More getting divorced, fewer getting married in Singapore

More getting divorced, fewer getting married in Singapore
Posted 13 Jul 2016 11:12 Updated 13 Jul 2016 23:27

SINGAPORE: More couples ended their marriages while fewer tied the knot last year, according to Department of Statistics (Singstat) data released on Wednesday (Jul 13).

The number of divorces and annulments rose 2.9 per cent, with 7,522 marriages dissolved, up from the 7,307 dissolutions in the previous year.

A total of 28,322 couples tied the knot last year, down from the 28,407 marriages registered in 2014. The number of Muslim marriages rose from 5,544 to 5,778, helping to mitigate the decline in the number of civil marriages from 22,863 to 22,544.

MORE OLDER COUPLES DIVORCING

Between 2005 and 2015, there was a “significant shift” in the age profile of divorcees, with an increase in the number of older couples getting divorced, Singstat said.

Among men, the proportion of divorcees aged 45 years and above rose from 30 per cent in 2005 to 42.4 per cent last year. For women, the proportion rose from 20.1 per cent to 27.5 per cent.

The median age at divorce was 42.9 for men and 38.8 for women, up from 39.1 years and 35.4 years, respectively, in 2005.

Marriages also did not last as long, with the median marriage duration for divorces in 2015 at 10 years, slightly shorter than the 10.4 years in 2014.

Among civil divorces, the largest group was couples who were married for five to nine years (31.5 per cent). This was followed by those who were married for 20 years or longer, accounting for 21.3 per cent of all civil divorces.

For Muslim divorces, couples who were married for less than five years, and between five and nine years formed the largest groups in 2015, each accounting for 26.8 per cent. Next were the couples who were married for 20 years or longer at 18.3 per cent.

More than half (53.7 per cent) of plaintiffs in civil divorces cited “unreasonable behaviour” as the main reason for divorce, while 42.6 per cent cited “having lived apart or separated for three years or more”. In 61.6 per cent of the cases, the divorce was initiated by the woman.

Among Muslim divorces in 2015, “infidelity or extra-marital affair” was the top reason for divorcing, accounting for more than one in five divorces. The second-most common reason for divorce was “desertion” for male plaintiffs, and “financial problems” for female plaintiffs.

MORE MARRYING LATER

Many are choosing to marry later, with the median age for marrying rising from 29.8 years old in 2005 to 30.3 years old for grooms in 2015, and from 26.9 years old to 28.2 years old for brides.

Among first marriages, those with grooms older than brides were still the norm. However, the proportion had dropped to 66.8 per cent in 2015 from 73.7 per cent a decade ago.

Inter-ethnic marriages have become more common, making up 21.5 per cent of marriages last year, up from 14.9 per cent in 2005. Such marriages made up a larger proportion among Muslim marriages (33.8 per cent) than among civil marriages (18.4 per cent) last year.

More men are also marrying women with equal or higher educational qualifications. The proportion of university-educated grooms marrying brides with the same qualification rose from 71.1 per cent in 2005 to 80.3 per cent in 2015 for civil marriages, and from 46.2 per cent to 59.9 per cent for Muslim marriages.

Marriages involving minors – those aged below 21 years – remained uncommon, making up 0.2 per cent of grooms and 1.1 per cent of brides in civil marriages. For Muslims, the proportions declined to 1.5 per cent of grooms and 4.2 per cent of brides in 2015, from 3.5 per cent and 12.9 per cent, respectively, in 2005.

PARENTING PROGRAMME FOR DIVORCING PARENTS

To protect children whose parents are going through a divorce, the Mandatory Parenting Programme will be launched at the end of the year, Social and Family Development Minister Tan Chuan-Jin said in a blogpost on Wednesday.

“The programme will give them time and space to think deeply about issues they will face, both during and after divorce, and how they can protect their children's interests will be emphasised in all they do,” he said.

He also pointed out that the Ministry of Social and Family Development and its partners run marriage preparation and enrichment programmes for couples who run into marriage problems.

“These programmes will help us, as husbands and wives, to better understand and communicate with each other. It will give us skills to resolve conflicts when they arise,” Mr Tan said.

“A good marriage brings joy and deep fulfilment. But it will require our dedication and constant effort to maintain it. As much as we can, let's commit to our spouses and our marriage,” he added.

