Towards Ageing Well: Planning a Future-Ready Singapore

Towards Ageing Well: Planning a Future-Ready Singapore

Singapore’s seniors are living longer and have the highest life expectancy in the world. The country also has one of the fastest ageing societies and will likely have a shrinking workforce. These trends mean Singapore’s material and social landscapes need to be better organised and suited to the changing demographics and aspirations of its people. How then is Singapore going about fostering a country that is liveable and meaningful for seniors?

This Urban Systems Study traces Singapore’s journey in planning for an ageing population, highlighting the initiatives undertaken since the 1980s and how considerations have evolved. Through archival research and interviews with politicians, senior civil servants and stakeholders, this narrative of planning towards ageing well underlines the importance of visionary leadership and urban governance across silos of agencies and administration.

“A perceptive account of the initiatives Singapore has taken to plan for a city for all ages. Ageing well in any city is a collective community responsibility—this is a must-read book.”
- Professor Kua Ee Heok, Tan Geok Yin Professor in Psychiatry and Neuroscience and Senior Consultant Psychiatrist
Department of Psychological Medicine
Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, NUS