What are the reasons for Singaporeans marrying late?

Hello....just throwing my S$0.02 worth of opinions ...

I think that the reason why people are getting married later in their life (ages around 27/28?) is that

1. they are more concentrated on their careers,
2. they have to save up alot of money for,
3. house
4. car
5. wedding/honeymoon
6. kid's education
7. daily living expenses

I feel that the Government should look at the other factors which I have listed above, especially point (2). They reason why people are marrying late nowadays is because its simply too E-X-P-E-N-S-I-V-E to get married! Thats my humble opinion.

skyjuice:

Actually someone came up with this explanation about one hundred and fifty years ago. That guy was Reverend Malthus (he called economics the "dismal science"). He basically said the same thing that you said, ie. people in developed societies marry only when the economy is doing well, and they have enuff money to buy houses, afford kids' education, afford the livestyle they want to have. If they can't, then they will delay marriage until they can. He actually considered this an important mechanism to control population growth when the economy can no longer support the population.

In the context of Singapore, what Malthus would have said would be that you can't have rising costs of living and expect people to have more kids..:-) .

Chee Leong:

Quite reasonable. Moreover, I find that expectations are different nowadays and many may not meet those expectations in the first place. Almost like "since I can't find those qualities, I won't trade it for second best, after all it's a lifetime thing".

Just my 2 cents too. That will make it 4 cents altogether.

Toh Yung Cheong:

Its $90,000 back for a woman under 29 for her 3rd child isn't it? (over a period of years, admittedly)

Who says its too expensive?

Wu Huei-Fen:

I would like to add more reasons to it;

• They perfer single life styles.
• They are just patiently waiting for the right one.

It Siow:

Don't wait too long, life is short ;) Sometimes, living means taking chances. You take chances every time you cross the street, take a bus, take a plane; you're even taking chances by going to university. That goes the same for your spouse, you're taking chances too. My point is if you think the chances are good, go for it and don't wait too long. As one ages, one's "chances" deteriorates ;)

Goh Yong-Wah:

....you mean people in Singapore are not willing to get married if they can't afford a car? or a honeymoon? You mean a person's life will be miserable if he/she is willing to settle for only second best? Is there such thing as "Best" in the first place...i mean.. how long can that so called "Best" last? yong wah

Eric:

[.....]

most of my x-becholor male friends married legally in 'CERTIFICATES' first... then these couples have to save up money for about 5 years to get a HDB house, just flat only... and loan for lots of money to renovate, wedding feast etc... ended up owning people money... ended up they have children in late ages... ended up the wives had difficulity in conceiving... lots of problems surface out...

I know that the Government has look into it... the ministry has encouraged couples to marry and have children at younger age. But marriage always comes with $$$ in the present day society in Singapore.

Instead of encourage marriage, why don't the Government provides a better condition for marriage? If this late marriage trend continues without taken care of... I can't imagine how the population of Singapore will becomes.......