Singapore in Numbers: How Healthy is Singapore?
Humans often struggle to grasp large-scale societal issues objectively, especially in healthcare. Our perceptions are shaped by personal experiences, news headlines, and social conversations, which may not always reflect the broader reality. One of the most common pitfalls in public discourse is the lack of comparative context—how data points relate to each other in scale and over time.
Singapore’s healthcare system is frequently praised for its efficiency and outcomes. But how well does it truly perform? Are Singaporeans living longer and healthier lives? Have mortality patterns changed significantly? More importantly, are we focusing on the right healthcare challenges?
This article takes a data-driven approach to answer these questions, showing how disparate data points, when contextualized with the right comparisons, create a more meaningful narrative.
Life Expectancy: Singapore vs. the World
The Ministry of Health's mission is to help Singaporeans "live well, live long, and with peace of mind." In 2023, the average life expectancy in Singapore is 83 years. However, this number alone does not reveal much.
But when we change the question to “How does Singapore’s life expectancy compare to other countries?”, things get more interesting. It turns out that Singapore has one of the highest life expectancies in the region, and depending on the source, and it ranks among the top 3-5 globally; but has it always been that way?
It turns out that Singapore has not always been the leader in life expectancy. As of 1990, Singapore was among the top 10-15 countries, behind developed nations in Western Europe and Japan, still quite a respectable position to be in for a small nation. Over the decades, however, Singapore's consistent healthcare improvements and disease management strategies have propelled it beyond many developed countries to now rank among the top 3 in life expectancy, depending on the source. This is good news for the country, but doesn’t tell us much about the people in the country.
Life Expectancy Within Singapore: A Closer Look
The average life expectancy of 83 years masks significant differences across demographics.
Women in Singapore live longer than men. In 2023:
Women: 85 years
Men: 80 years
The impact of COVID-19 also differed by gender. Before the pandemic:
Men’s life expectancy was 81 years. After COVID-19, it dropped to 80 years.
Women’s life expectancy remained stable at 85 years.
This suggests that men were more susceptible to COVID-19—a trend consistent with global mortality patterns. Despite this minor blip in the trend, the data does suggest that life expectancy continues to increase regardless of Gender.
Beyond Life Expectancy: Health-Adjusted Life Expectancy (HALE)
Life expectancy tells us how long people live, but it does not indicate how well they live. Health-Adjusted Life Expectancy (HALE) measures the number of years a person can expect to live in good health, without chronic diseases or disabilities.
Key Trends in Singapore’s HALE
HALE has increased over time, alongside rising life expectancy, meaning Singaporeans are not just living longer but living healthier for longer.
However, there remains a significant gap between life expectancy and HALE:
Women in Singapore (2023): 75 years of healthy life, followed by 10 years with chronic illness/disabilities.
Men in Singapore (2025): 73 years of healthy life, followed by 8 years with chronic illness/disabilities.
This means women face a longer period of poor health at the end of life, increasing their healthcare cost burden compared to men.
Retirement & Healthcare: Financial Implications
By 2030, Singapore’s retirement age will rise to 65, with re-employment options until 70. Using 65 as a reference point, we can assess how long Singaporeans need to sustain themselves financially in retirement:
Women: Need to support themselves for 20 years post-retirement, with 10 years of significant healthcare costs due to chronic illness/disability.
Men: Need to support themselves for 15 years post-retirement, with 8 years of significant healthcare costs.
Given these realities, Singaporeans must plan for multiple sources of post-retirement income:
1. CPF LIFE (Central Provident Fund)
CPF LIFE provides monthly payouts for life, funded by CPF savings. Estimated payouts from age 65:
Retirement Sum at 55 | Estimated Monthly Payout at 65 |
Basic ($99,400) | $790 - $850 |
Full ($198,800) | $1,470 - $1,570 |
Enhanced ($298,200) | $2,100 - $2,250 |
2. Other Income Sources
Personal Savings & Investments: Cash reserves, annuity plans, dividends.
Real Estate Income: Renting out properties, HDB’s Lease Buyback Scheme.
Employment & Gig Work: Freelance or part-time work.
Government Assistance: Silver Support Scheme, ComCare, Pioneer/Merdeka benefits.
Family Support & Inheritance.
Healthcare Costs in Retirement
A major concern is rising healthcare costs. MediShield Life, Singapore’s national health insurance, helps cover large hospital bills and outpatient treatments, but retirees must still pay premiums, co-pays, and deductibles.
At age 65, annual MediShield premiums range from $1,000 (basic plan) to $2,400 (integrated plan with riders). By age 75, these increase to $1,300 to $4,400 annually.
A retiree relying only on CPF LIFE may find that:
At age 65, MediShield premiums already exceed CPF LIFE payouts for the Basic Retirement Sum.
By age 73, MediShield costs 50% more than CPF LIFE’s basic payout.
By age 75, MediShield costs nearly 3 times the full retirement sum payout under an integrated plan.
This underscores the need for additional income beyond CPF LIFE to cover healthcare expenses in old age. While the government schemes do help, residents will need to take some initiative on their own to plan for retirement income over and above the government plans.
Key Takeaways: Data-Driven Insights for Decision Making
This article is not financial advice, but an illustration of how disparate data points, when put into the right context, create powerful insights. Many assume data analytics is just about extracting key numbers, but the real value lies in comparison, perspective, and interpretation.
What This Case Study Demonstrates
Numbers gain meaning when compared to other relevant data points. Life expectancy alone tells us little but comparing it to HALE and retirement age reveals financial and healthcare challenges.
Viewing a problem from multiple angles builds confidence in insights. Life expectancy, HALE, and financial preparedness all contribute to a holistic picture.
Contextualization makes insights relevant. Instead of abstract numbers, showing the real-world impact (e.g., outliving savings, rising healthcare costs) makes the data actionable.
Data storytelling matters. Numbers alone don’t persuade—framing them in a way that resonates with the audience makes a difference.
Click on the chart and it will take you to the interactive data visualizations where you can the the results for yourself and use it to see how much you might have to pay out of pocket for medical emergencies for the various plan options. If you’d like to learn how to conduct similar analyses, contact FYT Consulting at info@fytconsultants.com.
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