Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore

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.

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	Deputy Prime Minister (informal) The Honourable (formal) His Excellency (diplomatic)
Abbreviation	DPM
Appointer	Prime Minister
Term length	At the President'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)
Website	www.pmo.gov.sg

History

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

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 MP for Rochore (1921–2012)	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 MP for Kreta Ayer (1918–2010)	1 March 1973	1 January 1985	11 years, 306 days	PAP	Lee K. IV Lee K. V Lee K. VI
3		S. Rajaratnam MP for Kampong Glam (1915–2006)	1 June 1980	1 January 1985	4 years, 214 days	PAP	Lee K. V Lee K. VI
4		Goh Chok Tong MP for Marine Parade SMC (until 1988) and Marine Parade GRC (from 1988) (born 1941)	2 January 1985	28 November 1990	5 years, 330 days	PAP	Lee K. VII Lee K. VIII
4		Ong Teng Cheong MP for Kim Keat SMC (until 1991) and Toa Payoh GRC (from 1991) (1936–2002)	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 MP for Teck Ghee SMC (until 1991) and Ang Mo Kio GRC (from 1991) (born 1952)	28 November 1990	12 August 2004	13 years, 258 days	PAP	Goh I Goh II Goh III Goh IV
6		Tony Tan MP for Sembawang GRC (born 1940)	1 August 1995	1 September 2005	10 years, 31 days	PAP	Goh II Goh III Goh IV Lee H. I
7		S. Jayakumar MP for East Coast GRC (born 1939)	12 August 2004	1 April 2009	4 years, 232 days	PAP	Lee H. I Lee H. II
8		Wong Kan Seng MP for Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC (born 1946)	1 September 2005	21 May 2011	5 years, 262 days	PAP	Lee H. I Lee H. II
9		Teo Chee Hean MP for Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC (born 1954)	1 April 2009	30 April 2019	10 years, 29 days	PAP	Lee H. II Lee H. III Lee H. IV
10		Tharman Shanmugaratnam MP for Jurong GRC (born 1957)	21 May 2011	30 April 2019	7 years, 344 days	PAP	Lee H. III Lee H. IV
11		Heng Swee Keat MP for Tampines GRC (until 2020) and East Coast GRC (from 2020) (born 1961)	1 May 2019	23 May 2025	6 years, 22 days	PAP	Lee H. IV Lee H. V Wong I
12		Lawrence Wong MP for Marsiling–Yew Tee GRC (born 1972)	13 June 2022	14 May 2024	1 year, 336 days	PAP	Lee H. V
13		Gan Kim Yong MP for Chua Chu Kang GRC (until 2025) and Punggol GRC (from 2025) (born 1959)	15 May 2024	Incumbent	1 year, 95 days	PAP	Wong I Wong II

See also

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