Research & Data · Singapore
Pregnancy and Infant Loss
in Singapore: The Numbers
A cited reference for bereaved families, healthcare professionals, journalists, researchers and policymakers.
Compiled by Vernessa Chuah · Last updated April 2026 · All statistics cited with primary sources
1 in 4 pregnancies ends in loss. In Singapore, that means thousands of families each year navigate miscarriage, stillbirth, TFMR, IVF loss, and infant death: often in silence, and often without support. This page brings the key data together in one place, so that loss is no longer invisible.
Section 01
Birth Rate & Fertility
Total Fertility Rate: Singapore, 2025 (record low)
Singapore's TFR fell to 0.87 in 2025, the lowest since records began, down from 0.97 in 2024. Replacement level is 2.1. At this rate, for every 100 residents today there would be only 44 children and 19 grandchildren. Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong described this as a demographic crisis requiring urgent action.
27,500
Resident births in 2025
The lowest annual number of births since Singapore began keeping records.
7.4
Crude birth rate per 1,000 population (2024)
Persistent decline reflecting delayed marriage, high education costs, and shifting social values.
35–39
Peak childbearing age group in Singapore
Women aged 35–39 now give birth at higher rates than women aged 20–24, a dramatic demographic shift reflecting delayed parenthood and increasing age-related fertility risk.
Section 02
Miscarriage
The most common pregnancy complication, and the least spoken about
Approximately 20% of pregnancies in Singapore end in miscarriage, consistent with global data. Despite this frequency, miscarriage remains largely invisible in public conversation. Most losses occur in the first trimester and are caused by chromosomal abnormalities, not by anything the mother did or did not do.
60%
Of miscarriages caused by chromosomal abnormalities
Most first-trimester losses result from chromosomal errors — not lifestyle factors. The mother did not cause this.
23M
Miscarriages worldwide every year
44 pregnancy losses every minute globally. Early pregnancy loss is the most common obstetric complication in the world.
2–6%
Experience recurrent miscarriage (2+ losses)
Recurrent pregnancy loss affects 2–6% of women, likely an undercount, as it includes only hospital-treated cases.
0.7%
Experience 3 or more miscarriages
Three or more losses warrant thorough medical investigation of the couple. Each loss carries cumulative grief that is rarely addressed.
Section 03
Stillbirth
110
Registered stillbirths in Singapore, 2024
Defined under current law as loss after 22 weeks of pregnancy. Each one is a baby who was wanted and grieved.
1.9–4.3
Stillbirths per 1,000 live births & stillbirths
Singapore's stillbirth rate compares favourably with other high-income nations and has remained low and stable.
0.5–1%
Of pregnancies end in stillbirth
Loss after 24 weeks. In many cases, the cause cannot be established, which compounds the grief with unanswered questions.
22 wks
Legal definition of stillbirth (revised 2022)
Revised from 28 weeks to 22 weeks in May 2022, aligning Singapore with WHO guidelines. This definitional change increased registered numbers, not the actual rate.
Section 04
Termination for Medical Reasons (TFMR)
What is TFMR?
TFMR refers to ending a wanted pregnancy because of a serious fetal abnormality, chromosomal condition (such as Trisomy 13, 18 or 21), or a risk to the mother's life. It is one of the least-discussed forms of pregnancy loss, and one of the most isolating. Parents who have experienced TFMR often feel they are not "allowed" to grieve, because their loss involved a decision. This is a painful misconception. TFMR is baby loss.
Genetic and chromosomal abnormalities are frequently not detected until the 20-week anomaly scan or later, well into a wanted pregnancy. The grief that follows is profound, and support is rarely offered.
~50%
Of women develop PTSD symptoms after TFMR
Nearly half of women who undergo TFMR develop post-traumatic stress symptoms. Unlike elective termination, negative psychological outcomes after TFMR are common and require specialised support.
2nd trim.
When most chromosomal diagnoses are confirmed
The anomaly scan at 18–22 weeks is when many heartbreaking diagnoses are made — deep into a wanted pregnancy.
Section 05
Infant Loss and SIDS
1.39
Infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births (2024)
Singapore has one of the lowest infant mortality rates in the world, reflecting world-class neonatal care. Down from 1.70 in 2023.
~75%
Of infant deaths occur in the neonatal period (first 28 days)
Most infant deaths in Singapore occur in the first weeks of life, primarily due to prematurity, congenital conditions, or birth complications.
87.3%
Survival rate for babies born at 24–27 weeks at KKH
KK Women's and Children's Hospital reports survival rates comparable to the best globally for very premature births (2004–2016 data).
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
SIDS — the sudden, unexplained death of an infant under one year after all other causes are excluded — remains rare in Singapore given its low overall infant mortality. Singapore does not publish a standalone SIDS rate. Globally, SIDS mortality has declined 59% since 1990, largely due to safe sleep campaigns. Infants aged 1 to 5 months face the highest risk; boys are at slightly greater risk than girls.
