Singapore
 

6 Feb 1819 - c.1868, 1946 - 12 Sep 1948   c.1868 - 1877   1877 - 1904 1904 - 1925    1925 - 15 Feb 1942, 12 Sep 1945 - 1 Apr 1946   15 Feb 1942 - 12 Sep 1915   12 Sep 1948 - 1953 1953 -  3 Dec 1959 Adopted 3 Dec 1959 Map of Singapore Hear National Anthem "Majulah Singapura" (Onward Singapore) Text of National Anthem Adopted 3 Dec 1959 Constitution (3 Jun 1959) Capital: Singapore (Syonan 1942-1945) Currency: Singapore Dollar (SGD); 1963-1965 Malaysian  Ringgit (MYR); 1946-1963 Malaya Dollar (MYAD); 1942-1944 Malayan Gumpyo Dollar (MYAG) National Holiday:  9 Aug (1965) Singapore National Day (Hari Kebangsaan Singapura) Population: 6,028,459 (2024) GDP: $800.3 billion (2024) Exports: $978.6 billion (2024) Imports: $786 billion (2024) Ethnic groups: Chinese 74.2%, Malay 13.7%, Indian 8.9%, other 3.2% (2021) Total Armed Forces: 51,000 (2026) U.S. Forces: 260 (2025) Merchant marine: 3,202 ships (2023) Religions: Buddhist 31.1%, Christian 18.9%, Muslim 15.6%, Taoist 8.8%, Hindu 5%, other 0.6%, none 20% (2020) International Organizations/Treaties: AC (observer), ADB, AIIB, AOSIS, APA, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, BTWC, C, CP, CPTPP, CTBT, CWC, EAS, FAO, FATF, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, ICSID, IDA, IEA (association), IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IORA, IPU, IRENA, ISA, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, NPT, NTBT, OPCW, OST, PA (associate), PCA, PIF (partner), RCEP (signatory), UN, UNCLOS, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFCC, UNFCC-KP, UNFCC-PA, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Singapore Index Chronology 1299 - 1398                Kingdom of Singapura (Kerajaan Singapura).  6 Feb 1819                British (East India Company) protectorate. 17 Mar 1824                Netherlands withdrew its opposition to the                              occupation of the island of Singapore by the                              British by Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824 signed                              (ratified 8 Jun 1824).  3 Aug 1824                Ceded to Britain by the Sultan of Johore;                              under British East India Company rule. 14 Aug 1826                Part of the Straits Settlements (Malacca, Penang,                              Singapore)(under British East India Company                               rule 1826-1858)(Settlement of Singapore). 14 Aug 1826 - 31 Mar 1867  Straits Settlements subordinated to British India                             (under Bengal Presidency 26 May 1830 - 1 Sep 1851).  1 Apr 1867 -  1 Apr 1946  Part of Straits Settlements a separate crown colony. 15 Feb 1942 - 12 Sep 1945  Japanese occupation of Singapore (Syonan Military                              Administration; subordinated 25th Army Military                              Administration; Apr 1943 - Feb 1945 Malay Military                              Administration; from Feb 1945 Syonan and Johor                              under the 7th Area Army Administration)(Singapore                              is renamed Syônan-tô [Hepburn Romanization:                              Shōnan-tō]["Light of the South Island"], from 17                              Feb 1942 Syonan Special Municipality [Tokubetusi]                              created. In May 1942, the Rio, Linga, Karimun,                              Tambelan, Anambas, and Natouna Archipelago of                              former Dutch Sumatra are incorporated into Syonan                              Special Municipality).  