From the gender perspective, Singapore is similar to other ageing countries in that the life expectancy of women exceeds that of men, with more men than women in the younger years but a noticeable reversal of sex ratios with progressive age past 60 years. In 1990, there was a balance between the sexes in the 50-59 age group, with just about 100 males per 100 females. That ratio, however, rapidly dropped to 60 males per 100 females for the 80+ age group. Similarly, life expectancy at birth in1990 was 77.6 years for women and 73.1 for men. At age 60, life expectancy for women was another 20.9 years, as compared to 17.8 years for men. 

Older women of Singapore today are enjoying a reasonable quality of life, but they are potentially in a vulnerable position because of their total reliance on their family for financial and other support. As a result of their investment in their families and the relative persistence of traditional values among the current cohort of middle-aged children, most of these women are receiving adequate support at this time. Because of the low level of education, low labour participation in the past and the lack of CPF funds, most older women today do not have their own source of income nor do they have any marketable skills to generate income. As Singapore’s non-welfare policy emphasises family care for older people, there is no additional safety net beyond family care (except for the Public Assistance Fund for those in extreme poverty), as older people with children are not eligible for most assistance and subsidy schemes. As long as the family continues to provide care and support, older women’s well-being is relatively assured.

The profile of the older Singapore woman 20 years from now would be vastly different from today. For women who were born after 1950 and entered school in the 1960s, they have the tremendous benefit of universal education that was implemented in the mid-60s. Because of the need for manpower in nation building, women were encouraged, against traditional practice, to attain higher levels of education and to work in the formal sector. The emphasis on family planning and population control further freed women for participation in the labour force. 

For the cohorts of women in their 30s and 40s who will mature into old age in another 20 or 30 years, most of them will be in a fair financial situation in their own right. The majority of these women will at least have secondary education, have experience in the formal sector, have their own CPF and other savings, and most likely have home equity as well. Dependency on the family will be much less as compared to the older women today. Yet even for this cohort, their future is not completely secure, in addition to having to cope with the stress of juggling employment and family-care responsibilities.

Given that these women are most likely to have uninterrupted employment and career development, income adequacy in later years might still be an issue. Thus, gender differentiation is critical even in planning for the long-term care of the working cohort.

For the cohorts of women in their late 40s and 50s, before universal education was available, the future is more uncertain. Like the older women today, more than half of these middle-aged women have no education or only primary education. They have few marketable skills, particularly in the Singapore context, and most of them have been homemakers with no CPF or other savings accounts. These women will continue to have dependency on their spouse and children for old age support. Family support for these women will be less reliable as they already have fewer children than the current generation of older women. For other reasons as well (such as different values or immigration abroad) their families may not provide adequate care. Although divorce rate is still relatively low in Singapore, the trend is increasing. The well-being of these women when they reach old age is of great concern.