Elon Musk responds to 2026 National Day Rally: 'Humans are disappearing'

Elon Musk, the world's richest man, responded to a post on X about Singapore's push to stymie or reverse the falling 0.87 total fertility rate (TFR).

The post by user XFreeze on X highlighted the measures laid out by Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Aug. 23 during the 2026 National Day Rally aimed at tackling the fertility crisis.

It mentioned the S$70,000 direct financial support for each Singaporean from birth to age 17, as well as upping childcare leave and more chances of securing a build-to-order (BTO) flat for first-time families.

A clip of PM Wong speaking at NDR was also included.

XFreeze wrote: "Singapore just went all in on birth rates."

"That’s not just a dip. That’s a whole country nowhere near replacing itself. It's a massive problem for the country," XFreeze added.

Singapore just went all in on birth rates

Fertility fell to a record-low 0.87 in 2025. Birth rates have fallen seriously low

That’s not just a dip. That’s a whole country nowhere near replacing itself. It's a massive problem for the country

So Singapore is going directly after…

— X Freeze (@XFreeze) August 24, 2026

In response to the post, Musk wrote: "Humans are disappearing."

Humans are disappearing https://t.co/KkSQ2WKKyI

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 24, 2026

Musk's views on population collapse

Musk has repeatedly mentioned that he believes people on Earth are at risk of a sudden "population collapse".

He has attributed his belief to falling birth rates, saying it is the single biggest existential threat to human civilisation.

He has even said that declining birth rates pose a much higher risk to the future than global warming.

He frequently highlights countries such as China, India, and the United States that have fertility rates below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman.

Demographers have disagreed with his view and have labelled Musk's projection as an alarmist take on the future.

For example, as evidence that Musk could be exaggerating, United Nations reports project the total global population to be growing and will peak near 10 billion later this century before any major decline.

However, Musk has been practising what he preaches.

The billionaire/ trillionaire has fathered a large family himself, viewing children as a way to secure a positive legacy for the future.

He has 14 children with four women.

The Wall Street Journal reported in April 2025 on how Musk approached different women with offers to have his children.