Singapore government launches dating app as birth rate hits record low

Singapore has found an unusual way to encourage people to connect as the country grapples with a record-low fertility rate. The government has launched FirstDate, a pilot matchmaking platform for unmarried public officers aged 21 to 35.

The platform has been developed by Singapore's Government Technology Agency (GovTech) and aims to help singles find meaningful connections while reducing the "swipe fatigue" associated with conventional dating apps.

Unlike traditional dating apps that offer users several profiles to choose from, FirstDate provides one potential match at a time. Users complete a detailed questionnaire covering their interests, values and preferences before the platform suggests a match.

The platform uses the Gale-Shapley Stable Marriage algorithm, a Nobel Prize-winning matching approach, to identify compatible pairs. Users are also given a compatibility score and a personal note about their suggested match.

The pilot is Singpass-verified and is currently limited to unmarried public officers between the ages of 21 and 35. Once matched, users can mutually agree to connect, while the platform also suggests activities and date ideas to help them meet in person.

The initiative comes as Singapore faces a sharp decline in births and fertility. The country's resident total fertility rate fell to 0.87 in 2025, down from 0.97 in 2024, marking a record low. There were also 26,071 citizen births in 2025, 10.8 per cent fewer than the previous year.

Singapore has been trying to encourage marriage and parenthood through various policies and support measures. The government has said that marriage and parenthood remain personal decisions, while it aims to create an environment that supports Singaporeans who want to marry and have children.

FirstDate, however, is currently only a pilot project. GovTech has said that no decision has been made on whether the platform will be expanded beyond the current trial.

The government-backed dating service has attracted attention because of its unusual approach to matchmaking, with Singapore effectively stepping into the role of cupid for young public officers as it looks for ways to address changing relationship and demographic trends.