- CNA/cy


- wong chee tat :)

新加坡统计局：本地去年结婚率持平 离婚率微升

新加坡统计局：本地去年结婚率持平 离婚率微升
13/07/2016 16:01

新加坡统计局：本地去年结婚率持平 离婚率微升
?
本地去年的结婚率，和2014年基本持平。而离婚率则略微上升。社会及家庭发展部长陈川仁表示，当局注意到这个变化，将进一步为离婚夫妇提供辅导和帮助，尤其是有年幼孩童的家庭。

新加坡统计局今天发布的数据显示，本地去年共有2万8322对新人注册结婚，比2014年略少了85对，基本持平。另外，离婚的夫妻则有7522对，和前年相比增加了215对，也就是略微上涨了2.9%。

社会及家庭发展部长陈川仁通过博客表示，去年的结婚和离婚数据和往年相比，没有太大的变化。但是注意到了离婚率略微上升。他表示，离婚对任何夫妻都不容易，尤其是一些家庭还有孩子牵扯其中。

当局将在今年年底推出强制性育儿辅导计划，为有年幼孩童的离婚夫妻提供帮助。社会及家庭发展部也将在社区，继续推出多种婚姻辅导项目，以协助夫妻更好地进行交流，解决纠纷。

- CH8/YW


- wong chee tat :)

May 2016 BTO Prices

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May 2016 BTO Prices
Town	Contract	Flat Type	Selling Price (Excluding Grants **)	Selling Price (Including Grants ^)
Non-Mature Towns
Sembawang	EastCreek @ Canberra	2-room Flexi *	From $74,000	From $4,000+
		3-room	From $151,000	From $81,000
		4-room	From $235,000	From $180,000
		5-room	From $313,000	From $303,000
Bukit Panjang	Senja Heights, Senja Ridges and Senja Valley	2-room Flexi *	From $73,000	From $4,000+
		3-room	From $147,000	From $77,000
		4-room	From $239,000	From $184,000
		5-room	From $315,000	From $305,000
		3Gen	From $316,000	From $306,000
Mature Towns
Ang Mo Kio	Ang Mo Kio Court	2-room Flexi *	From $142,000	From $102,000
		4-room	From $382,000	From $367,000
		5-room	From $515,000	From $505,000
		3Gen	From $541,000	From $531,000
Bedok	Bedok North Woods	3-room	From $272,000	From $242,000
		4-room	From $408,000	From $393,000

Notes:
*	Come in two sizes of 36 sqm (Type 1) and 45 sqm (Type 2).
^	The assumed housing grants are meant for applicants applying as a family nucleus or two singles under the Joint Singles Scheme for a 2-room Flexi BTO flat. SHG is applicable only to 2-room Flexi, 3-room and 4-room flats in the non-mature towns. With the SHG enhancement announced at NDR 2015, eligible first-time flat buyers with income up to $8,500 would now enjoy SHG of up to $40,000: 2-room Flexi flat: $80,000 (comprising AHG of $40,000 and SHG of $40,000 where applicable) 3-room flat: $70,000 (comprising AHG of $30,000 and SHG of $40,000 where applicable) 4-room flat: $55,000 (comprising AHG of $15,000 and SHG of $40,000 where applicable) 5-room flat/ 3Gen flat: $10,000 (AHG only) The actual grant amounts vary based on income and choice of flat type. Read more on various CPF Housing Grants available.
+	Buyers are required to pay 5% of the published price using their own CPF and/or cash savings when the total housing grants (i.e. Additional CPF Housing Grant and Special CPF Housing Grant) they can enjoy exceeds 95% of the published price of flat. Excess housing grant, if any, can be used to pay for OCS items and premiums that singles and Singapore citizen/Singapore permanent resident households have to pay, before crediting into the Singaporean buyer's CPF accounts.
**	Singles who apply for the 2-room Flexi flats under the Single Singapore Citizen Scheme will pay $15,000 more than married couples. Eligible singles can also apply for AHG and SHG. The additional amount payable and the grants will vary based on the choice of lease tenure. The actual grant amounts will vary according to income. Read more on various CPF Housing Grants available.

- wong chee tat ):

It's a girl! Joanne Peh, Qi Yuwu welcome 'baby Qi'

It's a girl! Joanne Peh, Qi Yuwu welcome 'baby Qi'

TOGGLE reports: The baby girl was delivered at noon via natural birth at Mount Elizabeth; both mother and baby are said to be doing well.

