Prime Minister of Singapore

head of the government of the Republic of Singapore

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore is the head of the government of the Republic of Singapore. The President of Singapore chooses as Prime Minister a Member of Parliament (MP) who, he thinks, will have the highest chance of being supported by a majority of MPs.[1]

Prime Minister of
the Republic of Singapore
Incumbent
Lawrence Wong

since 15 May 2024
Government of Singapore
Cabinet of Singapore
Prime Minister's Office
StylePrime Minister (informal)
His Excellency (diplomatic)
ResidenceSri Temasek
AppointerPresident
Term length5 years; renewable
Inaugural holderLee Kuan Yew
Formation3 June 1959; 65 years ago (1959-06-03)
DeputyDeputy Prime Minister
SalaryS$2,200,000 annually
Websitewww.pmo.gov.sg

The first time there was a Prime Minister was in 1959 and it was chosen by the Governor of Singapore and later the Yang di-Pertuan Negara (head of state), when Singapore could have the power to govern as the State of Singapore inside the British Empire. The title of Prime Minister did not change after Singapore merged with the Federation of Malaya, Sarawak and British North Borneo, while Singapore was a state in the Federation of Malaysia from 1963 to 1965, and after independence in 1965.

Lee Kuan Yew was the first prime minister of Singapore from 1959 to 1990 and retired on 26 November 1990. Goh Chok Tong took over Lee Kuan Yew, while Lee Kuan Yew was given the job of Senior Minister in the Prime Minister's Office. Goh Chok Tong retired on 12 August 2004 and was replaced by Lee Kuan Yew's son Lee Hsien Loong. Goh was given the job of Senior Minister, and the older Lee the job of Minister Mentor.

List of officeholders

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Political parties
No. Portrait Name
Constituency
(Birth–Death)
Election Term of office Political party Cabinet
Took office Left office Time in office
1   Lee Kuan Yew
(1923–2015)
MP for Tanjong Pagar SMC (1955–1991)
MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC (1991–2015)
1959 5 June 1959 28 November 1990 31 years, 176 days PAP Lee K. I
1963 Lee K. II
1968 Lee K. III
1972 Lee K. IV
1976 Lee K. V
1980 Lee K. VI
1984 Lee K. VII
1988 Lee K. VIII
2   Goh Chok Tong
(born 1941)
MP for Marine Parade SMC (1976–1988)
MP for Marine Parade GRC (1988–2020)
28 November 1990 12 August 2004 13 years, 258 days PAP Goh I
1991 Goh II
1997 Goh III
2001 Goh IV
3   Lee Hsien Loong
(born 1952)
MP for Teck Ghee SMC (1984–1991)
MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC (1991–present)
12 August 2004 15 May 2024 19 years, 277 days PAP Lee H. I
2006 Lee H. II
2011 Lee H. III
2015 Lee H. IV
2020 Lee H. V
4   Lawrence Wong
(born 1972)
MP for West Coast GRC (2011–2015)
MP for Marsiling–Yew Tee GRC (2015–present)
15 May 2024 Incumbent 141 days PAP Wong I

List of deputy prime ministers

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Political parties
No. Portrait Name
Constituency
(Birth–Death)
Term of office Political party Cabinet
Took office Left office Time in office
1 Toh Chin Chye
(1921–2012)
MP for Rochore
5 June 1959 2 August 1968 9 years,
58 days
PAP Lee K. I
Lee K. II
Vacant (2 August 1968–1 March 1973)
2 Goh Keng Swee
(1918–2010)
MP for Kreta Ayer
1 March 1973 1 January 1985 11 years,
306 days
PAP Lee K. IV
Lee K. V
Lee K. VI
3   S. Rajaratnam
(1915–2006)
MP for Kreta Ayer
1 June 1980 1 January 1985 4 years,
214 days
PAP Lee K. V
Lee K. VI
4   Goh Chok Tong
(born 1941)
MP for Marine Parade SMC
(1976–1988)
MP for Marine Parade GRC
(1988–2020)
2 January 1985 28 November 1990 5 years,
330 days
PAP Lee K. VII
Lee K. VIII
4   Ong Teng Cheong
(1936–2002)
MP for Kim Keat SMC
(1972–1991)
MP for Toa Payoh GRC
(1991–1993)
2 January 1985 1 September 1993 8 years,
242 days
PAP Lee K. VII
Lee K. VIII
Goh I
Goh II
5   Lee Hsien Loong
(born 1952)
MP for Teck Ghee SMC
(1984–1991)
MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC
(from 1991)
28 November 1990 12 August 2004 13 years,
258 days
PAP Goh I
Goh II
Goh III
Goh IV
6   Tony Tan
(born 1940)
MP for Sembawang GRC
1 August 1995 1 September 2005 10 years,
31 days
PAP Goh II
Goh III
Goh IV
Lee H. I
7   S. Jayakumar
(born 1939)
MP for East Coast GRC
12 August 2004 1 April 2009 4 years,
232 days
PAP Lee H. I
Lee H. II
8   Wong Kan Seng
(born 1946)
MP for Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC
1 September 2005 21 May 2011 5 years,
262 days
PAP Lee H. I
Lee H. II
9   Teo Chee Hean
(born 1954)
MP for Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC
1 April 2009 30 April 2019 10 years,
30 days
PAP Lee H. II
Lee H. III
Lee H. IV
10   Tharman Shanmugaratnam
(born 1957)
MP for Jurong GRC
21 May 2011 30 April 2019 7 years,
345 days
PAP Lee H. III
Lee H. IV
11   Heng Swee Keat
(born 1961)
MP for Tampines GRC
(2011–2020)
MP for East Coast GRC
(from 2020)
1 May 2019 Incumbent 5 years, 154 days PAP Lee H. IV
Lee H. V
Wong I
12   Lawrence Wong
(born 1972)
MP for Marsiling–Yew Tee GRC
13 June 2022 14 May 2024 1 year, 336 days PAP Lee H. V
13   Gan Kim Yong
(born 1959)
MP for Chua Chu Kang GRC
15 May 2024 Incumbent 141 days PAP Wong I
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References

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Other websites

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