adapting housing, healthcare and retirement systems to increasingly diverse household circumstances.

Indeed, at the National Day Rally last month, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced a slew of measures for Singapore's families, but added that the government has "not forgotten" singles, and is looking at how it can better support this group.

But as singles are far from being a monolith, e xperts noted that support for these individuals will have to be targeted and account for their diversity, as their housing options, financial resources, support networks and needs can differ considerably depending on their circumstances and stage of life.

RISE IN ONE-PERSON HOUSEHOLDS

The jump in one-person resident households over the past decade represents a significant shift, said experts, who noted that most of the increase took place between 2015 and 2020.

The Singapore Department of Statistics defines resident households as one where the "household reference person" is a Singapore citizen or permanent resident.

The reference person usually refers to the oldest member, the main income earner, the owner-occupier of the house, the person who manages the affairs of the household, or the person who supplied the information about other members.

Over the years, the age profile of those living alone has also shifted.

In 2015, those aged 50 to 64 formed the largest group, accounting for about 38.4 per cent, or around 56,000 households, of the 146,000 one-person resident households.

A decade later, as this same group had aged into their 60s and beyond, those aged 65 and above now form the largest group, making up 35.7 per cent, or around 88,400 households, of the around 247,900 one-person resident households.

Those below 35 remained the smallest group over the decade, though their share of one-person resident households grew from 6.3 per cent in 2015 to 9.1 per cent in 2025.

Given current trends, it is likely that Singapore will see more one- and two-person households, including more older couples and seniors living on their own in the next 10 years, said Associate Professor Nicholas Sim, Assistant Provost at the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS).

Experts said there is no single explanation for the overall rise in one-person households. Instead, several demographic and social shifts are occurring simultaneously, such as an increase in older residents, which results in more singles living alone after the death of a spouse or when their adult children move out.

Among younger Singaporeans, Assoc Prof Sim said the rise in one-person households is likely due to later marriage and a larger proportion remaining single for longer, resulting in a naturally longer period during adulthood where some will choose to live alone.

Greater financial security and rising incomes have also made independent living more feasible for some adults, he added.

Among those in this category is Ms Lu Anqi, 32, who bought her own condominium in 2023, a move that the marketing professional said has given her a strong sense of security, stability and empowerment.

"My savings, insurance and investment plans are all built around the goal of being financially independent and being able to retire on my own by a certain age," said Ms Lu.

Three years ago when she was looking to move out of her parents' home after their divorce, Ms Lu could either rent a unit or purchase one from the private market. She chose the latter option as she did not want to be "paying someone else’s monthly mortgage" and felt ready to attain her own independence through having a place of her own.

"There seems to be an expectation that by around 35, people should have settled down or made decisions about marriage and starting a family. This can be difficult for people who want to move out, establish their own independence, and build a life on their own terms," said Ms Lu.

For those who transition to living alone later in life, however, considerations tend to revolve around ageing safely on their own.

Ms Joyce Tan, a 73-year-old retiree who previously worked as a private secretary to a chief executive officer in a bank , has lived by herself in an executive apartment since her husband died in 2015.

While her daughter lives nearby, Ms Tan remains "fiercely independent" and is happy living on her own.

Her concerns now revolve around maintaining that independence, particularly amid cases of seniors dying alone at home, and she would consider moving into a senior-friendly assisted living concept like HDB's Community Care Apartments if she becomes less mobile, she said.

"I expect that I will probably be weaker as the years pass. But I'm trying to be as strong as I can, like doing exercise at home," said Ms Tan.

MAKING HOMES FOR SINGLES

Among the younger singles who spoke to CNA TODAY, housing was a top issue of concern, with many saying they wished they had easier access to public housing.

Ms Clare Chen, a 37-year-old user experience specialist, decided to move out of her family home at 31 as she valued the privacy and independence of living alone, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Still several years shy of 35 then, Ms Chen first rented a flat near her family home. She wanted to be close to her mother, who has since died, and her two aunts, whom she continues to regularly look out for.

Ms Chen said she cut her expenses substantially to be able to afford the rent. By the time she bought her own HDB flat in 2024, she had relatively little savings left.

She decided against balloting for a two-room Flexi Build-to-Order (BTO) flat – the only type of flat that singles are eligible to ballot for under the BTO process – as waiting several more years for a smaller flat would have meant continuing to pay rent. Instead, she bought a three-room resale flat.

Ms Clare Chen in her three-room resale HDB flat, which she bought at the age of 35. (Photo: CNA/Raj Nadarajan)

"I had just enough to pay for renovation and downpayments. I survived pay cheque to pay cheque for eight months after buying my house with zero savings," said Ms Chen.

While she now relishes living in the flat in the east with her cat, Ms Chen noted that unlike couples pooling their resources towards a home, all her expenses are borne by a single income.

"I end up spending just as much as my other friends who live with their partners, especially for groceries,” said Ms Chen.

That also shapes how she thinks about her housing options in the future. While she briefly considered selling after learning from a property agent friend that her flat could be worth about 50 per cent more than what she had paid for it, she ultimately decided against it.

For one thing, Ms Chen does not feel that subsidised housing should be bought with the aim of turning a profit and she is happy with the amount of space she already has.

