The Most Famous
POLITICIANS from Singapore
This page contains a list of the greatest Singaporean Politicians. The pantheon dataset contains 15,577 Politicians, 12 of which were born in Singapore. This makes Singapore the birth place of the 131st most number of Politicians behind Gabon and Vanuatu.
Top 10
The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the top 10 most legendary Singaporean Politicians of all time. This list of famous Singaporean Politicians is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography’s online popularity. Visit the rankings page to view the entire list of Singaporean Politicians.
1. Lee Kuan Yew (1923 - 2015)
With an HPI of 75.97, Lee Kuan Yew is the most famous Singaporean Politician. His biography has been translated into 96 different languages on wikipedia.
Lee Kuan Yew (born Harry Lee Kuan Yew; 16 September 1923 – 23 March 2015), often referred to by his initials LKY, was a Singaporean statesman and lawyer who served as the first Prime Minister of Singapore from 1959 to 1990, and Secretary-General of the People's Action Party from 1954 to 1992. He was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Tanjong Pagar from 1955 until his death in 2015. Lee is widely recognised as the founding father of the modern Singaporean state, and for his leadership in turning it into a highly developed country under his tenure. Lee was born in Singapore during British colonial rule. After graduating from Raffles Institution, he won a scholarship to Raffles College (now the National University of Singapore). During the Japanese occupation, Lee escaped being the victim of a purge, before subsequently starting his own businesses while working as an administration service officer for the Japanese propaganda office. After World War II ended, Lee briefly attended the London School of Economics before transferring to Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge to study law, graduating with a double first degree in 1947. He was called to the Bar from the Middle Temple in 1950. Upon his return to Singapore, he practised as an advocate and solicitor whilst campaigning for the British to relinquish their colonial rule. Lee co-founded the People's Action Party (PAP) in 1954 and won his first seat at the Tanjong Pagar division during the 1955 general election. He became the de facto opposition leader in parliament, to Chief Ministers David Marshall and Lim Yew Hock of the Labour Front. Lee led his party to its first electoral victory in 1959 and was appointed as the state's first prime minister. To attain complete home rule from Britain, Lee campaigned for a merger with other former British territories in a national referendum to form Malaysia in 1963. Racial strife and ideological differences later led to Singapore's expulsion from Malaysia and subsequent independence in 1965, less than two years after the merger. With overwhelming parliamentary control at every general election, Lee oversaw Singapore's transformation into a developed country with a high-income economy within his premiership. In the process, he forged a highly effective, anti-corrupt government and civil service. Lee eschewed populist policies in favour of long-term social and economic planning, championing civic nationalism through meritocracy and multiracialism as governing principles, making English the lingua franca to integrate its immigrant society and to facilitate trade with the world, whilst mandating bilingualism in schools to preserve the students' mother tongue and ethnic identity. Lee stepped down as prime minister in 1990, but remained in the Cabinet under his successors, holding the appointments of Senior Minister until 2004, then Minister Mentor until 2011. He died of pneumonia on 23 March 2015, at the age of 91. In a week of national mourning, about 1.7 million residents and world leaders paid tribute to him at his lying-in-state at Parliament House and community tribute sites. An advocate for Asian values and a proponent of Realpolitik pragmatism, Lee's premiership has been described as authoritarian by scholars and the media, particularly in the Western world. His critics accused him of curtailing press freedoms, imposing narrow limits on public protests, restricting labour movements from industrial or strike action through anti-union legislation and co-option, and bringing defamation lawsuits against prominent political opponents. Lee directly responded to such critiques by stating that "If Singapore is a nanny state, then I am proud to have fostered one". In addition, others have also argued that his actions were necessary and vital for the country's early development, and that while his rule could be deemed as authoritarian in aspects, he was a benevolent dictator who fostered social wellbeing, if not true social democracy. Lee continues to be held in high regard by Singaporeans.
2. Halimah Yacob (1954 - )
With an HPI of 64.42, Halimah Yacob is the 2nd most famous Singaporean Politician. Her biography has been translated into 61 different languages.