POSTED: 07 Aug 2015 13:57 UPDATED: 07 Aug 2015 14:26

SINGAPORE: After nine months of anticipation, celebrity couple Joanne Peh and Qi Yuwu on Friday (Aug 7) welcomed the newest addition to their family – a baby girl.

The baby was delivered at noon via natural birth at Mount Elizabeth hospital. Both mother and baby are said to be doing well.

During an interview last week at a press conference for the 1965 movie, Qi shared that he will accompany Peh in the delivery ward and that they have hired a female videographer to film the entire process.

He also said they have booked a confinement nanny through their friends’ recommendation, as they felt "it would be good" to have an experienced person to help since this is their first child.

Currently based in Singapore to film Channel 8’s The Dream Makers 2, the actor said he felt lucky to be able to spend the last trimester of his wife's pregnancy by her side. He will be flying to Melbourne in September to film The Dream Makers 2 and after the drama wraps, he will head to China for another project in December.

It is not known when Peh, who recently renewed her MediaCorp contract, will resume work after giving birth. In one of her most recent interviews, she said she plans to be more selective with work assignments in order to spend more time with her baby.

The actress also said she hopes to have more autonomy over the projects she takes on in future. "With every project, there is an opportunity cost in regard to the time spent with my child. [The project] has got to be something that I feel is worthwhile and that inspires or challenges me,” she said.

The new parents previously said that they have picked an English name for the baby, but have yet to reveal it.

Qi and Peh, who have been friends and colleagues for more than 10 years, started dating in 2013 and tied the knot in a private wedding ceremony held in Sentosa last September. They have collaborated on several dramas, with the latest being 2014’s C.L.I.F. 3 and local film 1965.

- TOGGLE/cy


- wong chee tat ):

HDB May 2015 BTO

HDB May 2015 BTO

Number of Applications Received as at 2 June 2015

This e-service allows you to find out the number of applications received

Project	Flat Type	No of Units	Number of Applicants	Application Rate* Application Rate = Number of applications Received / Flat Supply  What it means: An Application Rate of 3 means that for every 1 flat available, there are 3 applicants vying for the unit.  As a general guide (see Note 2 below), the table below gives an overview under the current flat allocation policies. Sum of the computed number of applications may not add up due to rounding.  Estate Category Flat Type Application Rate First Timers (FTs) Second Timers (STs) Singles  Overall Non-mature Towns/ Estates 2-room FT applications received _______________ 20% of flat supply ST applications received _______________ 30% of flat supply Singles applications received _______________ 50% of flat supply Total applications received _______________ Total flat supply 3-room FT applications received _______________ 70% of flat supply ST applications received _______________ 30% of flat supply NA 4-/ 5-room FT applications received _______________ 85% of flat supply ST applications received _______________ 15% of flat supply Mature Towns/ Estates 2- to 5-room FT applications received _______________ 95% of flat supply ST applications received _______________ 5% of flat supply (Mouse-over for details)
				First Timers	Second Timers	Singles	Overall
Non-Mature Towns/Estates
Punggol Northshore Residences I / Northshore Residences II	2-room	546	2969	0.5	0.5	10.4	5.4
	3-room	112	367	2.3	5.6	NA	3.3
	4-room	519	1001	1.7	3.2	NA	1.9
	5-room	225	658	1.8	9.2	NA	2.9
Sembawang EastLink I @ Canberra / EastLink II @ Canberra	2-room	403	1652	0.2	0.4	7.9	4.1
	3-room	255	314	0.9	2.1	NA	1.2
	4-room	383	1428	3.3	6.0	NA	3.7
Mature Towns/ Estates
Clementi Clementi Crest	4-room	229	1995	6.8	47.5	NA	8.7
	5-room	156	2173	9.1	116.4	NA	13.9
Tampines Tampines GreenWeave	Studio Apartment	224	236	Not Applicable			1.1
	3-room	80	317	2.1	40.0	NA	4.0
	4-room	465	1488	2.6	14.4	NA	3.2
	5-room /3Gen	447#	1170	2.0	15.3	NA	2.6
TOTAL (excluding Studio Apartment)		3820	15532	2.8	5.7	9.3	4.1
TOTAL (including Studio Apartment)		4044	15768	Not Applicable			3.9

# Figure includes 56 units of 3Gen flats from Tampines GreenWeave which are specially designed for Multi-Generation families.