5 Sep 1945                British military forces begin to arrive. 12 Sep 1945 -  1 Apr 1946  British military administration.  1 Apr 1946                Singapore a separate crown colony.  6 Apr 1955                Autonomy  3 Jun 1959                State of Singapore (Negara Singapura). 31 Aug 1963                Independence from U.K. proclaimed. 16 Sep 1963 -  9 Aug 1965  Part of Malaysia (State of Singapore).    9 Aug 1965                Singapore is proclaimed independent. 22 Dec 1965                Republic of Singapore (Republik Singapura) Singapore Straits Settlements (1826-1946)

Straits Settlements

c.1868 - 1877	1877 - 1904	1904 - 1925
1925 - 15 Feb 1942, 12 Sep 1945 - 1 Apr 1946

Map of the Straits Settlements	Capital: Singapore (George Town [Penang] Aug 1826-Dec 1832)	Currency: 1858-1946 Straits Settlements  Dollar (STSD);  1826-1858 East India Company Dollar (XEID)	Population: 1,370,300 (1939)
Ethnic groups: Chinese 61%, Malay 25%, Indian 11%, European and Eurasian 2%, others 1% (1936)	Religious: Muslims, Buddhists, Taoists, Hindus, Sikhs, and Christians	Exports: $144.4 million (including Malay states) (1936)	Imports: $136.3 million (including Malay states) (1936)

14 Aug 1826                Straits Settlements (Malacca, Penang, Singapore and from
                             1900 Christmas Island, 1903-1942 Cocos [Keeling] Islands,
                             and from 1905, Labuan).
14 Aug 1826 -  1 Nov 1858  British East India Company administration.
14 Aug 1826 - 31 Mar 1867  Subordinated to British India (to 25 May 1830 a presidency of
                             British India; from 25 May 1830 under the Bengal Presidency;
                             the from 1 Sep 1851 a province of British India under the
                             Governor-general to 31 Mar 1867).
 1 Apr 1867 -  1 Apr 1946  Straits Settlements a crown colony.
15 Feb 1942 - 12 Sep 1945  Japanese occupation.

Governors (and 18 Mar 1886 - 15 Feb 1942, Governors of Cocos [Keeling] Islands; and
1 Jul 1896 - 1 Apr 1946, High Commissioners of the Federated Malay States; and
10 Jun 1900 - 1 Apr 1946 Governors of Christmas Island; and 5 Dec 1905 - 1 Apr 1946,
British High Commissioners for Brunei)
27 Nov 1826 - 12 Nov 1830  Robert Fullerton                   (b. 1773 - d. 1831)
12 Nov 1830 -  7 Dec 1833  Robert Ibbetson                    (b. 1789 - d. 1860)
 7 Dec 1833 - 17 Nov 1836  Kenneth Murchison                  (b. 1794 - d. 1854)
18 Nov 1836 - May 1843     Samuel George Bonham               (b. 1803 - d. 1863)
Jun 1843 - 27 Aug 1843     Edmund Augustus Blundell (1st time)(b. 1804 - d. 1868)
                             (acting)
27 Aug 1843 - 21 Mar 1855  William John Butterworth           (b. 1801 - d. 1856)
21 Mar 1855 -  6 Aug 1859  Edmund Augustus Blundell (2nd time)(s.a.)
 6 Aug 1859 - 17 Mar 1867  William Orfeur Cavenagh            (b. 1821 - d. 1891)
17 Mar 1867 -  3 Mar 1871  Harry St. George Ord (1st time)    (b. 1819 - d. 1885)
 4 Mar 1871 - 22 Mar 1871  Edward Archibald Harbord Anson     (b. 1826 - d. 1925)
                             (1st time) (acting)
23 Mar 1872 -  2 Nov 1873  Sir Harry St. George Ord (2nd time)(s.a.)
 3 Nov 1872 -  4 Nov 1873  Edward Archibald Harbord Anson     (s.a.)
                             (2nd time) (acting)