She also doubted that she could comfortably afford a larger or nicer home in the same area on a single income, with any gains from selling likely having to go towards the costs of buying and renovating another home – a process she is in no hurry to repeat just over two years after moving in.

Singles' housing needs are also not necessarily fixed, particularly for those whose relationships and family circumstances take unexpected turns.

Ms Sabrina Seah, now 44, was first engaged at 30 and had applied for a BTO flat with her then-fiance. But the wedding was called off shortly before it was due to take place.

The financial consultant eventually bought a four-room resale flat when she reached 35, by which point she was prepared for the possibility of remaining single for life.

Ms Seah wanted a larger flat that could provide rental income later in life if she remained single and also have enough space should she have a family.

The irony is that after I moved out (from the family home), I met my husband. Having my own space helped put me in a better mental space, and I think that was what helped me to attract the right person.

"The irony is that after I moved out (from the family home), I met my husband. Having my own space helped put me in a better mental space, and I think that was what helped me to attract the right person," she said.

Ms Seah met her now-husband about a year after buying her flat, and he later moved in.

As one-person resident households become more common, experts said public housing policy will increasingly have to grapple with such differing needs and the trade-offs involved in meeting them.

Over the years, Singapore has already been taking steps to do so gradually.

The Joint Singles Scheme and the Single Singapore Citizen Scheme were introduced in 1990 and 1991 respectively.

Since then, more recent changes have expanded singles' access to locations, flat types and subsidies.

"The main remaining difference is access to new larger flats: singles buying alone directly from HDB are generally limited to two-room Flexi BTO flats, while families can apply for larger flat types and receive higher allocation priority under several schemes," said Dr Lee Nai Jia, director of real estate consultancy PropertyDoctors (Singapore).

Should the number of one-person households continue to increase, experts said this might mean a need for a higher share of smaller units, and potentially more rental or service-supported housing.

Among the younger singles who spoke to CNA TODAY, housing was a top issue of concern, with many saying they wished they had easier access to public housing. (Photo: CNA/Lim Li Ting)

Professor Sing Tien Foo, Provost’s Chair Professor at the Department of Real Estate of NUS Business School, pointed to the strong competition for two-room Flexi flats among singles in the last few rounds of BTO exercises, which indicates rising demand from this group of applicants.

However, he said lowering the age limit for singles buying BTO flats would increase competition from younger singles, who may squeeze out some 35 and older singles from the BTO market if supply is insufficient to meet the increased demand.

Dr Lee agreed that likely areas of focus for reviewing housing policy include more small-unit supply, stronger support for singles caring for parents, a review of age eligibility and subsidy design, and housing-with-care options for seniors.

However, the trade-off is land and construction capacity as increasing small-unit supply can reduce the number of larger units available for families unless overall supply expands.

"Smaller households also use more dwellings per capita, so the same population can require more housing units,” said Dr Lee.

While public discussion has focused around the 35-year-old eligibility threshold for single Singaporeans to purchase an HDB flat, he said support for younger singles need not necessarily take the form of subsidised ownership.

"Alternatives could include rental options or a lower level of subsidy, while preserving priority for first-timer families and older singles with greater housing or care needs. A graduated system could manage these trade-offs more effectively than a simple change to the age threshold," said Dr Lee.

As Singapore's population ages, public housing policy is also responding to two later-life needs for singles: those who care for parents, reflected in the Family Care Scheme ; and older singles who may need housing integrated with care, such as Community Care Apartments , he added.

HOW OTHER PLACES ADAPT TO ONE-PERSON HOUSEHOLDS

The rise in one-person households is not unique to Singapore.

In Thailand, one-person households increased from about 15.2 per cent of households in 2014 to 26.5 per cent in 2024, said Associate Professor Nicholas Sim, Assistant Provost of the Singapore University of Social Sciences.

Other Asian countries such as Japan and South Korea, as well as European countries such as Germany, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland, have all experienced substantial growth in one-person households, noted Professor Sing Tien Foo, Provost’s Chair Professor at the Department of Real Estate of NUS Business School.

“Japan and South Korea provide particularly relevant examples because both have experienced ageing populations, delayed marriage and declining fertility,” he said.

Some key lessons from these countries include adapting housing to caregiving needs, such as when singles living alone need more community-based care as they age and diversifying housing options, including rental housing, co-living models and assisted living arrangements.

Prof Sing said: "A common lesson is to provide a range of housing options by life stage rather than rely on a single ownership threshold. For older singles, housing policy also increasingly needs to integrate caregiving, accessibility and community support.”

In Seoul in South Korea, for example, there is the Borindure Housing Project, a four-storey building that houses 10 senior citizens living without families at affordable rates, with a seniors centre open to all seniors from the neighbourhood on the first two floors.

Dr Lee Nai Jia, director of real estate consultancy PropertyDoctors (Singapore), noted that places with a comparable rise in one-person households like Taiwan and Hong Kong have a generally more rental-oriented model of housing support than Singapore's ownership model.

Dr Lee also pointed to facilities overseas that cater to specific ailments, such as dementia villages in The Netherlands and China .

In Singapore, a number of community and policy housing initiatives have taken into account the needs of seniors, including Kampung Admiralty , the first integrated development for the elderly.

There is also the Enhancement for Active Seniors programme to provide subsidy vouchers for households to install senior-friendly fittings in homes, said Dr Lee.

