Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong used his 2026 National Day Message to announce a major review of how the government supports families, according to the text published by the Prime Minister’s Office. The message was recorded at the National Stadium and telecast on 8 August, ahead of Singapore’s National Day on 9 August.
An Uncertain World, a Resilient Economy
Mr Wong said Singapore marks the occasion against a more uncertain global backdrop, citing the spread of conflicts, higher trade barriers and weaker trust between nations. He pointed to the crisis in the Middle East, which he said remains volatile and is pushing up energy prices and costs for households and businesses. He said the economy has remained resilient, with robust growth in the first half of the year, a stable labour market and benefits from the rapid growth of artificial intelligence, especially in the semiconductor sector. According to the message, the government has just introduced another package of measures to help Singaporeans cope with the continued uncertainty, and a review of economic strategies was completed earlier this year.
Technology, Families and the Long View
On technology, the prime minister said Singapore will embrace new advances “on our own terms”. He said the country will use AI to raise productivity and create better jobs while investing in skills and training so that workers can adapt. On social media, he said the government will put in place stronger safeguards to protect children and young people, citing parents’ concern about the effect of excessive use on mental well-being.
The centrepiece was the family review. Mr Wong said it will cover support not only around marriage and parenthood but throughout life, looking at the costs of raising children, access to affordable infant care and childcare, and other ways to lighten the load on families. He said he will share more at the National Day Rally. He also said Singapore will keep strengthening energy security, optimising its limited land and investing in infrastructure, while staying open to new ideas, global links and people who wish to make Singapore their home.
Why It Matters
The National Day Message is the prime minister’s annual statement of priorities to the whole country, so what he chooses to foreground is a guide to the policy agenda. The message places domestic pressures such as the cost of raising children and worker anxiety about AI alongside questions of technology safeguards and openness to the world. Details, and any new commitments, will only be known when the plans are set out at the Rally, so the message should be read as a statement of direction rather than a list of decisions.
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