Halimah Yacob (born 23 August 1954) is a Singaporean politician and lawyer who served as the eighth president of Singapore from 2017 to 2023. Halimah won in the 2017 presidential election in an uncontested walkover due to ineligible candidates. She is the first female president in Singapore's history. A former member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), Halimah was the Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Bukit Batok East division of Jurong GRC between 2001 and 2015, and the Marsiling division of Marsiling–Yew Tee GRC between 2015 and 2017. Halimah served as Speaker of Parliament from 2013 to 2017. She is the first female speaker in Singapore's history. After a constitutional amendment made in 2017, the 2017 presidential election was specifically reserved for candidates from the Malay community. Halimah resigned from the PAP and became an independent—one of the qualifications needed to run for the presidency—and ran for the 2017 presidential election which she won in an uncontested election, after the other presidential hopefuls except for her did not meet the qualifications. During her presidency, Halimah exercised presidential discretionary powers to approve emergency funding for Singapore's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. She also spoke in support of women's rights. She did not seek for a re-election in the 2023 presidential election. Her term ended on 13 September 2023 and was succeeded by Tharman Shanmugaratnam on the following day. Halimah became the chancellor of Singapore University of Social Sciences from 1 October 2023.
3. Lee Hsien Loong (1952 - )
With an HPI of 60.98, Lee Hsien Loong is the 3rd most famous Singaporean Politician. His biography has been translated into 63 different languages.
Lee Hsien Loong (born 10 February 1952) is a Singaporean politician and former brigadier-general who has been serving as the third Prime Minister of Singapore and Secretary-General of the People's Action Party since 2004. He has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Teck Ghee division of Ang Mo Kio GRC since 1991, and previously Teck Ghee SMC between 1984 and 1991. Born in Singapore during British colonial rule, Lee is the eldest son of Singapore's first prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew. He graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge in 1974 with a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics with first class honours and a Diploma in Computer Science with distinction (equivalent to a first-class masters in computer science). He served in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) between 1971 and 1984, and attained the rank Brigadier-General, completing a Master of Public Administration degree at Harvard Kennedy School in 1980. Lee resigned from the SAF in 1984 to enter politics and was elected the MP for Teck Ghee SMC. Since its dissolution in 1991, he has represented the Teck Ghee ward of Ang Mo Kio GRC. Lee has served as deputy prime minister, Minister for Finance, Minister for Trade and Industry, and Second Minister for Defence under Prime Ministers Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Chok Tong before assuming the office of prime minister in 2004. In his first two years, his government enacted a five-day work week and extended maternity leave days. His proposal to build two Integrated Resorts in Singapore to increase tourism revenue led to the development of the Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa. Following the Great Recession, he oversaw the country's economic recovery within two years. Further political reforms in 2010 saw increased online activism as well as the number of Non-Constituency Members of Parliament (NCMPs) in Parliament. Since the 2020s, he oversaw the COVID-19 pandemic and its subsequent recession and recovery. In 2022, he responded to the Russian invasion of Ukraine by being the only Southeast Asian country to impose sanctions on Russia. That same year, his government repealed the then already unenforced colonial-era Section 377A, de jure and de facto legalising same-sex sexual activity between men. Lee is frequently noted by the international media as the world's highest paid state leader. His libel suits against journalists and political opponents have been frequently covered by international news outlets.
4. Parameswara (1344 - 1414)
With an HPI of 58.42, Parameswara is the 4th most famous Singaporean Politician. His biography has been translated into 19 different languages.
Parameswara (1344 – c. 1414), thought to be the same person named in the Malay Annals as Iskandar Shah, was the last king of Singapura and the founder of Malacca. According to the Malay Annals, he ruled Singapura from 1389 to 1398. The king fled the island kingdom after a Majapahit naval invasion in 1398 and founded his new stronghold on the mouth of Bertam river in 1402. Within decades, the new city grew rapidly to become the capital of the Malacca Sultanate. Portuguese accounts however, written a hundred years after his death, suggest he was from Palembang in Sumatra and usurped the throne of Singapura; he was driven out, either by the Siamese or the Majapahit, and went on to found Malacca.