 4 Nov 1873 - 10 May 1875  Sir Andrew Clarke                  (b. 1825 - d. 1902)
10 May 1875 -  3 Apr 1877  Sir William Francis Drummond       (b. 1821 - d. 1897) 
                             Jervois
 3 Apr 1877 - 29 Oct 1877  Edward Archibald Harbord Anson     (s.a.)
                             (3rd time) (acting) 
29 Oct 1877 - 10 Feb 1879  Sir William Cleaver Francis        (b. 1834 - d. 1897)
                             Robinson
10 Feb 1879 -  6 May 1880  Edward Archibald Harbord Anson     (s.a.)
                             (4thd time) (acting)
 6 May 1880 - 28 Mar 1884  Frederick Aloysius Weld (1st time) (b. 1823 - d. 1891)
                             (from 28 May 1880, Sir Frederick Aloysius Weld)
29 Mar 1884 - 12 Nov 1885  Cecil Clementi Smith (1st time)    (b. 1840 - d. 1916)
                             (acting)
13 Nov 1885 - 13 May 1887  Sir Frederick Aloysius Weld        (s.a.)
                             (2nd time)
14 May 1887 - 17 Oct 1887  John Frederick Dickson (1st time)  (b. 1835 - d. 1891)
                             (acting)
17 Oct 1887 -  8 Apr 1890  Sir Cecil Clementi Smith (2nd time)(s.a.)
 8 Apr 1890 - 11 Nov 1890  John Frederick Dickson (2nd time)  (s.a.)
                             (acting)
12 Nov 1890 - 30 Aug 1893  Sir Cecil Clementi Smith (3rd time)(s.a.)
30 Aug 1893 - 31 Jan 1894  William Edward Maxwell (acting)    (b. 1846 - d. 1897)
 1 Feb 1894 -  7 Dec 1899  Sir Charles Bullen Hugh Mitchell   (b. 1836 - d. 1899)
 7 Dec 1899 -  5 Nov 1901  James Alexander Swettenham         (b. 1846 - d. 1933)
                             (acting)
 5 Nov 1901 - 12 Oct 1903  Sir Frank Athelstone Swettenham    (b. 1850 - d. 1946)
15 Apr 1904 -  9 Apr 1911  Sir John Anderson                  (b. 1858 - d. 1918)
 9 Sep 1911 - 24 Aug 1919  Sir Arthur Henderson Young         (b. 1854 - d. 1938)
24 Aug 1919 -  3 Feb 1920  Frederick Seton James (acting)     (b. 1870 - d. 1934)
 3 Feb 1920 -  5 May 1927  Sir Laurence Nunns Guillemard      (b. 1862 - d. 1951)
 3 Jun 1927 - 20 Oct 1929  Sir Hugh Charles Clifford          (b. 1866 - d. 1941)
21 Oct 1929 -  5 Feb 1930  Sir John Scott (acting)            (b. 1878 - d. 1946)
 5 Feb 1930 - 16 Feb 1934  Sir Cecil Clementi                 (b. 1875 - d. 1947)
17 Feb 1934 -  9 Nov 1934  Andrew Caldecott (acting)          (b. 1884 - d. 1951)
 9 Nov 1934 - 15 Feb 1942  Sir Shenton Whitelegge Thomas      (b. 1879 - d. 1962)
                             (1st time) 
                             (Japanese prisoner 15 Feb 1942 - 15 Aug 1945)
15 Feb 1942 - 12 Sep 1945  Japanese occupation
12 Sep 1945 - 31 Mar 1946  Sir Shenton Whitelegge Thomas      (s.a.)
                             (2nd time)

British Residents and Commandants of Singapore
 6 Feb 1819 - 26 Apr 1823  William Farquhar                   (b. 1770 - d. 1839)
27 May 1823 - 15 Aug 1826  John Crawfurd                      (b. 1783 - d. 1868)
Governors of Singapore
15 Aug 1826 - 15 Feb 1942  the Governors of the Straits 
                           Settlements 
Resident Councillors of Singapore
15 Aug 1826 - 18 Nov 1827  John Prince                        (b. c.1772 - d. 1848)
29 Nov 1827 -  6 Dec 1833  Kenneth Murchison                  (b. 1794 - d. 1854)
 7 Dec 1833 - 18 Nov 1836  Samuel George Bonham               (b. 1803 - d. 1863)
 4 Mar 1837 - 20 Sep 1856  Thomas Church                      (b. 1798 - d. 1860)
22 Sep 1856 - 13 Jul 1859  Henry Somerset MacKenzie           (b. 1826 - d. 1904)
10 Mar 1859 - 31 Mar 1867  Ronald MacPherson                  (b. 1817 - d. 1869)
                             (acting to 7 Oct 1860)
Colonial Secretaries of the Straits Settlements (subordinate to governors Straits Settlements)
