Lawrence Wong | |||||||||||||||||||
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黄循财 | |||||||||||||||||||
.jpg) Wong in 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 4th Prime Minister of Singapore | |||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office 15 May 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||
| President | Tharman Shanmugaratnam | ||||||||||||||||||
| Deputy | Gan Kim Yong | ||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Lee Hsien Loong | ||||||||||||||||||
| Minister of Finance | |||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office 15 May 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | Lee Hsien Loong Himself | ||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Heng Swee Keat | ||||||||||||||||||
| Secretary-General of the People's Action Party | |||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office 4 December 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Chairman | Heng Swee Keat Desmond Lee | ||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Lee Hsien Loong | ||||||||||||||||||
| Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore | |||||||||||||||||||
| In office 13 June 2022 – 14 May 2024 Serving with Heng Swee Keat | |||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | Lee Hsien Loong | ||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Tharman Shanmugaratnam Teo Chee Hean | ||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Gan Kim Yong | ||||||||||||||||||
| Chairman of theMonetary Authority of Singapore | |||||||||||||||||||
| In office 8 July 2023 – 14 May 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | Lee Hsien Loong | ||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Tharman Shanmugaratnam | ||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Gan Kim Yong | ||||||||||||||||||
| Minister of Education | |||||||||||||||||||
| In office 27 July 2020 – 14 May 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | Lee Hsien Loong | ||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Ong Ye Kung | ||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Chan Chun Sing | ||||||||||||||||||
| Second Minister of Finance | |||||||||||||||||||
| In office 22 August 2016 – 14 May 2021 Serving with Indranee Rajah (from 2018) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | Lee Hsien Loong | ||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Lim Hwee Hua (2011) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Chee Hong Tat (2024) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Minister of National Development | |||||||||||||||||||
| In office 1 October 2015 – 26 July 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | Lee Hsien Loong | ||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Khaw Boon Wan | ||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Desmond Lee | ||||||||||||||||||
| Second Minister of Communications and Information | |||||||||||||||||||
| In office 1 May 2014 – 30 September 2015 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | Lee Hsien Loong | ||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Vacant | ||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Vacant | ||||||||||||||||||
| Minister of Culture, Community and Youth | |||||||||||||||||||
| In office 1 May 2014 – 30 September 2015 Acting: 1 November 2012 – 30 April 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | Lee Hsien Loong | ||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Chan Chun Sing (Acting Minister of Community Development, Youth and Sports) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Grace Fu | ||||||||||||||||||
| Member of theSingapore Parliament forMarsiling–Yew Tee GRC | |||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office 11 September 2015 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Constituency established | ||||||||||||||||||
| Majority |
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| Member of theSingapore Parliament forWest Coast GRC | |||||||||||||||||||
| In office 7 May 2011 – 24 August 2015 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | PAP held | ||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | PAP held | ||||||||||||||||||
| Majority | 36,120 (33.14%) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||
| Born | Lawrence Wong Shyun Tsai (1972-12-18)18 December 1972 (age 52) Singapore | ||||||||||||||||||
| Political party | People's Action Party | ||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse | Loo Tze Lui[a] | ||||||||||||||||||
| Education | |||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation |
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| Profession | Economist | ||||||||||||||||||
| Signature |  | ||||||||||||||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 黄循财 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 黃循財 | ||||||||||||||||||
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Lawrence Wong Shyun Tsai[b] (born 18 December 1972) is a Singaporean politician who has served as the fourthprime minister of Singapore since 2024 and theminister of finance since 2021. A member of the governingPeople's Action Party (PAP), he has been amember of Parliament (MP) for the Limbang division ofMarsiling–Yew Tee Group Representation Constituency (GRC) since 2015. He had previously represented the Boon Lay division ofWest Coast GRC between 2011 and 2015.
Prior to entering politics, Wong worked at theMinistry of Trade and Industry (MTI), theMinistry of Finance (MOF) and theMinistry of Health (MOH). He was theprincipal private secretary to Prime MinisterLee Hsien Loong between 2005 and 2008. He also served as thechief executive officer (CEO) of theEnergy Market Authority (EMA) between 2009 and 2011.[1] Wong made his political debut in the2011 general election where he contested in West Coast GRC as part of a five-member PAP team and won. Wong subsequently contested in Marsiling–Yew Tee GRC during the2015 general election, and retained his parliamentary seat in the2020 general election. Prior to his appointment as Minister of Finance, Wong served as theminister of culture, community and youth between 2012 and 2015,second minister of communications and information between 2014 and 2015,minister of national development between 2015 and 2020,[2]second minister of finance between 2016 and 2021, andminister of education between 2020 and 2021.
