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Ministry of Finance (MOF)
Parliamentary Replies

Data on Social Mobility for Children Born to Middle-Income Household Percentile Groups against Growing Stagnation Trends

Topics

Fiscal Policies

Income Growth

Income Inequality

5 May 2026

Parliamentary Question by Mr Shawn Loh:

To ask the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance apart from data on social mobility based on children born to fathers in the bottom 20% of earners (a) whether the Ministry can also share data on social mobility for middle-income households such as those born to fathers at the (i) 40th (ii) 60th and (iii) 80th percentile; and (b) whether there is any trend of growing stagnation for these groups.

Parliamentary Reply by Senior Minister of State for Finance, Mr Jeffrey Siow:

For children born to fathers who were in the 41st to 80th percentile of earners, the share of children in each income quintile has remained broadly stable across cohorts. See Chart 1 for more details.


Income distribution of children (in their 30s) born to fathers who were in the 41st to 80th percentile of earners (in their 40s)

Chart 1: Income distribution of children (in their 30s) born to fathers who were in the 41st to 80th percentile of earners (in their 40s) Source: Department of Statistics (DOS)

Note: Methodological notes can be found in Chart 17 of MOF’s Occasional Paper on Income Growth, Inequality and Social Mobility Trends in Singapore.


We will continue to monitor social mobility trends and review our policies to ensure they remain effective in supporting Singaporeans across all income groups.

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