In response to CNA TODAY's queries, a Ministry of National Development (MND) spokesperson said it has progressively expanded public options for singles.

Some of the more recent developments include:

In 2013, singles were first allowed to purchase two-room Flexi flats in non-mature estates (NMEs).

In 2015, MND raised the singles' quota for two-room Flexi flats in NMEs from 30 per cent to 50 per cent. This quota was further increased to 65 per cent in 2022.

Since 2024, under the new flat classification framework, eligible singles have been allowed to buy two-room Flexi flats islandwide (Standard, Plus and Prime projects), instead of only two-room Flexi flats in NMEs.

In 2025, HDB extended priority access to singles through the Family Care Scheme, when singles apply for a new flat to live with or near their parents. Such proximity priority was previously available only to married children.

"We are also increasing the supply of two-room Flexi flats by almost 50 per cent from 2026 to 2028, compared to 2023 to 2025, to meet growing demand from singles and seniors," said MND.

The ministry is looking at lowering the eligibility age for singles to buy HDB flats and is reviewing its schemes to better meet the needs of other groups of singles, such as those who may want to buy a bigger flat together with their family members, the ministry added.

"As these policy moves will increase demand for BTO flats, we must first ensure that there is sufficient housing supply by building more and building faster," said MND.

As one-person resident households become more common, experts said public housing policy will increasingly have to grapple with such differing needs and the trade-offs involved in meeting them. (Photo: CNA/Ooi Boon Keong)

SUPPORTING SINGLE LIVES

The family has long been viewed as both the bedrock of society and the first line of care in Singapore, experts noted, with the community and government providing additional support around it.

This approach worked particularly well when families were larger and financial and caregiving responsibilities could be shared among more siblings and relatives.

But even as the family is likely to remain the primary source of support here, the environment in which families operate has changed, said Assoc Prof Sim from SUSS.

"So I would not wait until one-person households reach some particular percentage before responding. We should adapt to the household structures we have today, while also trying to understand why more people are remaining single in the first place."

Beyond housing, experts said policymakers also need to think about healthcare, caregiving, social connection and how people living alone can obtain help when they need it.

This is especially considering a particular disadvantage singles face: the lack of cost-sharing and risk-sharing within the household.

"Housing, utilities and many other expenses do not fall proportionately when one person lives alone, and there is no spouse whose income can help cushion a financial shock," Asst Prof Chua from NTU said.

Still, singles should not automatically be viewed as financially vulnerable, he added. Their circumstances vary greatly, and some may have fewer dependants and enjoy greater flexibility over work, savings and retirement decisions.

Others, however, may shoulder considerable responsibilities alone.

Mr Chang, who is set to move into his new condominium unit in a few months, has observed an expectation for singles to become the default family caregiver as they are perceived to have fewer competing demands.

"I think that assumption is unfair. Every household has its own dynamic and philosophy about who cares for ageing parents, and that's a conversation a family has to have together," said Mr Chang.

Supporting singles therefore also means recognising where particular vulnerabilities lie, given the different financial resources, caregiving responsibilities and support networks that individuals may have.

Ms Eunice Shen, CEO of charity Daughters of Tomorrow, which supports lower-income women, said lower-income single mothers often face the combined challenge of managing one income and caregiving without another adult in the household to rely on.

When a child falls sick or childcare arrangements fall through, having few alternatives can mean missed work or reduced income. This can li mit their ability to take on certain jobs or training opportunities that could improve their longer-term prospects.

Beyond financial assistance, Ms Shen said supporting such singles should include flexible and family-friendly workplace practices and affordable childcare that accommodates non-standard working hours.

For single mother Farhana Ahmad Mashon, 43, who lives in a two-room public rental flat, one concern is being "everyone's main point of contact". as she cares for her mother, her children and her elder brother.

"When I was married, my ex-husband was the one who worked full time and supported us financially. Being a single mum, I have to go back to work – it wasn't easy juggling six kids and finding a suitable job," said Ms Farhana, who now works as a food delivery rider.

As she grows older and her children, between the ages of 13 and 24, eventually move out, Ms Farhana hopes to continue living independently.

Having known a neighbour who died at home without anyone realising, and through her own volunteer work befriending seniors living alone, she is acutely aware that she may eventually need someone to look out for her.

“The biggest question that I have is: Who will I rely on if my kids get married, my sister is no longer available to assist me, when my mum is no longer around for me to vent my issues to?" said Ms Farhana, adding that she has yet to find the answer.

A spokesperson from the National Population and Talent Division (NPTD) of the Prime Minister's Office told CNA TODAY that while supporting marriage and parenthood remains a priority, it recognises the distinct needs of singles and others in different household arrangements.

" For instance, many singles support ageing parents and shoulder significant family responsibilities. We will continue to study these trends, engage Singaporeans to better understand their housing, caregiving and other needs, and consider policy adjustments to support them better," said the spokesperson.

Some singles have also shared challenges in sustaining meaningful relationships once they leave school to enter the workforce. The government will thus continue to work with community and private-sector partners to create more opportunities for sustained social interaction and connection.

"We will continue to push for more work-life friendly practices; these support all employees, not just parents," said the NPTD.

The NPTD's Marriage and Parenthood Reset Workgroup will explore ways to support relationship formation and work-life support, said the spokesperson, with further details to come in the workgroup's consolidated report due to be released in early 2027.

