Prime Minister of Singapore

Prime Minister of
the Republic of Singapore
Prime Minister of ; the Republic of Singapore
	Incumbent; Lawrence Wong; since 15 May 2024
	Government of Singapore; Cabinet of Singapore; Prime Minister's Office
Style	Prime Minister (informal); His Excellency (diplomatic)
Residence	Sri Temasek
Appointer	President
Term length	5 years; renewable
Inaugural holder	Lee Kuan Yew
Formation	3 June 1959; 65 years ago
Deputy	Deputy Prime Minister
Salary	S$2,200,000 annually
Website	www.pmo.gov.sg

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]

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[change | change source]

Political parties

People's Action Party (PAP)

No.	Portrait	Name Constituency (Birth–Death)	Election	Term of office			Political party	Cabinet
No.	Portrait	Name Constituency (Birth–Death)	Election	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Political party	Cabinet
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	40 days	PAP	Wong I

List of deputy prime ministers[change | change source]

Political parties

People's Action Party (PAP)

No.	Portrait	Name Constituency (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Political party	Cabinet
No.	Portrait	Name Constituency (Birth–Death)	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Political party	Cabinet
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, 53 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	40 days	PAP	Wong I