SINGAPORE, Oct 16 — An average of about 745 children a year were born out of wedlock to Singaporean mothers here from 2020 to 2024, Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli revealed in a written parliamentary reply yesterday.
Responding to a query from Workers’ Party MP Fadli Fawzi, Masagos affirmed the government's commitment to supporting all children regardless of their parents' marital status, The Straits Times reported.
“Every child, regardless of their parents’ marital status, deserves to be valued, supported and given equal opportunities to thrive,” he said, adding that benefits for education, healthcare, and childcare are not differentiated.
However, a legal distinction remains. Under the Legitimacy Act 1934, a child is considered "illegitimate" if their parents are not married at the time of birth. This status can only be changed if the parents subsequently marry or if the biological parent formally adopts the child.
Masagos’s data showed that only 12 such adoptions by biological parents occurred within the same five-year period.
Lawyers explain that there are compelling legal reasons for a single parent to adopt their own child. Lawyer June Lim of Eden Law Corporation said it can prevent a biological father who was not involved during the pregnancy from seeking custody or access rights later.
Another key reason is inheritance. Under the Intestate Succession Act, an "illegitimate" child cannot automatically inherit from their parents' estate unless they are formally adopted, as the Act defines a "child" as a legitimate or adopted child.
Historically, the number of children born to single unwed mothers has been on a downward trend. In a 2021 parliamentary reply, it was noted that the numbers had fallen from over 1,000 per year between 2006 and 2012 to an average of around 830 in the subsequent years.