Wong was the co-chair of a multi-ministerial committee set up by the government in January 2020 to manage theCOVID-19 pandemic.[3] As Minister for Finance, he has overseen the gradual increase inGoods and Services Tax (GST) whichLee's government has advocated for – 8% in 2023 and 9% in 2024, up from 7% which had been set since 2007. In April 2022, he was chosen as the leader of the PAP's fourth generation team, placing him in line as Lee's apparent successor.[4] Wong assumed the office ofDeputy Prime Minister of Singapore on 13 June 2022, serving alongsideHeng Swee Keat.[5] On 26 November 2022, Wong was appointed to the newly created position of Deputy Secretary-General of the PAP.[6]
Wong was previously Chairman of theMonetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) from 2023 to 2024 as well as Deputy Chairman between 2021 and 2023. He assumed Chairmanship of the Investment Strategies Committee ofGIC from 7 July 2023 while he assumed Chairmanship of the International Advisory Council (IAC) of theEconomic Development Board (EDB) from 8 July 2023 until his subsequent relinquishment toGan Kim Yong on 1 June 2024.[7][8] Wong was also appointed Deputy Chairman of GIC's Board of Directors on 1 October 2023. On 15 May 2024, Wong was sworn in as prime minister of Singapore, becoming the first prime minister born after theestablishment of modern-day Singapore. On 4 December 2024, he was elected as the Secretary-General of People's Action Party. He led the PAP to victory with an increased share of the vote in the2025 general election. As prime minister, Wong is thehighest-paid head of government in the world.
Wong was born to aHainanese family[9] on 18 December 1972, in theeastern part ofSingapore.[10][11] Growing up, Wong and his family lived in a publicHousing and Development Board (HDB) flat inMarine Parade.[11] Wong's father, who was born inHainan and later moved toMalaya and finally to Singapore, had worked as a sales executive while his mother was a teacher at his primary school.[11] As a child, his father gave him aguitar, and he developed a love for music.[12]
Wong attended Haig Boys' Primary School, Tanjong Katong Technical School (nowTanjong Katong Secondary and Primary Schools), andVictoria Junior College before going to university in the United States.[13][14] Wong received aBachelor's of Science with a major ineconomics from theUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison in 1994 and aMaster's of Arts inapplied economics from theUniversity of Michigan in 1995 under thePublic Service Commission scholarship.[15][16][1] He also received aMaster's in Public Administration fromHarvard University in 2004.[17][18]
Wong began his career as aneconomist working in theMinistry of Trade and Industry (MTI) in August 1997.[19] It was the beginning of the1997 Asian financial crisis and his first assignment involved preparing a report on regional economies and their effects on Singapore. He described the experience by saying "nothing that I learned in school prepared me for such an assignment" and recounted having to learn on the job.[20]
Wong was posted to theMinistry of Finance (MOF) in January 2002 and then theMinistry of Health (MOH) in July 2004, where he served as Director of Healthcare Finance until May 2005. Wong served as theprincipal private secretary to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong between May 2005 and August 2008.[19]
In September 2008, Wong became deputy chief executive officer of theEnergy Market Authority, rising to chief executive officer on 1 January 2009. He relinquished the role on 1 April 2011.[19]
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Wong entered politics at the2011 general election when he contested as part of a five-memberPeople's Action Party (PAP) team inWest Coast GRC. The PAP team won with 66.66% of the vote against theReform Party and Wong was elected as the Member of Parliament representing theBoon Lay ward of West Coast GRC.[21]
On 21 May 2011, Wong was appointedMinister of State for Defence andMinister of State for Education. He was also appointed to the board of directors of theMonetary Authority of Singapore on 10 June 2011.[22] On 1 August 2012, he was promoted toSenior Minister of State for Information, Communications and the Arts and Senior Minister of State for Education. On 1 November 2012, he was appointed ActingMinister for Culture, Community and Youth and Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information.[23] Wong led a team to bid for theSingapore Botanic Gardens to be recognised as Singapore's firstUNESCOWorld Heritage Site.[24][25][26] Wong also spearheaded the free museum entry policy for all Singaporeans and permanent residents, to all national museums and heritage institutions from 18 May 2013.[27] In 2013, Wong also announced the setting up of a new S$100 million National Youth Fund for youth to champion community and social causes.[28]