5. Goh Chok Tong (1941 - )
With an HPI of 58.17, Goh Chok Tong is the 5th most famous Singaporean Politician. His biography has been translated into 44 different languages.
Goh Chok Tong (Chinese: 吴作栋; pinyin: Wú Zuòdòng; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Gô͘ Chok-tòng; born 20 May 1941) is a Singaporean former politician who served as the second Prime Minister of Singapore from 1990 to 2004, and Secretary-General of the People's Action Party from 1992 to 2004. He was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Marine Parade SMC from 1976 to 1988, and Marine Parade GRC from 1988 to 2020. Prior to his appointment as prime minister, he was the country's deputy prime minister, where he advocated for the Medisave, a scheme that allows Singaporeans to set aside part of their income into a Medisave account to meet future medical expenses. Goh also advocated for the Edusave Awards, a monetary reward for students who did well in school based on either their academic achievements or character, to enshrine meritocracy. During his tenure as prime minister, political reforms like the introduction of Non-Constituency Members of Parliament (NCMP), to allow more oppositions into Parliament, Group Representation Constituency (GRC), to make sure that the minorities are represented in Parliament and Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP), to have independent opinions in Parliament since all NMPs are non-partisan, were also proposed by Goh when he was serving as Deputy Prime Minister after assuming the responsibility of the government in a carefully managed leadership transition. Goh enacted the Elected President scheme in 1991 as presidents before were appointed by Parliament. He also introduced the Vehicle Quota Scheme to limit the number of vehicles in the city-state. On 12 August 2004, Goh was succeeded by Lee Hsien Loong, the eldest son of Singapore's first prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew, and was subsequently appointed as a senior minister in the Cabinet and chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) between 2004 and 2011. He resigned from the Cabinet in 2011 before stepping down as a Member of Parliament (MP) and retired from politics in 2020. He was given the honorary title Emeritus Senior Minister in 2011 by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
6. Tony Tan (1940 - )
With an HPI of 56.68, Tony Tan is the 6th most famous Singaporean Politician. His biography has been translated into 49 different languages.
Tony Tan Keng Yam (Chinese: 陈庆炎; pinyin: Chén Qìngyán; born 7 February 1940) is a Singaporean banker and politician who served as the seventh president of Singapore from 2011 to 2017. Prior to entering politics, Tan was a general manager at OCBC Bank. He made his political debut in the 1979 by-elections as a PAP candidate contesting in Sembawang SMC and won. He also served as Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore between 1995 and 2005. Tan resigned from the Cabinet in 2005 and was appointed Deputy Chairman and Executive Director of GIC, the country's sovereign wealth fund, Chairman of the National Research Foundation and Chairman of SPH. He resigned from all of his positions in 2010 before contesting in the 2011 presidential election as an independent candidate. Tan won the 2011 presidential election in a four-cornered fight and served as the president of Singapore until 2017. He did not seek for a re-election in the 2017 presidential election, which was reserved for Malay candidates after a constitutional amendment. His presidential term ended and he officially retired on 1 September 2017. He was succeeded by Halimah Yacob on 14 September 2017.
7. S. R. Nathan (1924 - 2016)
With an HPI of 53.17, S. R. Nathan is the 7th most famous Singaporean Politician. His biography has been translated into 44 different languages.
Sellapan Ramanathan ( ; 3 July 1924 – 22 August 2016), often known as S. R. Nathan, was a Singaporean politician and civil servant who served as the sixth president of Singapore between 1999 and 2011. Nathan won both the 1999 presidential election and the 2005 presidential election thanks to an uncontested walkover due to ineligible candidates. He was the longest-serving president in Singapore's history and the only to serve two full terms. In 2009, Nathan surpassed Benjamin Sheares to become Singapore's longest-serving president. Nathan was reportedly considering for a re-election and decided not to run. Nathan suffered a stroke on 31 July 2016 and was taken to Singapore General Hospital before he died in the hospital on 22 August 2016, at the age of 92.
