In Singapore, a growing number of newly married couples are choosing to live apart while waiting for Build-To-Order (BTO) flats. This trend, described by Professor Sumit Agarwal as a “Singaporean adjustment to economic reality,” highlights how the national housing system has transitioned from a personal milestone into an institutional gateway for long-term wealth, potentially contributing to a historic low in the national fertility rate of 0.87 in 2025.
Why couples are choosing to live apart
For many young Singaporeans, the Registry of Marriages (ROM) no longer marks the immediate start of cohabitation. According to Professor Sumit Agarwal, president of the Asian Bureau of Finance and Economics Research, marriage often serves as the beginning of a waiting period for financial stability and the keys to a BTO flat. Couples like Ms. Wong and her husband maintain their relationship while living separately, noting that their wedding bands are the only outward change in their daily lives. Ms. Wong reported that overseas family and friends often express confusion regarding this arrangement, frequently questioning if the couple is experiencing financial hardship.
Singapore’s total fertility rate fell to 0.87 in 2025, a decrease from the 0.97 rate recorded in 2024.
The impact of the BTO system on marriage
The BTO system is central to how couples plan their futures, offering access to subsidized housing, Central Provident Fund (CPF) usage, and asset ownership. Professor Agarwal notes that while this system provides a powerful path to security, it creates a chain reaction of delays. Because housing is tied to these financial milestones, delays in obtaining a flat can lead to delays in marriage, which in turn may postpone starting a family. Despite living apart, couples such as Mr. Mira and his wife prioritize their relationship by spending weekends together and planning at least two overseas trips annually.
The data suggests a structural tension between Singapore’s housing policy and demographic goals. By tethering essential financial tools—like CPF and subsidized housing—to the BTO system, the state has inadvertently turned housing availability into a primary variable for marriage and birth rates. If housing timelines remain extended, the current trend of “living apart” may become a long-term fixture of urban life.
What happens next for Singaporean couples
Analysts expect that as long as housing remains a primary prerequisite for independent living, the trend of couples living apart after marriage will likely persist. Given that family delays can exacerbate the downward trend in the fertility rate, there is a possibility that demographic pressures may influence how housing access is prioritized for young families. Couples will likely continue to balance these economic realities with personal efforts to maintain their relationships until they can secure a home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do some married couples in Singapore live apart?
Many couples live apart as an adjustment to economic reality while they wait for their BTO flats to be ready and to achieve the financial stability required for independent living.
Is living apart after marriage a sign of low commitment?
According to Professor Sumit Agarwal, it should not be assumed that couples are less committed to each other simply because they do not cohabitate immediately after registering their marriage.
How does the BTO system affect fertility rates?
Professor Agarwal suggests that housing delays can cause marriage delays, which may lead to family delays, potentially contributing to the decline in Singapore’s total fertility rate, which hit 0.87 in 2025.
How do you think the reliance on subsidized housing shapes the way young couples view the timeline for starting a family?
