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Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore

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Deputy Prime Minister of the
Republic of Singapore
Coat of arms of Singapore
Flag of Singapore
Incumbent
Gan Kim Yong
since 15 May 2024
Style
AbbreviationDPM
AppointerPrime Minister
Term lengthAt the Prime Minister's pleasure
Inaugural holderToh Chin Chye
Formation3 June 1959; 66 years ago (1959-06-03)
SalaryS$1,870,000 annually
(including S$192,500 MP salary)
Websitewww.pmo.gov.sg

The deputy prime minister of Singapore[a] is the deputy head of government of the Republic of Singapore, and are a key political ally of the prime minister. The incumbent deputy prime minister is Gan Kim Yong, who took office on 15 May 2024.

History

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The office of deputy prime minister is the second highest position in the Cabinet of Singapore, typically held by senior ministers. At times, two individuals could serve simultaneously as deputy prime ministers. The officeholder is generally assigned specific duties by the prime minister, including deputising in the Parliament of Singapore. Additionally, the deputy prime minister often acts as prime minister during periods when the latter is abroad, on leave or incapacitated.

Established in 1959 with Singapore's attainment of self-governance from the British Empire, the first deputy prime minister was appointed by Yang di-Pertuan Negara William Goode. The position retained its title following Singapore's merger with the Federation of Malaya, Sarawak and North Borneo to form Malaysia, during which Singapore functioned as a autonomous federated state between 1963 and 1965. Toh Chin Chye was the inaugural officeholder, serving from 1959 to 1968.[1] It was vacant from 1968 to 1973, when prime minister Lee Kuan Yew did not pick a deputy for his Third Cabinet after winning the 1968 Singaporean general election.

Two former deputy prime ministers of Singapore have subsequently been elected as President of Singapore. These include Ong Teng Cheong and Tharman Shanmugaratnam, both of whom transitioned from their deputy roles to the nation's head of state.[2][3] Lawrence Wong assumed the office of deputy prime minister on 13 June 2022 but left the position on 15 May 2024 to become prime minister, making his tenure the shortest in the history of the office. His successor, Gan Kim Yong, took office on 15 May 2024 and continues to serve concurrently as Minister for Trade and Industry.

List of deputy prime ministers

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Since its formation, all individuals who have held the position of Deputy Prime Minister have been members of the People's Action Party (PAP).

Political parties
  People's Action Party (PAP)
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 		3 August
1968 		9 years, 59 days PAP Lee K. I
Lee K. II
Vacant
(4 August 1968–1 March 1973) 		Lee K. III
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 Kampong Glam 		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 (until 1988) and Marine Parade GRC (from 1988) 		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 (until 1991) and Toa Payoh GRC (from 1991) 		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 (until 1991) and 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, 29 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, 344 days PAP Lee H. III
Lee H. IV
11 Heng Swee Keat
(born 1961)
MP for Tampines GRC (until 2020) and East Coast GRC (from 2020) 		1 May
2019 		23 May
2025 		6 years, 22 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 (until 2025) and Punggol GRC (from 2025) 		15 May
2024 		Incumbent 1 year, 92 days PAP Wong I
Wong II

See also

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Notes and references

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  1. ^ Malay: Timbalan Perdana Menteri Singapura, Chinese: 新加坡副总理; pinyin: Xīnjiāpō Fù Zǒnglǐ, Tamil: சிங்கப்பூர் துணைப் பிரதமர், romanized: Ciṅkappūr Tuṇaip Piratamar
  1. ^ "Toh Chin Chye". roots.gov.sg. National Heritage Board. 30 December 2021. Archived from the original on 16 September 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
  2. ^ "Singaporeans Choose First Elected President". nytimes.com. Reuters. 30 August 1993. Archived from the original on 17 January 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
  3. ^ Heijmans, Philip J. (1 September 2023). "Singapore's Former Deputy Premier Tharman Wins Presidency by a Landslide". time.com. Bloomberg. Archived from the original on 22 July 2025. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
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