July 19, 2026

The global rise in adults reaching midlife without having children is particularly pronounced in Asia. Despite this trend, little is understood about the varied pathways leading to permanent childlessness within the region’s populations. In ‘Diverse Pathways to Permanent Childlessness in Singapore: A Latent Class Analysis’ (Advances in Life Course Research, 2024), Wang Yanwen, Associate Professor Teerawichitchainan Bussarawan (both NUS Sociology and Anthropology), and Associate Professor Christine Ho (SMU Economics) seek to explain this phenomenon. By examining pathways to childlessness based on dynamic characteristics across multiple life domains, they analyse the experiences of childless couples in Singapore, which has one of the world’s highest childlessness rates among its middle-aged and older populations. Their research aims to uncover demographic trends and transitions, providing insights into the fertility crisis in and beyond Singapore.

The researchers employed latent class analysis (LCA) to examine detailed characteristics across multiple life domains of 489 Singaporeans aged 50 and above who have never had children. LCA, a person-centred method, identifies subgroups based on patterns in observed variables, including marital status, fertility, occupation, and educational factors. While the method has limitations in analysing the sequence of life events, it excels at incorporating diverse observed characteristics of respondents, whether or not they include time-stamped information. The dataset includes rich details about respondents’ partnership, educational, and occupational histories during their prime reproductive years.

The study identified five distinct pathways to permanent childlessness in Singapore: Never-Married Semi-Professionals, Low-Flex Blue-Collars, Highly Educated Professionals, Ever-Married Semi-Professionals, and Flexible Blue-Collars. Socioeconomic status is found to strongly influence these pathways, since highly educated professionals often prioritise careers, while blue collar workers with low-job flexibility face barriers in addition to their limited job flexibility such as restricted access to family leave. Gender disparities are notable, with men more likely to fall into the blue-collar workers with low-job flexibility, while women are overrepresented among never-married and ever-married semi-professionals, highlighting the critical role of women’s socioeconomic status and partnership choices in reproductive decisions.

The study also reveals that individuals from disadvantaged family backgrounds are more likely to follow less favourable pathways, emphasising the lasting impact of childhood experiences on adult life choices. Additionally, a rise in voluntary childlessness, especially among married couples, signals shifting societal norms around family and childbearing.

The researchers note that LCA is limited in capturing the sequence, timing, and duration of life events compared to sequence analysis and suggest future studies adopt sequence analysis where data permits. They also recommend examining additional sociodemographic factors and fertility intentions of younger generations to guide policies that address diverse needs and help mitigate the rising trend of childlessness.

Read the article here.