Note :

1. The Number of Applications Received is as at midnight on 2 June 2015. Allocation of flats is subject to prevailing eligibility conditions, availability of flats and Ethnic Integration Policy.

2. Application Rates:

Non-mature Estates  2-room: First-timer application rate refers to the number of first-timer applications divided by 20% of the flat supply. Second-timer application rate refers to the number of second-timers divided by 30% of the flat supply while first-timer Singles application rate refer to the number of Singles applications received divided by 50% of the flat supply.  3-room: First-timer application rate refers to the number of first-timer applications divided by 70% of the flat supply, while second-timer application rate refers to the number of second-timer applications received divided by 30% of the flat supply.  4-/ 5-room: First-timer application rate refers to the number of first-timer applications divided by 85% of the flat supply, while second-timer application rate refers to the number of second-timer applications divided by 15% of the flat supply.

Mature Estates 2- to 5-room: First-timer application rate refers to the number of first-timer applications divided by 95% of the flat supply, while second-timer application rate refers to the number of second-timer applications divided by 5% of the flat supply.  (However, for both non-mature and mature estates, some flats are also set aside for quota-based priority schemes, where HDB does not differentiate between first-timers and second-timers. If there are fewer first-timers than the number of flats set aside for them, the excess flats will be allocated to second-timers.)

3. The associated breakdown by first-timers and second-timers for studio apartments is not shown, as HDB does not differentiate its treatment of studio apartment applicants.

- wong chee tat :)

HDB Launches 3,995 Flats in First BTO Exercise of 2015

HDB Launches 3,995 Flats in First BTO Exercise of 2015

Date issued : 11 Feb 2015

 Today, HDB launched 3,995 new flats for sale under the February 2015 Build-To-Order (BTO) exercise. These flats are spread across five projects located in the non-mature towns of Bukit Batok and Hougang, and the mature town of Geylang. This is the first batch of the 16,900 BTO flats that HDB has planned for 2015.

2To better help flat buyers plan their finances and flat purchase, from this sales exercise onwards, flat applicants who intend to take out an HDB housing loan will also need to produce a valid HDB Loan Eligibility (HLE) letter at the point of booking a flat. Previously, they only needed to produce the HLE letter when they sign the Agreement for Lease, which is four months after booking a flat.

February 2015 BTO Exercise

3The 3,995 new flats in this exercise comprise Studio Apartments (SAs), 2-room to 5-room flats, as well as Three-Generation (3Gen) flats, to meet the diverse housing needs of first-timers, second-timers, multi-generation families, elderly and singles.

4First-timers will continue to enjoy priority flat allocation, with at least 85% (for 4-room and 5-room flats) and 70% (for 2-room and 3-room flats) of the BTO public flat supply set aside for them. Eligible first-timer singles have the option of applying for a 2-room flat in West Edge @ Bukit Batok, Buangkok ParkVista and Buangkok Tropica.

5Married/courting couples who wish to live together with their parent(s) can apply for a 3Gen flat at West Rock @ Bukit Batok. This is the first time 3Gen flats are offered in Bukit Batok. Other multi-generation families who wish to live near each other in the same BTO project can apply for flats in West Edge @ Bukit Batok, MacPherson Spring, Buangkok ParkVista or Buangkok Tropica under the Multi-Generation Priority Scheme¹(MGPS).

[1] HDB will set aside up to 15% of the SAs, 2-room and 3-room flats in a BTO project (subject to a minimum of 20 units each) for parents applying under MGPS. The same number of 2-room and bigger flats will be set aside in the same BTO project for their married children.

6Eligible first-timer families can enjoy up to $60,000 of housing grants, comprising the Additional CPF Housing Grant (AHG) (up to $40,000) and the Special CPF Housing Grant (SHG) (up to $20,000). With these grants, 2-room, 3-room, 4-room and 5-room flats can be purchased from $13,000, $108,000, $220,000 and $340,000 respectively (see Table 1). Further details can be found in Annex A  (PDF 584KB).