On 1 May 2014, Wong was promoted toMinister for Culture, Community and Youth andSecond Minister for Communications and Information.[29] He was also a co-opted Member of the 32nd, 33rd and 35th CEC before his win in the election into the 36thPAP Central Executive Committee (CEC).[30] Wong was also appointed as the Head of the SG50 Programme Office that coordinates the work of five committees for Singapore's Golden Jubilee Year celebrations.[31] Wong was also the co-chair for the SG50 Culture and Community Committee in August 2013.[32]
As Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, Wong was involved in the transformation of theCivic District[33]—the birthplace of modern Singapore which contained many institutions that have witnessed important turning points in Singapore's history.[34][33] In January 2016, he assumed office as Chairman of thePAP Community Foundation from 2016 until June 2022 where it was handed over to MinisterJosephine Teo[35] In August 2016, theNational Arts Council attracted criticisms over the high consultation fees paid for a bin centre, as flagged by the Auditor-General's Office. Wong addressed the issue in Parliament, saying that the project was at acceptable cost due to the need for extensive study of the location and technicality involved with the building of the refuse centre in the Civic District.[36] Under his charge, Wong also introduced the S$200 million Cultural Matching Fund, a dollar-for-dollar matching grant for cash donations to arts and heritage charities and Institutions of Public Character in Singapore.[37][38][39]
In the2015 general election, Wong was part of a four-member PAP team contesting in the newly formedMarsiling–Yew Tee GRC.[40] The PAP team won with 68.7% of the vote against theSingapore Democratic Party (SDP) and Wong was elected as the Member of Parliament representing theLimbang ward of Marsiling–Yew Tee GRC.[41] Wong was also the Chairman of the Steering Committee for the2015 Southeast Asian Games.[42] Wong had also announced several key initiatives to get more Singaporeans involved in sports.[43] This includes a national movement called ActiveSG, which gives all Singaporeans and permanent residents ActiveSG$100 to sign up for sports programmes, and enter into swimming pools and gyms at the various sports centres islandwide.[44] Wong also chaired the Singapore High Performance Sports Steering Committee, which provides strategic guidance on identifying and nurturing high performing sporting talents.[45] Wong said that the accomplishments of Singapore athletes at the 2015 Southeast Asian Games indicate that Singapore's investment in sports is paying off.[46] On 1 October 2015, Wong became theMinister for National Development.[18] He also chaired the steering committee for the development ofJurong Lake Gardens.[47] On 22 August 2016, Wong was appointedSecond Minister for Finance,[48] in addition to being Minister for National Development.[49] On 29 August 2016, he stepped down from the board of directors of theMonetary Authority of Singapore and was replaced byOng Ye Kung.[22][50]
As Minister for National Development, Wong was responsible for reducing the supply of HDB flats from 2017.[51][52]
During theCOVID-19 pandemic in Singapore, Wong andGan Kim Yong were appointed co-chairs of a multi-ministerial committee formed by the government in January 2020 to manage the situation. On 26 March 2020, while paying tribute to frontline workers helping in Singapore's fight against COVID-19, Wong turned emotional and teary-eyed while delivering his address in Parliament. He thanked healthcare workers, as well as those working in cleaning, transport and security sectors for providing much-needed services to keep Singapore going during this difficult time.[53] In the2020 general election, Wong led a four-member PAP team to contest inMarsiling–Yew Tee GRC again. The PAP team won with 63.18% of the vote against theSingapore Democratic Party and Wong retained his seat as the Member of Parliament representing Limbang ward.[54] On 27 July 2020, following a Cabinet reshuffle, Wong succeededOng Ye Kung asMinister for Education.[55] On 8 November that year, Wong was elected into the PAP's Central Executive Committee for the first time after rising to prominence for leading the Government's fight against COVID-19.[56]