Singles young and old told CNA TODAY of how they draw on wider networks of friends and community groups while remaining largely independent – and, in turn, find opportunities to support others in a similar position.

Mr Ramachandran P, 71, who used to work at a nursing home as a personal executive officer before retiring, has lived alone in his three-room flat for about two years, after separating from his wife. His three adult children are now living overseas.

His children remain involved from afar, calling regularly. His eldest daughter in Australia is his emergency contact and checks that he takes his medication and records his blood pressure readings regularly.

For now, the retiree is comfortable managing largely on his own and keeps busy through volunteering and other activities. A fter a recent hospital stay due to sudden giddiness and sweating, Mr Ramachandran simply booked a private-hire car upon his discharge and made his own way home, with many friends checking in on him.

Ms Karen Wee, executive director of Lions Befrienders, said the more important question for seniors is not their household status, but whether they have trusted networks they can turn to when needed.

Making sure seniors are not isolated also includes making opportunities for seniors to remain active contributors to their communities , she said, noting that many seniors receive a sense of belonging and fulfilment as volunteers.

Ms Stephanie Lai, a 67-year-old single retiree, has lived in her three-room HDB flat since 1987, when she bought the unit with her father.

As the only unmarried family member with nine married siblings, Ms Lai said much of the responsibility for caring for her father fell on her. This included managing his healthcare costs and debts from the provision shop he used to run, until he died at the age of 96.

Ms Stephanie Lai playing the ukelele in her flat on Sep 8, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Lim Li Ting)

Ms Stephanie Lai looking at photos of her Chinese New Year family gathering on Sep 8, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Lim Li Ting)

After retiring from teaching, Ms Lai is now often busier than ever.

Besides relief teaching, she does volunteer work with dementia patients at a nursing home, plays in a ukulele group at the Lions Befrienders' Active Ageing Centre near her home, and attends aqua tabata classes.

She is also close to her extended family, including a nephew who often helps her with digital devices, and is fond of hosting large family gatherings.

At home, the domestic helper who previously cared for her father continues to help Ms Lai with cooking and cleaning.

With these layers of support, growing older independently does not mean having to manage everything alone – and Ms Lai tries to offer the same help to others.

"Sometimes I will go and visit my friends who are single and help them to buy some groceries. Some of them are in their 80s, coming to 90," she said.

"Meeting up with them, just to chit chat or just to listen – it makes a lot of difference."

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从寻求独立住房的年轻单身人士到独立养老的老年人，新加坡独居人口正在不断增加。随着单人居住家庭数量的上升，专家表示，为了满足他们多样化的需求，我们需要重新思考住房、照护以及社会关系的构建方式。

专家表示，目前单人家庭约占居民家庭总数的六分之一，这一群体规模庞大，足以对住房、照护和社会政策产生影响。（插图：CNA/Clara Ho）

这段音频是由人工智能工具生成的。

32岁的谢尔顿·张站在他新买的公寓里，周围正在进行装修，他始终无法摆脱一种不真实的感觉。

他终于拥有了自己从二十多岁起就梦寐以求的空间，而多年来，这个空间似乎一直遥不可及。

作为一名未婚的新加坡公民，他必须等到 35 岁才能从建屋发展局 (HDB) 购买组屋，而且直到最近，他都没有足够的经济能力在私人市场上购买房屋。

这位公关从业者一直渴望拥有自己的空间，因为他从小就和两个兄弟姐妹共用一个卧室。28岁那年，居住环境变得实在令人难以忍受，他便搬了出去，在组屋里租了一间合住的房间。

今年早些时候，他的父亲因癌症去世，给他留下了一笔可观的遗产——足以让他买一套位于北部的两居室公寓。

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 小小谜题，挑战你的大脑 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

2026年9月8日，谢尔顿·张先生在其正在装修的公寓前。（图片：CNA/林丽婷）

张先生说：“这完全出乎我的意料，因为他患的是一种侵袭性很强的癌症，确诊后两个月就去世了——我原本计划等到 35 岁，在我父母家附近买一套转售组屋，这样我就可以参与他们的退休生活了。”

“这感觉真是五味杂陈——这让我觉得为了拥有自己的房子，我不得不失去很多，因为如果没有他的遗产，我得等到35岁以后才能买房。我的新家是对他留下的遗产和他对家庭所做牺牲的纪念。”

与此同时，71岁的离异人士穆罕默德·阿明·穆罕默德·萨利赫正在努力应对单身人士在经济拮据的情况下步入老年的现实。

这位退休人士以前是保安，过去 10 年一直住在政府提供的单间公租房里。

他于 2016 年接受了心脏搭桥手术，现在借助由综合护理机构补贴的个人移动设备出行。

阿明先生还得到了永恩关爱中心等慈善机构的帮助，该中心在其食品安全计划下帮助他打包药品并每月提供新鲜食品配给。

这样的支持让他基本能够独立生活。但晚年独居意味着他必须精打细算，把每月的公积金用于支付房租、水电费、伙食费和交通费。他也努力保持健康，因为他知道一旦出现问题，身边可能并不总是有人。