 1 Apr 1867 -  6 Dec 1869  Ronald MacPherson                  (s.a.)
 7 Dec 1869 -  5 Jun 1870  Edward Wingfield Shaw (acting)     (b. 1827 - d. 1879)
 6 Jun 1870 -  4 Nov 1874  James Wheeler Woodford Birch       (b. 1826 - d. 1875)
 4 Nov 1874 - 1875         Thomas Braddell (acting)           (b. 1823 - d. 1891)
1875                       William Willans Willans (acting)   (b. 1822 - d. 1903)
May 1875 - 17 Feb 1876     Charles John Irving (acting)       (b. 1831 - d. 1917)
17 Feb 1876 - 17 Aug 1878  John Douglas                       (b. 1836 - d. 1885)
 3 Sep 1878 - 17 Nov 1885  Cecil Clementi Smith               (s.a.) 
17 Nov 1885 - 31 Aug 1891  John Frederick Dickson             (b. 1835 - d. 1891)
                             (from 24 May 1888, Sir John Frederick Dickson)
31 Aug 1891 -  9 Mar 1892  Arthur Philip Talbot (acting)      (b. 1853 - d. 1898)
 9 Mar 1892 - 11 Feb 1895  William Edward Maxwell             (b. 1846 - d. 1897)
11 Feb 1895 -  7 Dec 1899  James Alexander Swettenham         (b. 1846 - d. 1933)
 7 Dec 1899 -  5 Jul 1901  Walter Egerton                     (b. 1858 - d. 1947)
                           + Charles Walter Sneyd-Kynnersley  (b. 1849 - d. 1904)
                           (acting)
 5 Jul 1901 - 31 Dec 1905  William Thomas Taylor              (b. 1848 - d. 1931)
 1 Jan 1905 - 13 Apr 1905  Frederick Gordon Penney            (b. 1856?  d. 1928)
13 Apr 1905 - 29 Jun 1906  Edward Lewis Brockman (1st time)   (b. 1865 - d. 1943)
                             (acting)
29 Jun 1906 - 31 Jan 1911  Arthur Henderson Young             (s.a.) 
 1 Feb 1911 -  4 Sep 1911  Edward Lewis Brockman (2nd time)   (s.a.)
 4 Sep 1911 - Feb 1916     Richard James Wilkinson            (b. 1867 - d. 1941)
Feb 1916 - Apr 1916        William George Maxwell (acting)    (b. 1871 - d. 1959)
Apr 1916 - 19 Mar 1924     Frederick Seton James              (b. 1870 - d. 1934)
                             (from 1 Jan 1923, Sir Frederick Seton James)
19 Mar 1924 -  2 Apr 1924  George Hemmant (1st time)(acting)  (b. 1880 - d. 1964)
 2 Apr 1924 - 21 Nov 1925  Edward Shaw Hose                   (b. 1871 - d. 1946)
21 Nov 1925 - 16 Dec 1928  Hayes Marriott                     (b. 1873 - d. 1929)
                             (from 3 Jun 1927, Sir Hayes Marriott)
16 Dec 1928 - 12 Feb 1929  George Hemmant (2nd time)(acting)  (s.a.)
12 Feb 1929 - 23 May 1933  John Scott                         (b. 1878 - d. 1946)
                             (from 1 Jan 1932, Sir John Scott)
