# Singaporeans live longer: How they manage retirement savings

> Singapore's CPF LIFE scheme adapts to longer lifespans with flexible retirement income options.
- Title: Singaporeans live longer: How they manage retirement savings
- Summary: Singapore's CPF LIFE scheme adapts to longer lifespans with flexible retirement income options. Singapore's CPF LIFE provides lifelong retirement income…
- Keywords: singapore, cpf life, retirement savings, central provident fund board, singaporeans, longevity risk, retirement income, lifelong income, news, world, live, longer
- Source: Malay Mail — https://malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/10/22/as-singaporeans-live-longer-a-look-at-how-they-manage-their-retirement-savings/239851
- Author: Ida Lim
- Published: 2026-10-22T07:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: singapore, cpf life, retirement savings, central provident fund board, singaporeans, longevity risk, retirement income, lifelong income, news, world
## CPF LIFE scheme introduced
Singapore's CPF LIFE scheme was created in 2009 to address longer lifespans after 2007 data showed over half of citizens would live past 82 and 85.

> Singapore in 2007 recognised that more than half of singaporean men and women would live past 82 and 85 respectively
## CPF LIFE works with government securities
CPF LIFE invests in special singapore government securities for risk-free returns of about four percent with low expenses due to non-profit status.

> the entire cpf life funds are invested in special singapore government securities (ssgs) with a guaranteed risk-free return of about four per cent
## Automatic inclusion for most citizens
Nine in ten cpf members are expected to meet the s$60,000 savings threshold by 2035, automatically joining cpf life at age 65.

> nine in ten cpf members are expected to reach this savings level by 2035
## Opt-in option for others
Those who don't meet the savings threshold can join cpf life later with an opt-out option for those with existing pensions or annuities.

> those who do not meet the minimum s sixty thousand level would be on the rss plan but noted they can still opt in for cpf life
## CPF LIFE sustainability
The scheme is fully self-sustainable with no government subsidies as it pools longevity risk through government securities.

> the scheme is fully self-sustainable as the entire cpf life funds are invested in special singapore government securities
## CPF LIFE vs. traditional savings
CPF LIFE provides monthly payouts that adjust to ensure sustainability, unlike lump sum withdrawals that don't last as long.

> the retirement sum scheme splits up monthly payouts over a fixed duration of twenty years to make it last longer
## Singapore's approach to longevity
Singapore's cpf board deputy ceo wong yan jun explained the scheme addresses the reality that more than half of citizens would live past 85.

> but the truth is what we are preparing for is not for that moment. cpf life is preparing for the future generation to come
## Malaysian implications
Wong suggested malaysia could introduce a similar scheme to help retirees stream savings into lifelong income streams.

> wong suggested that malaysia could introduce a scheme, which could be something like cpf life but "need not be similar", that could help malaysians stream up their retirement savings
## Key takeaway

Singapore's CPF LIFE provides lifelong retirement income through a self-sustaining scheme that automatically includes most citizens by 2035.