2026 年 9 月 8 日，Mohamed Amin Mohamed Salleh 先生在他的公寓里。（照片：CNA/Lim Li Ting）

“我的邻居摔进厕所后去世了，过了一会儿，一股臭味散发出来。没人知道发生了什么事，”阿明先生说，他有两个成年的孩子，一直和他们保持联系。

张先生和阿明先生是新加坡日益壮大的单身成年人群体中的一员，他们组成了一人家庭。这些人包括从未结婚的年轻人、离异人士、丧偶人士、单亲父母以及子女已离家独立生活的独居老年人。

根据新加坡统计局的数据，到 2025 年，新加坡将有约 247,900 个单人家庭，约占去年居民家庭总数的 16.7%。

这一数字高于 2015 年的约 146,000 个单人家庭，当时约占居民家庭总数的 11.9%。

这一人口结构的增长将对社会产生广泛的影响。

正如南洋理工大学（NTU）社会科学学院助理教授蔡耀辉所指出的那样，单人家庭现在约占居民家庭总数的六分之一，这是一个足够大的群体，会对住房、照护和社会政策产生影响。

他表示，这并不意味着新加坡必须放弃其长期以来以家庭为中心的政策，并补充说，支持婚姻和生育可以与调整住房、医疗保健和退休制度以适应日益多样化的家庭情况并存。

事实上，在上个月的国庆群众大会上，总理黄循财宣布了一系列针对新加坡家庭的措施，但他补充说，政府“没有忘记”单身人士，并且正在研究如何更好地支持这一群体。

但专家指出，单身人士远非铁板一块，因此对这些人士的支持必须有针对性，并考虑到他们的多样性，因为他们的住房选择、经济资源、支持网络和需求会根据他们的境况和人生阶段而有很大差异。

单人家庭数量上升

专家表示，过去十年单人居住家庭数量的激增代表着一个重大转变，他们指出，大部分增长发生在 2015 年至 2020 年之间。

新加坡统计局将居民家庭定义为“户主”为新加坡公民或永久居民的家庭。

参考人通常是指家中年纪最大的成员、主要收入来源者、房屋的所有者兼居住者、管理家庭事务的人，或者提供其他成员信息的人。

多年来，独居者的年龄结构也发生了变化。

2015 年，50 至 64 岁年龄段的人群占比最大，约占 146,000 个单人居住家庭的 38.4%，即约 56,000 户。

十年后，随着这群人步入六十多岁甚至更高，65 岁及以上的人群现在构成了最大的群体，占约 247,900 个单人居住家庭的 35.7%，即约 88,400 户。

在过去十年中，35 岁以下的人群仍然是最小的群体，尽管他们在单人居住家庭中所占的比例从 2015 年的 6.3% 增长到 2025 年的 9.1%。

新加坡社会科学大学（SUSS）助理教务长兼副教授沈尼古拉斯表示，根据目前的趋势，未来 10 年新加坡可能会出现更多的一人或两人家庭，包括更多的老年夫妇和独居老人。

专家表示，单人家庭数量总体上升并非单一原因造成。相反，多种人口和社会变化同时发生，例如老年人口增加，导致配偶去世或成年子女搬离后，更多单身人士独居。

沈副教授表示，在新加坡年轻人中，单人家庭数量的增加可能是由于结婚年龄推迟以及单身时间较长的年轻人比例增加，导致成年后选择独居的时间自然延长。

他还补充说，经济保障的提高和收入的增加也使得一些成年人能够独立生活。

这一群体中包括 32 岁的卢安琪女士，她在 2023 年购买了自己的公寓。这位市场营销专业人士表示，此举让她获得了强烈的安全感、稳定感和成就感。

卢女士说：“我的储蓄、保险和投资计划都是围绕着实现财务独立，并在一定年龄能够独自退休这一目标而制定的。”

三年前，父母离婚后，卢女士想搬出父母家，她可以选择租房或从私人市场购买。她选择了后者，因为她不想“替别人还房贷”，而且她觉得自己已经准备好通过拥有自己的住所来实现经济独立。

卢女士说：“人们似乎普遍认为，到了35岁左右，就应该安定下来，或者决定结婚生子。这对于那些想要搬出去，建立自己的独立生活，并按照自己的意愿建立生活的人来说，可能会很困难。”

然而，对于那些晚年选择独居的人来说，他们考虑的重点往往是如何安全地独自老去。

73岁的退休人士Joyce Tan女士曾担任银行首席执行官的私人秘书，自2015年丈夫去世后，她一直独自居住在高级公寓中。

虽然女儿住在附近，但谭女士依然“非常独立”，并且很享受独自生活。

她现在最关心的是如何保持独立性，尤其是在一些老年人独自在家去世的情况下。她说，如果她的行动能力下降，她会考虑搬进像建屋发展局社区护理公寓这样的老年人友好型辅助生活社区。

“我估计随着年龄增长，我的身体会越来越虚弱。但我会尽力保持强壮，比如在家做运动，”谭女士说。

为单身人士建造房屋

在接受 CNA TODAY 采访的年轻单身人士中，住房是他们最关心的问题之一，许多人表示希望更容易获得公共住房。

37岁的用户体验专家克莱尔·陈女士在31岁时决定搬出家，因为她重视独居的隐私和独立，尤其是在新冠疫情之后。

当时离35岁还有好几年的陈女士，最初是在离家不远的地方租了一套公寓。她想离已经去世的母亲和两位姑姑近一些，她现在仍然经常去看望她们。

陈女士表示，为了支付房租，她大幅削减了开支。到2024年她购买自己的组屋时，积蓄所剩无几。

她决定放弃抽签购买两房式灵活预购组屋（Flexi Build-to-Order，简称BTO），因为单身人士只能在BTO流程中抽签购买这种类型的组屋，而要再等几年才能买到一套面积较小的组屋，就意味着她还要继续支付租金。最终，她购买了一套三房式二手组屋。