23 May 1933 -  7 Dec 1935  Andrew Caldecott                   (s.a.)
                             (from 4 Jan 1935, Sir Andrew Caldecott)
 7 Dec 1935 - 19 Jan 1940  Alexander Sym Small                (b. 1887 - d. 1944)
                             (from 2 Jan 1939, Sir Alexander Sym Small)
19 Jan 1940 - 27 Jan 1942  Stanley Wilson Jones               (b. 1888 - d. 1962)
27 Jan 1942 - 15 Feb 1942  Hugh Fraser (acting)               (b. 1891 - d. 1944)
Japanese Military Administrators (General Officers Commanding 25th Army [Malaya - Sumatra]
to 8 Apr 1943; Commander in Chief Southern Expeditionary Army Group 8 Apr 1943 - 22 Mar 1944;
from 22 Mar 1944, Commanders in Chief of the 7th Area Army [Singapore])
15 Feb 1942 -  1 Jul 1942  Tomoyuki Yamashita                 (b. 1885 - d. 1946)
 1 Jul 1942 -  8 Apr 1943  Yaheita Saitō                      (b. 1885 - d. 1953)
 8 Apr 1943 - 22 Mar 1944  Count Hisaichi Terauchi            (b. 1879 - d. 1946)
22 Mar 1944 -  7 Apr 1945  Kenji Doihara                      (b. 1883 - d. 1948)
 7 Apr 1945 - 12 Sep 1945  Seishirō Itagaki                   (b. 1885 - d. 1948)
Japanese Mayors of Syonan (presidents of the special municipality)
 7 Mar 1942 -  8 Jul 1943  Shigeo Odate                       (b. 1892 - d. 1955)
19 Jul 1943 - 12 Sep 1945  Kan'ichi Naitō                     (b. 1897 - d. 19..)
Supreme Allied Commander South East Asia (SACSEA)
 5 Sep 1945 - 12 Sep 1945  Lord Louis Francis Mountbatten     (b. 1900 - d. 1979)
Director of the British Military Administration
12 Sep 1945 - 31 Mar 1946  Lord Louis Francis Mountbatten     (s.a.)
Deputy Chief Civil Affairs Officer in Singapore
12 Sep 1945 - 31 Mar 1946  Patrick Alexander Bruce McKerron   (b. 1896 - d. 1964)
Governors (and 1 Apr 1946 - 31 Dec 1957, Governors of Christmas Island; and 1 Apr 1946
- 23 Nov 1955, Governors of the Cocos [Keeling] Islands)
 1 Apr 1946 - 20 Mar 1952  Franklin Charles Gimson            (b. 1890 - d. 1975)
                             (from 13 Jun 1946, Sir Franklin Charles Gimson)                
20 Mar 1952 - 21 Apr 1952  Wilfred Lawson Blythe (acting)     (b. 1896 - d. 1975)
21 Apr 1952 -  2 Jun 1955  John Fearns Nicoll                 (b. 1899 - d. 1981)
                             (from 1 Jan 1953, Sir John Fearns Nicoll) 
 2 Jun 1955 - 30 Jun 1955  Sir William Allmond Codrington     (b. 1907 - d. 1986)
                             Goode (1st time) (acting)
30 Jun 1955 -  9 Dec 1957  Sir Robert Brown Black             (b. 1906 - d. 1999)
 9 Dec 1957 -  2 Jun 1959  Sir William Allmond Codrington     (s.a.)
                             Goode (2nd time) 
