Singapore has started a pilot matchmaking programme, FirstDate, for civil servants between 21 and 35 years old. The move comes as the country seeks to lift a record‑low fertility rate.
According to the programme, users sign in with Singapore’s National Digital Identity and take a questionnaire about interests, habits and values. FirstDate then applies the Gale‑Shapley Stable Marriage algorithm – a Nobel‑prize winning method originally used for school admissions and medical residency placement – to pair participants to one date at a time, aiming to reduce swipe fatigue.
The launch has courted mixed reactions. Some Singaporeans question an age limit of 35 and argue the platform discriminates against non‑government workers, while others see it as a low‑risk way for public servants to find partners.
Officials say the service is still a pilot and is not yet clear whether it will become a national service. Meanwhile, the launch follows a broader push by Singapore’s Prime Minister to encourage couples to have children – recently announced financial support totaling almost S$70,000 for each child up to 17 years of age.
This is not the first time Singapore has tried to assist its citizens in finding partners. In 1984 the Social Development Unit organized events for university graduates, and in 2024 Tokyo launched a similar AI‑powered app that has already matched 265 couples.
