Prime Minister of Singapore facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore
Flag of Singapore
Coat of arms of Singapore
Incumbent Lawrence Wong since 15 May 2024
Government of Singapore Prime Minister's Office
Style	Prime Minister (informal) The Honourable (formal) His Excellency (diplomatic)
Abbreviation	PM
Residence	Sri Temasek
Appointer	President
Term length	5 years, renewable
Inaugural holder	Lee Kuan Yew
Formation	3 June 1959; 66 years ago (1959-06-03)
Deputy	Deputy Prime Minister
Salary	S$2,200,000/US$1,641,791 annually (including S$192,500 MP salary)

The prime minister of Singapore is the main leader of the government in Singapore. Think of them as the chief executive of the country. The President chooses the prime minister. This choice is made with the agreement of the Cabinet, which is a group of top government ministers. The current prime minister is Lawrence Wong. He started his job on May 15, 2024.

Singapore's government works like the Westminster system. This means the prime minister needs the support of most members in Parliament. The prime minister is usually a Member of Parliament (MP). They lead the biggest political party or a group of parties working together. In simple terms, the prime minister is the leader of the party that has the most seats in Parliament.

History of the Prime Minister's Role

The role of prime minister began in 1959. Before that, Singapore had a "chief minister." In 1959, Singapore gained self-governance from the United Kingdom. This meant Singapore could govern itself. Lee Kuan Yew became the first prime minister on June 5, 1959.

When Singapore joined Malaysia in 1963, the title of prime minister stayed the same. This was even though Malaysia already had its own prime minister. Singapore later became fully independent in 1965. The office of prime minister continued. The president of Singapore became a ceremonial leader, like a figurehead.

In 1991, some changes were made to Singapore's Constitution. The President was given more powers. However, the President usually acts on the advice of the Cabinet. The Cabinet is led by the prime minister. So, the prime minister and the Cabinet do most of the actual work of running the country.

If the prime minister is away or sick, another Cabinet minister can become the acting prime minister. This person is usually the deputy prime minister or a senior minister.

What the Prime Minister Does

The prime minister leads the Cabinet. They are in charge of the government's daily activities. They also make sure government policies are put into action. Since the prime minister leads the majority party in Parliament, they are also responsible for passing new laws.

The prime minister also suggests who should be the Speaker of Parliament. The Speaker helps manage Parliament's meetings. The prime minister also suggests who should be the Leader of the House. This person organizes the government's work in Parliament.

The prime minister chooses the other members of the Cabinet. The President must agree with these choices. The prime minister can also change or remove ministers. They also advise the President on other important appointments. These include the Attorney-General and top officials in government ministries.

The prime minister can ask the President to declare a state of emergency. This happens if there is a serious threat to the country. The prime minister also has power over the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). They work with the Armed Forces Council to make decisions about defence.

Prime Minister's Benefits

Sri Temasek is the official home for the prime minister. However, no prime minister has ever lived there. The Istana is usually the prime minister's working office. But since 2024, Sri Temasek has been used as the working office. This is because The Istana is being renovated.

The prime minister is protected by a special security team. This team is part of the Singapore Police Force (SPF). They also protect the President, other ministers, and important visitors.

The prime minister's yearly salary is about S$2.2 million. This includes bonuses. Singapore's prime minister is known for having one of the highest salaries among world leaders. In 2011, the prime minister's salary was reduced. This happened after a committee reviewed the salaries of political leaders.

List of Singapore's Prime Ministers

Political parties

     People's Action Party (PAP)

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	1 year, 52 days	PAP	Wong

Timeline of Prime Ministers

Related Topics

• Prime Minister's Office (PMO)
• Deputy Prime Minister
• Cabinet of Singapore
• Leader of the Opposition
• Politics of Singapore