Singapore need not be fixated on the replacement fertility rate of 2.1, according to experts. Some are also suggesting that a fertility rate of 1.7 may be more desirable for Singapore.
"2.1 is often taken as a benchmark, but it doesn’t really deserve the status. It’s a highly artificial number," said Professor Wolfgang Lutz, founding director at Wittgenstein Centre for Demography and Global Human Capital.
According to Prof Lutz, the figure does not take into account education levels, migration and mortality rates — all of which are changing. Full story