High Commissioners of the United Kingdom
 3 Jun 1959 - Dec 1959     Sir William Allmond Codrington     (s.a.)
                             Goode
Jan 1960 - 16 Sep 1963     George Douglas-Hamilton, Earl of   (b. 1906 - d. 1994)
                             Selkirk      
Heads of State (title Yang di-Pertuan Negara Singapura)
 3 Jun 1959 -  3 Dec 1959  Sir William Allmond Codrington     (s.a.)               Non-party
                             Goode 
 3 Dec 1959 - 22 Dec 1965  Yusof bin Ishak                    (b. 1910 - d. 1970)PAP/Non-party
Presidents
22 Dec 1965 - 23 Nov 1970  Yusof bin Ishak                    (s.a.)             PAP/Non-party
23 Nov 1970 -  2 Jan 1971  Yeoh Ghim Seng (1st time) (acting) (b. 1918 - d. 1993)  PAP
 2 Jan 1971 - 12 May 1981  Benjamin Henry Sheares             (b. 1907 - d. 1981)PAP/Non-party
12 May 1981 - 24 Oct 1981  Yeoh Ghim Seng (2nd time) (acting) (s.a.)               PAP
24 Oct 1981 - 27 Mar 1985  Chengara Veetil ("C.V.") Devan     (b. 1923 - d. 2005)PAP/Non-party
                             Nair
27 Mar 1985 - 29 Mar 1985  Wee Chong Jin (acting)             (b. 1917 - d. 2005)PAP/Non-party
29 Mar 1985 -  1 Sep 1985  Yeoh Ghim Seng (3rd time) (acting) (s.a.)               PAP
 1 Sep 1985 -  1 Sep 1993  Wee Kim Wee                        (b. 1915 - d. 2005)PAP/Non-party
 1 Sep 1993 -  1 Sep 1999  Ong Teng Cheong                    (b. 1936 - d. 2002)PAP/Non-party
 1 Sep 1999 -  1 Sep 2011  Sellapan Ramanathan ("S.R.")       (b. 1924 - d. 2016)PAP/Non-party
                             Nathan
 1 Sep 2011 -  1 Sep 2017  Tony Tan Keng Yam                  (b. 1940)          PAP/Non-party
 1 Sep 2017 - 14 Sep 2017  Joseph Yuvaraj ("J.Y.") Pillay     (b. 1934)            Non-party
                             (acting)
14 Sep 2017 - 14 Sep 2023  Halimah Yacob (f)                  (b. 1954)          PAP/Non-party
14 Sep 2023 -              Tharman Shanmugaratnam             (b. 1957)          PAP/Non-party

Chief ministers
 6 Apr 1955 -  8 Jun 1956  David Saul Marshall                (b. 1908 - d. 1995)  LF
 8 Jun 1956 -  5 Jun 1959  Tun Lim Yew Hock                   (b. 1914 - d. 1984)  LF
Prime ministers
 5 Jun 1959 - 28 Nov 1990  Lee Kuan Yew                       (b. 1923 - d. 2015)  PAP
28 Nov 1990 - 12 Aug 2004  Goh Chok Tong                      (b. 1941)            PAP
12 Aug 2004 - 15 May 2024  Lee Hsien Loong                    (b. 1952)            PAP
15 Feb 2015 -  2 Mar 2015  Teo Chee Hean                      (b. 1954)            PAP
                             (acting for Lee)
15 May 2024 -              Lawrence Wong                      (b. 1972)            PAP

Territorial Disputes: Disputes with Malaysia over territorial waters, airspace, the price of fresh water delivered to Singapore from Malaysia, Singapore's extensive land reclamation works, bridge construction, and maritime boundaries in the Johor and Singapore Straits; in 2008, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) awarded sovereignty of Pedra Branca (Pulau Batu Puteh/Horsburgh Island) to Singapore, and Middle Rocks to Malaysia, but did not rule on maritime regimes, boundaries, or disposition of South Ledge, which is only visible at low tide; Indonesia and Singapore continue to work on finalization of their 1973 maritime boundary agreement by defining unresolved areas north of Indonesia's Batam Island; subsequent treaties were signed in 2009 (ratified in 2010) and 2014 (ratified in 2017) settling the two countries' boundaries in the Singapore Strait; piracy remains a problem in the Malacca Strait.

Party abbreviations: PAP = People's Action Party/Parti Tindakan Rakyat (social conservative, democratic socialist, est.1954);
- Former parties: LF = Labour Front/Barisan Buroh (center-left, 21 Aug 1954 - 28 Feb 1960)