Section 06
Infertility and IVF
Infertility and the grief of IVF loss
Approximately 1 in 7 couples in Singapore face challenges conceiving. The IVF journey often involves its own series of losses: biochemical pregnancies, failed transfers, embryos that did not survive. These losses occur in a clinical setting and are rarely named as grief. But they are.
8,700
ART treatment cycles in Singapore (2019)
Rising from 7,100 in 2015 as couples increasingly turn to assisted reproduction due to delayed parenthood.
4,673
Babies born via ART in Singapore (2016–2018)
More than 4,600 babies born through assisted reproduction over three years — accounting for a growing proportion of all births.
60%
Clinical pregnancy rate per egg retrieval for women under 35
Singapore fertility centres report clinical pregnancy rates around 60% for younger women. This rate falls sharply after age 40.
<5%
IVF success rate after the 3rd cycle (MOH data)
Beyond the third IVF cycle, MOH data shows success rates fall below 5%. Government co-funding covers up to 6 cycles at public hospitals.
75%
Government co-funding for ART at public hospitals
Eligible married couples receive up to 75% co-funding for ART, covering up to 3 fresh and 3 frozen cycles at public hospitals.
Section 07
The Mental Health Impact of Pregnancy Loss
55%
Of women experience depression symptoms after miscarriage
More than half of women experience depressive symptoms after pregnancy loss, yet most receive no formal mental health screening or support.
32.5%
Experience anxiety after miscarriage
2025 global meta-analysis: 32.5% anxiety, 30.1% depression, 33.6% stress. About half experience at least one mental disorder after loss.
16%
Of women actually seek mental health care after miscarriage
Despite high rates of distress, only 16% access mental health services. 55% of those who did not wish they had.
40+
Recognised types of grief and loss
The Grief Recovery Method recognises more than 40 types of grief — underscoring why each pregnancy loss experience is unique.
The support gap is as large as the grief itself
Research consistently shows a significant gap between the bereavement care that healthcare providers offer and what bereaved parents actually need. People want acknowledgment, validation of their grief, and a space to process. None of this requires significant cost or resources. In Singapore, structured emotional support after pregnancy loss remains scarce. The few practitioners who specialise in this area are meeting an urgent, under-resourced need.
Section 08
What Support Actually Does
When women receive support, outcomes improve significantly
A randomised clinical trial found that women who received structured support after pregnancy loss showed significant improvement across all measures of stress, anxiety, and depression. Those who received only routine care showed no meaningful change. Compassionate, non-judgemental support that creates space for grief works.
↓ depression
All depression outcome measures improved significantly in the counselling group vs. routine care (p less than 0.05)
70%+
Of bereaved parents who joined structured support programmes stayed engaged — showing that when good support exists, people use it and value it
↑ resilience
Bereavement support consistently improves ability to cope, sense of mastery, social connection, and meaning-making
~40%
Of bereaved people benefit from additional professional support
Many people adjust to loss with the support of family and friends. But around 40% benefit from additional structured input — and access to that support remains low in Singapore.
CBT > pills
Structured therapy significantly outperforms antidepressants in satisfaction after pregnancy loss
Women who received cognitive-based therapy after pregnancy loss reported significantly higher satisfaction than those given antidepressants alone.
55%
Wished they had received mental health support in a subsequent pregnancy
More than half of bereaved mothers who did not access support after loss wished they had, particularly during subsequent pregnancies when anxiety is highest.
The qualities that make support effective
Research into what makes support helpful after pregnancy loss identifies a consistent set of qualities: compassionate and understanding, non-judgemental, accepting of the parent's emotional state, deep listening, and giving space to narrate and process. Technical expertise matters. So does the relational quality of the support. When both are present, healing becomes possible.
Section 09
Support Available in Singapore for Bereaved Parents
The following resources are available to families navigating pregnancy and infant loss in Singapore. This list is as comprehensive as possible, though the landscape of formal support remains limited relative to the scale of need.
Hospital
KK Women's & Children's Hospital (KKH) — Medical Social Work
Dedicated pregnancy loss support pathway including social work, counselling referrals, and practical guidance on stillbirth registration and bereavement resources.
kkh.com.sg/pregnancy-loss
Hospital
Singapore General Hospital (SGH) — Medical Social Work
Medical social workers and counselling services for patients experiencing pregnancy loss or perinatal bereavement.
sgh.com.sg · +65 6321 4377
Hospital
National University Hospital (NUH) — Women's Centre
Support and counselling services for women experiencing miscarriage, stillbirth, and other pregnancy complications.
nuh.com.sg
Professional Coaching
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Coach, Grief Recovery Specialist — Vernessa Chuah
ICF-certified pregnancy and infant loss coach with an integrated mind-body-emotions approach. Private coaching, Grief Recovery Method, and TRE® somatic support. Covers miscarriage, stillbirth, TFMR, IVF loss, and infant loss.
vernessachuah.com · WhatsApp +65 9783 7313
Psychology
Annabelle Psychology
Psychology practice specialising in pregnancy and infant loss, grief, and perinatal mental health.
annabellepsychology.com
Bereavement Care
Assisi Hospice — Grief & Bereavement Care
Professional counsellors and therapists specialising in grief work, offering individual counselling and group support. Open to the community, not limited to hospice families.
assisihospice.org.sg
Psychology and Counselling
Singapore Association for Mental Health (SAMH)
Mental health services and referrals for grief and bereavement support in Singapore.
samhealth.org.sg · +65 1800 283 7019
Crisis & 24hr
Samaritans of Singapore (SOS)
24-hour crisis support for those in emotional distress following any form of loss. Confidential telephone and chat service.
