Dear Colleagues,

The Centre for Family and Population Research was funded by the National University of Singapore and established in April, 2014 as a Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences research centre. It is dedicated to the scientific advancement of research and training to understand the trends, determinants, and consequences of family and population changes, particularly in Asia. We aim to bridge basic academic research with public policies that affect family’s well-being. Our research adopts a multi-disciplinary, life course, and international comparative approach.

Why do we need a family and population centre in Singapore now? Strong families and a healthy population growth are key to a robust, sustainable, and happy society. Contemporary families in Singapore and elsewhere are under tremendous strain to perform the traditional functions of caring for the elderly, socializing children, and fulfilling the emotional needs of individuals, leading some to suggest that family is “in decline” or “in crisis”.

The rise in age at marriage and singlehood rates, the rapid decline of fertility and family size, increase in divorce and cohabitation, aging population, and the increased geographic distance among family members in many societies are unprecedented. An empirically-based understanding of the origins of these trends and their consequences on individual well-being and societal development is crucial for the formulation of sound public policies including those that aim to raise productivity, allocate health care costs and welfare spending, and improve the psychological well-being of individuals. NUS is well-positioned to lead in this area as we have internationally recognized and connected experts in this area across multiple disciplines who can provide leadership from Singapore. CFPR aims to conduct research that helps strengthen resilience and cohesion in multi-ethnic societies through healthy families and population.