克莱尔·陈女士在她35岁时购买的三房式转售组屋里。（图片：CNA/Raj Nadarajan）

陈女士说：“我当时只够支付装修费用和首付。买房后，我没有任何积蓄，靠着微薄的工资勉强维持了八个月的生活。”

陈女士现在很享受和她的猫一起住在东部的公寓里，但她也指出，与夫妻共同出资买房不同，她的所有开销都由一份收入承担。

陈女士说：“我最终花的钱和其他与伴侣同住的朋友一样多，尤其是在食品杂货方面。”

这也影响了她未来对住房选择的看法。虽然她从一位房产经纪人朋友那里得知自己的公寓可能比买入价高出约50%后，曾短暂考虑过出售，但最终还是放弃了这个想法。

首先，陈女士认为购买政府补贴住房不应该以牟利为目的，她对目前拥有的空间大小感到满意。

她还怀疑，仅凭一份收入，她能否在同一地区轻松负担得起更大或更好的房子，因为卖房所得的收益很可能要用于购买和装修另一套房子的费用——而她搬进来才两年多一点，并不急于再次经历这个过程。

单身人士的住房需求也并非一成不变，尤其是对于那些感情关系和家庭情况发生意外变化的人来说更是如此。

现年44岁的Sabrina Seah女士30岁时第一次订婚，并与当时的未婚夫一起申请了预购组屋。但婚礼在即将举行前不久取消了。

这位财务顾问最终在 35 岁时买了一套四房式二手组屋，那时她已经做好了终身单身的准备。

Seah女士想要一套更大的公寓，这样如果她以后仍然单身，就可以获得租金收入，而且如果她将来组建家庭，也有足够的空间。

讽刺的是，搬出家后，我遇到了我的丈夫。拥有自己的空间让我精神状态更好，我想这正是我吸引到对的人的原因。

“讽刺的是，我搬出家后就遇到了我的丈夫。拥有自己的空间让我精神状态更好，我想这正是我吸引到对的人的原因，”她说。

Seah女士在购买公寓大约一年后遇到了她现在的丈夫，后来他搬进了她的公寓。

专家表示，随着单人居住家庭越来越普遍，公共住房政策将越来越需要应对这种不同的需求以及满足这些需求所涉及的权衡取舍。

多年来，新加坡一直在逐步采取措施来实现这一目标。

联合单身人士计划和新加坡单身公民计划分别于 1990 年和 1991 年推出。

此后，一系列改革扩大了单身人士在住房地点、房屋类型和补贴方面的选择范围。

“主要区别在于能否获得更大的新组屋：单身人士直接从建屋发展局 (HDB) 购买组屋通常仅限于两房式灵活预购组屋 (Flexi BTO)，而家庭可以申请更大的组屋类型，并在多个计划下获得更高的分配优先权，”房地产咨询公司 PropertyDoctors (新加坡) 的董事李乃嘉博士表示。

专家表示，如果单人家庭的数量继续增加，这可能意味着需要更高比例的小户型住房，以及可能需要更多租赁住房或服务支持型住房。

在接受CNA TODAY采访的年轻单身人士中，住房是他们最关心的问题之一，许多人表示希望更容易获得公共住房。（图片：CNA/林丽婷）

新加坡国立大学商学院房地产系教务长讲席教授宋天福指出，在最近几轮预购组屋（BTO）活动中，单身人士对两房式灵活组屋的竞争非常激烈，这表明该群体申请人的需求正在上升。

然而，他表示，降低单身人士购买预购组屋的年龄限制，会增加来自年轻单身人士的竞争，如果供应不足以满足增加的需求，他们可能会将一些 35 岁及以上的单身人士挤出预购组屋市场。

李博士同意，住房政策审查的重点领域可能包括增加小型住房供应、加强对照顾父母的单身人士的支持、审查年龄资格和补贴设计，以及为老年人提供带护理的住房选择。

然而，权衡之下，土地和建筑能力会受到影响，因为增加小型单元的供应可能会减少可供家庭使用的较大单元的数量，除非整体供应量扩大。

李博士说：“家庭规模较小，人均住房数量也较多，因此同样的人口可能需要更多的住房单元。”

虽然公众讨论的焦点集中在新加坡单身人士购买组屋的年龄门槛为 35 岁，但他表示，对年轻单身人士的支持不一定需要采取补贴购房的形式。

李博士表示：“其他方案可能包括提供租赁选择或降低补贴水平，同时优先考虑首次购房家庭和有较大住房或护理需求的年长单身人士。与简单地改变年龄门槛相比，分级制度能更有效地权衡这些利弊。”

随着新加坡人口老龄化，公共住房政策也在响应单身人士晚年的两项需求：一是照顾父母的单身人士，这体现在家庭护理计划中；二是老年单身人士可能需要与护理相结合的住房，例如社区护理公寓，他补充道。