8. Wee Kim Wee (1915 - 2005)
With an HPI of 51.08, Wee Kim Wee is the 8th most famous Singaporean Politician. His biography has been translated into 30 different languages.
Wee Kim Wee (Chinese: 黄金辉; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Ûiⁿ Kim-hui; pinyin: Huáng Jīnhuī; 4 November 1915 – 2 May 2005) was a Singaporean journalist and diplomat who served as the fourth president of Singapore between 1985 and 1993. Prior to his presidency, Wee served as Singapore's High Commissioner to Malaysia between 1973 and 1980, Ambassador to Japan between 1980 and 1984, and Ambassador to the South Korea between 1981 and 1984 before being elected by the Parliament. For the ensuing initial presidential election, the first in Singapore to be decided by popular vote, Wee decided not to contest and retired after his second term had ended. He is also the first president to exercise custodial powers pursuant to the constitutional amendments in the Singapore's history. He was succeeded by Ong Teng Cheong on 1 September 1993. Wee died of prostate cancer in his home at Siglap Plain in Singapore on 2 May 2005, at the age of 89.
9. Benjamin Sheares (1907 - 1981)
With an HPI of 48.40, Benjamin Sheares is the 9th most famous Singaporean Politician. His biography has been translated into 27 different languages.
Benjamin Henry Sheares (12 August 1907 – 12 May 1981) was a Singaporean physician and academic who served as the second president of Singapore from 1971 until his death in 1981. Sheares retired in 1960 and was in private practice before being elected as the president of Singapore by the Parliament after the death of Yusof Ishak, the former president of the Republic, on 23 November 1970. He was sworn in on 2 January 1971. Sheares initially wanted to retire after finishing his second term as he felt that he did not have the energy for another term, but Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew persuaded him to remain and Sheares took on his third term. He served as the president of Singapore for three terms from 2 January 1971 until his death on 12 May 1981. He was succeeded by Devan Nair on 23 October 1981. Both the Benjamin Sheares Bridge and Sheares Hall at the National University of Singapore are named after him.
10. Ho Ching (1953 - )
With an HPI of 44.98, Ho Ching is the 10th most famous Singaporean Politician. Her biography has been translated into 20 different languages.
Ho Ching (Chinese: 何晶; pinyin: Hé Jīng; Wade–Giles: Ho2 Ching1; Cantonese Yale: Hòh Jīng; born 27 March 1953) is a Singaporean businesswoman. Ho has been serving as the chairperson of Temasek Trust since 2022. She is the wife of incumbent Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong. Ho joined Temasek Holdings as a director in January 2002. She became its executive director in May 2002 and was appointed as the chief executive officer by Goh Chok Tong in January 2004.
Pantheon has 12 people classified as politicians born between 1344 and 1954. Of these 12, 6 (50.00%) of them are still alive today. The most famous living politicians include Halimah Yacob, Lee Hsien Loong, and Goh Chok Tong. The most famous deceased politicians include Lee Kuan Yew, Parameswara, and S. R. Nathan.
Living Politicians
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Halimah Yacob
1954 - Present
HPI: 64.42
Lee Hsien Loong
1952 - Present
HPI: 60.98
Goh Chok Tong
1941 - Present
HPI: 58.17
Tony Tan
1940 - Present
HPI: 56.68
Ho Ching
1953 - Present
HPI: 44.98
Wan Azizah Wan Ismail
1952 - Present
HPI: 44.38
Deceased Politicians
Go to all RankingsLee Kuan Yew
1923 - 2015
HPI: 75.97
Parameswara
1344 - 1414
HPI: 58.42
S. R. Nathan
1924 - 2016
HPI: 53.17
Wee Kim Wee
1915 - 2005
HPI: 51.08
Benjamin Sheares
1907 - 1981
HPI: 48.40
David Marshall
1908 - 1995
HPI: 40.18
Which Politicians were alive at the same time? This visualization shows the lifespans of the 5 most globally memorable Politicians since 1700.