Call: 1-767 · WhatsApp: 9151 1767
Crisis & 24hr
Institute of Mental Health (IMH) — Emergency
24-hour psychiatric emergency service for those in acute crisis following bereavement or pregnancy loss.
+65 6389 2222 (24hrs)
Government Resource
MyLegacy at LifeSG: Counselling Finder
Singapore government portal to find registered counselling services for grief and bereavement, including cost subsidies for eligible individuals.
mylegacy.life.gov.sg
Starting is the hardest part
Many bereaved parents do not seek support, not because they do not need it, but because they do not know it exists, or because they feel they do not deserve it. If you've experienced any form of pregnancy or infant loss — however early, however long ago — your grief is real, and support is available. You don't have to carry this alone.
What Makes This Different
The only integrated mind, body and emotions approach to pregnancy loss support in Singapore
Most support after pregnancy loss addresses either the mind or the emotions. Grief lives in the body too. Vernessa Chuah's approach is the only one in Singapore that brings together evidence-based grief recovery method, somatic body work, and ontological coaching into a single, trauma-informed programme.
Mind
ICF-certified ontological coaching that shifts how you see, move and act, expanding awareness and creating new possibilities.
Body (Somatic)
TRE® (Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises) — a body-based practice that releases stored stress, trauma and grief held in the nervous system.
Emotions (Grief Recovery)
Certified Advanced Grief Recovery Specialist and the only internationally evidence-based method to complete the emotional pain of loss.
Trauma-Informed
All sessions grounded in trauma-informed principles. Safety, choice, and pace are yours. No pushing, no fixing, just holding space.
Evidence-Based and Credentials
ICF credentials, GRM certification, and TRE® practitioner status: frameworks with documented clinical effectiveness and ethical accountability.
Lived Experience
Vernessa has navigated three pregnancy losses herself. This is not clinical distance. It is shared understanding that no textbook can teach.
Sources & References
1DPM Gan Kim Yong, Budget 2026 Debate, Parliament of Singapore, February 2026. Mothership.sg
2Singapore Department of Statistics. Total Fertility Rate. 2025. singstat.gov.sg
3Immigration and Checkpoints Authority. Report on Registration of Births and Deaths 2024. ica.gov.sg
4Quenby S et al. "Miscarriage matters." The Lancet. 2021;397(10285):1658–67. PubMed
7MOH Singapore. "Clarifications on Singapore's stillbirth and perinatal mortality rates." factually.gov.sg
8Tan KH et al. "Epidemiology of stillbirths." Singapore Medical Journal. PMC, 2022. PMC
9MOH Singapore. "Number of Couples Undergoing IVF Treatments in Past Five Years." 2021. moh.gov.sg
10MOH Singapore. "Success Rate for IVF Decreases With More Cycles." moh.gov.sg
13Gallo S et al. "Global prevalence of post-miscarriage anxiety, depression, and stress." Journal of Global Health. 2025. jogh.org
14Kolte AM et al. "Pregnancy loss: Consequences for mental health." Frontiers in Global Women's Health. 2023. PMC
15Madigan S et al. "Women's desires for mental health support following pregnancy loss." ScienceDirect. 2023. sciencedirect.com
16MDedge. "TFMR: A mental health perspective." 2022. mdedge.com
17GBD Study 2021. "Global burden of SIDS, 1990–2021." Frontiers in Pediatrics. 2025. PMC
18World Bank / Macrotrends. Singapore Infant Mortality Rate. macrotrends.net
19Tan JP et al. "Lessons from Singapore on Raising Fertility Rates." IMF Finance & Development. 2020. imf.org
21HealthHub Singapore. "Coping with Pregnancy Loss." healthhub.sg
22MOH Singapore. "Subsidies for IVF Treatments." moh.gov.sg
23Randomised Clinical Trial: Individual counselling in bereaved mothers. PMC, 2022. PMC
24Rapid review: Online interventions for bereavement support. PMC, 2024. PMC
26CBSS Singapore. Miscarriage & Infant Loss Resources. cbss.sg
27ScienceDirect / Human Reproduction. "Miscarriage and recurrent miscarriage: the support gap." 2023. sciencedirect.com
This page is compiled for informational and advocacy purposes. Statistics are sourced from government agencies, peer-reviewed research, and reputable clinical institutions. Singapore-specific data is labelled as such; global figures are noted where used. This page does not constitute medical advice. If you have experienced pregnancy or infant loss, please seek professional support.
Maintained by Vernessa Chuah | Pregnancy and Infant Loss Coach, Singapore | vernessa@mindfulspace.com.sg