Table 1: February 2015 BTO Prices

Town	Project(s)	Flat Type	Selling Price (Excluding Grants@)	Selling Price (Including Grants^)
Non-Mature Towns
Bukit Batok  (PDF 894KB)	West Edge @ Bukit Batok  (JPG 441KB) &  West Rock @ Bukit Batok  (JPG 424KB)	2-room*	From $80,000	From $20,000
		3-room	From $160,000	From $110,000
		4-room	From $259,000	From $224,000
		5-room	From $350,000	From $340,000
		3Gen	From $382,000	From $372,000
Hougang (PDF 1358KB)	Buangkok ParkVista  (JPG 465KB) & Buangkok Tropica (JPG 451KB)	2-room*	From $73,000	From $13,000
		3-room	From $158,000	From $108,000
		4-room	From $255,000	From $220,000
Mature Town
Geylang (PDF 864KB)	MacPherson Spring  (JPG 414KB)	Studio Apartment#	From $114,000	-
		3-room	From $275,000	From $245,000
		4-room	From $403,000	From $388,0003-room

Note:
* Come in two sizes of 36 sqm (Type 1) and 45 sqm (Type 2).

^ The assumed housing grants are meant for applicants applying as a family nucleus or two singles under the Joint Singles Scheme for a 2-room BTO flat. SHG is applicable only to 2-room, 3-room and 4-room flats in the non-mature estates:

i) 2-room flat: $60,000 (comprising AHG of $40,000 and SHG of $20,000 where applicable) ii) 3-room flat: $50,000 (comprising AHG of $30,000 and SHG of $20,000 where applicable) iii) 4-room flat: $35,000 (comprising AHG of $15,000 and SHG of $20,000 where applicable) iv) 5-room flat / 3Gen flat: $10,000 (AHG only)

The actual grant amounts vary based on income and choice of flat type. Read more on various CPF Housing Grants available.

# SAs are sold on a 30-year lease, beginning from the date of key collection. Prices are inclusive of the elderly-friendly fittings/finishes. 

^@ Singles who apply for the 2-room flats under the Single Singapore Citizen Scheme will pay $15,000 more than married couples. Eligible singles can also apply for AHG and SHG. The actual grant amounts will vary based on income. Read more on the various CPF Housing Grants available.

Submission of HDB Loan Eligibility Letter at Point of Flat Booking

7Since 1 January 2007, all potential flat buyers who wish to take up an HDB concessionary loan must first obtain an HLE letter, to be produced when they sign the Agreement for lease, four months after booking a flat. The HLE letter provides information on the loan quantum that flat buyers are eligible for, as well as the monthly instalments for the loan, and helps to ensure that flat buyers are able to pay for their home without overstretching their finances.

8From this sales exercise onwards, flat applicants who intend to take out an HDB housing loan will need to produce a valid HLE Letter at the point of booking a flat, instead of during the signing of the Agreement for Lease.

9This move to bring forward the HLE requirement seeks to help flat buyers better plan their finances and flat purchase. It will minimise any disappointment should they be unable to obtain sufficient loan to proceed with the flat purchase subsequently, resulting in cancellation of their flat application and forfeiture of the option fee paid.

Advice for Flat Buyers

10Applicants are strongly advised to apply for a BTO flat in non-mature towns to enjoy a higher chance of success in securing a flat.

11Regular updates on the number of applications submitted for the various flat types/towns will be published on the HDB InfoWEB. Applicants are advised to check for updates before submitting their application.

12Applicants who wish to finance their purchase with an HDB housing loan are encouraged to apply for an HLE Letter for early planning. The HLE Letter will indicate the maximum loan that can be offered based on individuals’ financial situation. Applicants may wish to check their loan eligibility at www.hdb.gov.sg/hleapply.

Application for February 2015 BTO Exercise

13Application for new flats launched in the February 2015 BTO exercise can be submitted online on the HDB InfoWEB from today, 11 February 2015 (Wednesday) to 17 February 2015 (Tuesday). Applicants can apply for only one flat type in one town.

14More details on application procedures can be found in Annex B  (PDF 182KB).

15For enquiries, the public can:

 - Log on to esales.hdb.gov.sg; or

 - E-mail hdbsales@mailbox.hdb.gov.sg; or

 - Visit the HDB Sales Office to speak with our Customer Relations Executives during office hours (Monday to Friday 8 am to 5 pm, Saturday 8 am to 1 pm).

BTO-cum-SBF Launch in May 2015

16In May 2015, HDB will offer about 4,040 BTO flats in Clementi, Punggol North, Sembawang and Tampines. About 4,000 to 5,000 flats will be offered in a concurrent Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) exercise. More information on the flats to be offered under the May 2015 BTO exercise is available on the HDB InfoWEB.

- wong chee tat :)