Singapore firmly believes in the advancement of our women and the importance of their active participation in the country’s development. The Government is committed to building a society where all Singaporeans have full and equal opportunities to flourish and achieve their aspirations. Our core principle of meritocracy means that every woman enjoys equal standing and opportunities.

Soon after Singapore attained self-government, the Women’s Charter was passed in 1961. It instituted the equal standing of men and women in marriage and ensured the welfare and protection of women and girls in Singapore. Both men and women have equal access to opportunities and social support, and as a result, the lives of women in Singapore have improved tremendously over the years. Our commitment to eliminating gender inequality is reflected in our 8th worldwide and 1st in Asia Pacific standing in the United Nations’ Gender Inequality Index 2024.

Today, women have seen improvements in educational outcomes and achievements. In 2025, among residents aged 25 to 64, the female employment rate was 78.0%, with male employment rate at 88.9%. Female literacy rates have been above 95% since 2015, with 52% of females aged 25 and over being tertiary educated, an increase from 39.4% in 2014. Life expectancy for women has also increased, from 84.8 years in 2014 to 85.6 years in 2024. Boards have seen more women joining, with the proportion of women on boards as at 30 June 2024 being at 25.5% for the top 100 companies listed on Singapore Exchange, 31.7% for top 100 Institutions of a Public Character, and 36% for Statutory Boards.

Advancing women’s progress remains an ongoing effort. In 2021, the year dedicated to Celebrating SG Women, the Government completed a year-long, nationwide Conversations on Singapore Women’s Development that engaged nearly 6,000 participants over 160 conversations. The Conversations took stock of our current efforts to empower, uplift and support women and gave voice to our collective aspirations for Singapore women. Feedback and ideas contributed to the White Paper in 2022, which has 25 collective action plans over a 10-year roadmap.

These action plans reflect the whole-of-society effort required to advance Singapore women’s development. They aim to support the diverse aspirations of and challenges faced by Singaporean women at different life stages, centering around our shared values of fairness, equality, respect and solidarity.

The 2024 Progress Report charts the progress of women’s development since the White Paper, and encapsulates how Singapore has made good progress across different spheres – including employment, health and protection from violence, while acknowledging the need to continue efforts to address gender stereotypes.