其他地方如何适应单人家庭

单人家庭数量的增加并非新加坡独有的现象。

新加坡社会科学大学助理教务长、副教授沈尼古拉斯表示，在泰国，单人家庭的比例将从 2014 年的约 15.2% 增加到 2024 年的 26.5%。

新加坡国立大学商学院房地产系教务长讲席教授符星天教授指出，其他亚洲国家如日本和韩国，以及欧洲国家如德国、瑞典、丹麦和芬兰，单人家庭的数量都出现了大幅增长。

他说：“日本和韩国提供了特别相关的例子，因为两国都经历了人口老龄化、结婚年龄推迟和生育率下降等问题。”

这些国家的一些重要经验包括：根据照护需求调整住房，例如，独居老人随着年龄增长需要更多社区照护；以及使住房选择多样化，包括租赁住房、合住模式和辅助生活安排。

辛格教授表示：“一个普遍的经验是，应该根据人生阶段提供一系列住房选择，而不是依赖单一的产权门槛。对于老年单身人士来说，住房政策也越来越需要将照护、无障碍设施和社区支持纳入考量。”

例如，在韩国首尔，有一个名为“宝林杜尔住宅项目”的四层楼房，以可负担的价格为 10 位无家室老人提供住房，一楼和二楼还设有老年人活动中心，向附近所有老年人开放。

新加坡房地产咨询公司 PropertyDoctors 的董事李乃嘉博士指出，像台湾和香港这样单人家庭数量增长幅度相当的地方，其住房支持模式通常比新加坡的拥有权模式更偏向租赁。

李博士还提到了海外一些专门针对特定疾病的机构，例如荷兰和中国的痴呆症村。

在新加坡，许多社区和政策住房举措都考虑到了老年人的需求，其中包括甘榜海军部，这是第一个为老年人设立的综合发展项目。

李医生表示，政府还推出了“提升乐龄人士生活水平计划”，为家庭提供补贴券，用于在家中安装适合老年人使用的设施。

针对 CNA TODAY 的询问，国家发展部发言人表示，该部已逐步扩大单身人士的公共服务选择范围。

最近的一些进展包括：

2013年，单身人士首次被允许在非成熟组屋区（NME）购买两室灵活组屋。

2015年，国家发展部将新型市场中两房式灵活组屋的单身人士配额从30%提高到50%。2022年，该配额进一步提高到65%。

自 2024 年起，根据新的组屋分类框架，符合条件的单身人士可以在全岛范围内购买两房式灵活组屋（标准、Plus 和 Prime 项目），而不再仅限于 NME 中的两房式灵活组屋。

2025年，建屋发展局通过“家庭关怀计划”将优先购房权扩展至单身人士，单身人士申请新组屋时，可与父母同住或居住在父母附近。此前，只有已婚子女才能享受这种居住优先权。

“为了满足单身人士和老年人日益增长的需求，我们将在2026年至2028年期间，将两房式灵活组屋的供应量比2023年至2025年期间增加近50%。”国家发展部表示。

该部门补充说，正在考虑降低单身人士购买组屋的年龄限制，并正在审查相关计划，以更好地满足其他单身人士群体的需求，例如那些可能希望与家人一起购买更大组屋的单身人士。

国家发展部表示：“由于这些政策举措将增加对预购组屋的需求，我们首先必须通过建造更多、更快的房屋来确保充足的住房供应。”

随着单人居住家庭日益普遍，专家表示，公共住房政策将越来越需要应对这些不同的需求以及满足这些需求所涉及的权衡取舍。（图片：CNA/Ooi Boon Keong）

支持单身生活

专家指出，在新加坡，家庭长期以来被视为社会的基石和第一道防线，而社区和政府则为其提供额外的支持。

当家庭规模较大，经济和照护责任可以由更多兄弟姐妹和亲戚分担时，这种方法尤其有效。

新加坡新跃社科大学副教授沈表示，尽管家庭可能仍然是这里的主要支持来源，但家庭所处的环境已经发生了变化。

“所以，我不会等到单人家庭达到某个特定比例才采取行动。我们应该适应现有的家庭结构，同时也要努力了解为什么越来越多的人选择单身。”

除了住房问题，专家表示，政策制定者还需要考虑医疗保健、照护、社会联系以及独居者在需要时如何获得帮助。

尤其考虑到单身人士面临的一个特殊劣势：缺乏家庭内部的费用分担和风险分担。

“当一个人独居时，住房、水电费和许多其他费用并不会成比例地减少，而且没有配偶的收入可以帮助缓解经济冲击，”南洋理工大学的蔡助理教授说。

不过，他补充说，不应自动将单身人士视为经济脆弱群体。他们的具体情况千差万别，有些人可能需要赡养的人较少，在工作、储蓄和退休决策方面也拥有更大的灵活性。

然而，有些人可能独自承担相当大的责任。

张先生将在几个月后搬进他的新公寓，他观察到，人们期望单身人士成为默认的家庭照顾者，因为人们认为他们面临的其他需求较少。

“我认为这种假设是不公平的。每个家庭都有自己照顾年迈父母的方式和理念，这是家庭成员之间需要共同讨论的问题，”张先生说。

因此，支持单身人士也意味着要认识到他们面临的特殊脆弱性，因为每个人的经济资源、照顾责任和支持网络可能各不相同。

支持低收入女性的慈善机构“明日之女”的首席执行官沈恩熙女士表示，低收入单身母亲常常面临着既要管理一份收入又要照顾孩子的双重挑战，因为家中没有其他成年人可以依靠。

当孩子生病或托儿安排出现变故时，由于选择有限，他们可能面临误工或收入减少的风险。这会限制他们从事某些工作或接受培训的机会，而这些机会本可以改善他们的长远发展前景。

