Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore
Flag of Singapore
Coat of arms of Singapore
Incumbent Heng Swee Keat since 1 May 2019 Gan Kim Yong since 15 May 2024
Style	Deputy Prime Minister (informal) The Honourable (formal) His Excellency (diplomatic)
Abbreviation	DPM
Appointer	Prime Minister
Term length	At the Prime Minister's pleasure
Inaugural holder	Toh Chin Chye
Formation	3 June 1959; 66 years ago (1959-06-03)
Salary	S$1,870,000 annually (including S$192,500 MP salary)

The Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore is a very important leader in the government of Singapore. This person helps the Prime Minister run the country. Think of them as the Prime Minister's main helper and second-in-command.

Currently, Singapore has two Deputy Prime Ministers. They are Heng Swee Keat and Gan Kim Yong. Mr. Heng started his role on May 1, 2019, and Mr. Gan on May 15, 2024.

What is a Deputy Prime Minister?

The Deputy Prime Minister is the second most important job in Singapore's government. This person is a senior member of the Cabinet. The Cabinet is a group of top ministers who make big decisions for the country.

Sometimes, if the Prime Minister is away from Singapore, the Deputy Prime Minister steps in. They act as the Prime Minister until the leader returns.

How the Role Started

The job of Deputy Prime Minister began in 1959. This was when Singapore gained self-governance from the British Empire. This meant Singapore could make its own decisions, even though it was still connected to Britain.

The first person to hold this important role was Toh Chin Chye. He served as Deputy Prime Minister from 1959 to 1968.

The title stayed the same even when Singapore joined Malaysia in 1963. Singapore was a state within Malaysia for two years. After Singapore became fully independent in 1965, the role of Deputy Prime Minister continued.

Recent Deputy Prime Ministers

Since the mid-1980s, Singapore has often had two Deputy Prime Ministers at the same time. This helps share the big responsibilities of leading the country.

Heng Swee Keat became Deputy Prime Minister on May 1, 2019. At the same time, he was also the Minister of Finance. Before him, Teo Chee Hean and Tharman Shanmugaratnam were the Deputy Prime Ministers. Mr. Heng later stepped down from his finance role in April 2021.

Lawrence Wong took on the role of Deputy Prime Minister on June 13, 2022. He served alongside Mr. Heng Swee Keat. Mr. Wong had also been the Minister of Finance since 2021. He left the Deputy Prime Minister role on May 14, 2024. He was the shortest-serving Deputy Prime Minister.

On the same day, May 15, 2024, Gan Kim Yong became a Deputy Prime Minister. He now serves with Mr. Heng Swee Keat.

List of Deputy Prime Ministers

This table shows the people who have served as Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore.

Political parties

     People's Action Party (PAP)

No.	Portrait	Name Constituency (Birth–Death)	Time in Office			Political party	Cabinet
			Started	Ended	Total Time
1		Toh Chin Chye (1921–2012) Represented Rochore	5 June 1959	2 August 1968	9 years, 58 days	PAP	Lee K. I Lee K. II
No one held the position (2 August 1968–1 March 1973)
2		Goh Keng Swee (1918–2010) Represented 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) Represented 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) Represented Marine Parade SMC (1976–1988) Represented 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) Represented Kim Keat SMC (1972–1991) Represented 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) Represented Teck Ghee SMC (1984–1991) Represented 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) Represented 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) Represented 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) Represented 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) Represented 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) Represented 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) Represented Tampines GRC (2011–2020) Represented East Coast GRC (from 2020)	1 May 2019	Incumbent	6 years, 54 days	PAP	Lee H. IV Lee H. V Wong I
12		Lawrence Wong (born 1972) Represented Marsiling–Yew Tee GRC	13 June 2022	14 May 2024	1 year, 336 days	PAP	Lee H. V
13		Gan Kim Yong (born 1959) Represented Chua Chu Kang GRC	15 May 2024	Incumbent	1 year, 41 days	PAP	Wong I

See also

• Prime Minister of Singapore
• Senior Minister of Singapore
• Prime Minister's Office (PMO)
• Cabinet of Singapore