沈女士表示，除了经济援助外，对这类单身人士的支持还应包括灵活且对家庭友好的工作场所制度，以及能够适应非标准工作时间的负担得起的托儿服务。

对于43岁的单身母亲法哈娜·艾哈迈德·马雄来说，她住在两室公租房里，她担心自己会成为“所有人的主要联系人”，因为她要照顾自己的母亲、孩子和哥哥。

“我结婚的时候，前夫全职工作，养家糊口。现在我成了单亲妈妈，不得不重返职场——要兼顾六个孩子，还要找到一份合适的工作，这并不容易，”法哈娜女士说道，她现在是一名外卖骑手。

随着年龄增长，她的孩子们（年龄在 13 岁到 24 岁之间）最终搬出去住，法哈娜女士希望继续独立生活。

她认识一位邻居，这位邻居在家中去世时无人知晓；她自己也曾做过志愿者，与独居老人交朋友，因此她深切地意识到，自己最终可能也需要有人照顾。

“我最大的疑问是：如果我的孩子们结婚了，我的姐姐不能再帮助我，我的妈妈也不能再让我倾诉烦恼，我还能依靠谁呢？”法哈娜女士说道，并补充说她还没有找到答案。

首相办公室国家人口及人才司（NPTD）发言人告诉CNA TODAY，虽然支持婚姻和生育仍然是优先事项，但同时也认识到单身人士和其他处于不同家庭安排中的人士的独特需求。

发言人表示：“例如，许多单身人士需要赡养年迈的父母，承担重要的家庭责任。我们将继续研究这些趋势，与新加坡民众沟通，更好地了解他们的住房、照护和其他需求，并考虑调整政策以更好地支持他们。”

一些单身人士也反映，离开学校进入职场后，维持有意义的人际关系面临挑战。因此，政府将继续与社区和私营部门合作伙伴携手合作，创造更多机会，促进持续的社交互动和联系。

“我们将继续推动更加有利于工作与生活平衡的做法；这些做法惠及所有员工，而不仅仅是为人父母者，”全国育儿发展协会表示。

发言人表示，NPTD的婚姻和育儿重置工作组将探索支持建立关系和工作生活平衡的方法，更多细节将在工作组的综合报告中公布，该报告预计将于2027年初发布。

单身人士，无论老少，都向 CNA TODAY 讲述了他们如何利用更广泛的朋友和社区团体网络，同时保持相对独立——反过来，他们也找到了帮助其他处境相似的人的机会。

71岁的拉马钱德兰先生退休前曾在一家养老院担任私人行政主管，与妻子分居后，他独自居住在自己的三居室公寓里约两年了。他的三个成年子女目前都居住在海外。

他的孩子们虽然远在他乡，但仍然关心着他，经常打电话。他在澳大利亚的大女儿是他的紧急联系人，会定期检查他是否按时服药并记录他的血压。

目前，这位退休人士基本能够独立生活，并通过志愿服务和其他活动充实自己。最近，拉马钱德兰先生因突发头晕和出汗住院治疗，出院后他只是叫了一辆私家车就自行回家了，期间许多朋友都前来探望。

狮子会关怀协会执行董事 Karen Wee 女士表示，对老年人来说，更重要的问题不是他们的家庭状况，而是他们是否有值得信赖的人脉网络可以在需要时寻求帮助。

她表示，确保老年人不被孤立还包括为老年人创造机会，让他们继续积极参与社区活动，并指出许多老年人通过做志愿者获得了归属感和成就感。

67岁的单身退休人士Stephanie Lai女士自1987年起就一直住在她的三房式组屋里，当时她和父亲一起购买了这套组屋。

赖女士是家中唯一未婚的成员，她的九个兄弟姐妹都已结婚。她说，照顾父亲的大部分责任都落在了她身上，包括支付他的医疗费用和偿还他生前经营的杂货店的债务，直到他96岁去世。

2026年9月8日，Stephanie Lai女士在公寓内弹奏尤克里里。（图片：CNA/林丽婷）

2026年9月8日，Stephanie Lai女士正在查看她家春节家庭聚会的照片。（图片：CNA/林丽婷）

赖女士从教职退休后，现在反而比以前更忙了。

除了代课之外，她还在一家疗养院做义工，照顾痴呆症患者；在她家附近的狮子会老年关怀中心参加尤克里里小组；并参加水中健身操课程。

她与大家庭成员关系也很亲密，包括一位经常帮她处理电子设备的侄子，她还喜欢举办大型家庭聚会。

在家中，之前照顾赖女士父亲的家政阿姨继续帮助赖女士做饭和打扫卫生。

有了这些层层支持，独立生活并不意味着要独自处理所有事情——赖女士也努力为其他人提供同样的帮助。

“有时候我会去拜访我的单身朋友，帮她们买些杂货。她们中有些人已经八十多岁了，快九十岁了，”她说。

“和他们见面，哪怕只是闲聊或倾听——都会有很大的不同。”

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