On 15 May 2021, following anotherCabinet reshuffle, Wong relinquished his portfolio as Minister for Education and becameMinister for Finance after Heng relinquished his Cabinet portfolio.[57] On 28 May 2021, he was reappointed to the board of directors of theMonetary Authority of Singapore as deputy chair, replacingLim Hng Kiang.[58][59] In February 2022, Wong announced that the government's postponed plan to increase Singapore's Goods and Services Tax would take place, going from 7% to 9% progressively in 2023 and 2024, with a 1% increase each year.[60][61] Wong also announced a S$500 million stimulus package due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore, and said the government would set aside an additional S$560 million to "help Singaporean citizens deal with the rising cost of living".[62] Later in June 2022, Wong announced another $1.5 billion support package to provide targeted relief for lower-income and vulnerable groups.[63] At Budget 2023, Wong announced that the Assurance Package was enhanced from $6.6 billion, announced in 2022, to $9.6 billion. This was to offset additional GST expenses for the majority of Singaporean households for at least five years.[64] In September 2023, Wong announced an additional $1.1 billion Cost-of-Living (COL) Support Package to provide more relief for Singaporean households, especial lower- to middle-income families.[65]
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On 14 April 2022, Wong was selected as the leader of the PAP's fourth-generation (4G) team, succeedingDeputy Prime MinisterHeng Swee Keat, who had stepped down as 4G leader on 8 April 2021.[66] Prior to his appointment, Prime MinisterLee Hsien Loong delegated former PAP chairmanKhaw Boon Wan to initiate a consultation process among the fourth-generation ministers of theCabinet, aimed at garnering their individual views regarding the selection of a new 4G leader.[67] Lee andSenior MinistersTharman Shanmugaratnam andTeo Chee Hean abstained from participating in the process.[68]
Wong received an "overwhelming majority" of support in the consultation process, surpassing that ofOng Ye Kung andChan Chun Sing, his cabinet colleagues and co-contestants in the 4G leadership race.[69] He received 15 out of the 19 votes from the stakeholders polled, and as no candidate is allowed to vote for himself, this meant that only three other individuals did not vote for him as their first choice.[70] His candidature was unanimously endorsed by the Cabinet and subsequently, by the PAPMPs at a party caucus on 14 April.[71] His appointment was announced by Prime Minister Lee in aFacebook post the same day.[71]
On 6 June 2022, a Cabinet reshuffle was announced where Wong was promoted to Deputy Prime Minister, which further cemented his position as Prime MinisterLee Hsien Loong's successor. In addition to becoming Deputy Prime Minister, he was also named "Acting Prime Minister" in Lee's absence. He had also taken over responsibility of the Strategy Group in thePrime Minister's Office (PMO) fromHeng Swee Keat.[72][73] On 28 June 2022, Wong launched the "Forward Singapore" movement[74] as part of his vision for a society that "benefits many, not a few".[75] The Forward Singapore report was released on 27 October 2023.[76] Following the resignation of former Senior Minister and current PresidentTharman Shanmugaratnam, Wong was appointed to several positions such as Chair of the GIC Investment Strategies Committee,[77] Chair of the EDB International Advisory Council[78] until his subsequent relinquishment of the Chairmanship toGan Kim Yong[79] and Deputy Chairman of theGIC.[80] On 5 November 2023, Lee Hsien Loong announced that he handover the premiership to Wong by November 2024, before thenext general election, "if all goes well". He eventually succeeded Lee in May 2024.[81]
Wong subsequently emerged as Lee's apparent successor to the position of prime minister; the latter's initial plan to step down at the age of 70 had been complicated by Heng's withdrawal.[82] On 15 April 2024, thePrime Minister's Office issued a press statement confirming that Lawrence Wong would succeed Lee Hsien Loong as prime minister.[83]
Wong was officially sworn in at 20:00 local time on 15 May atThe Istana.[84] He became the country's fourth prime minister, as well as the first to be born afterSingapore's independence in 1965.[85][86]
At his swearing-in ceremony, during his first speech as Prime Minister, Wong stated "This is my promise to all Singaporeans: I will serve you with all my heart. I will never settle for the status quo. I will always seek better ways to make tomorrow better than today." He also stated that his mission as Prime Minister was "to continue defying the odds and to sustain this miracle called Singapore."[87] On 12 June 2024, it was announced thatGan Kim Yong had taken over as Chairman of the Economic Development Board's International Advisory Council since 1 June from Wong, who previously took over from Tharman in July 2023.[7] On 4 December 2024, he was elected as the Secretary-General ofPeople's Action Party.[88]
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Wong made his first overseas visits as Prime Minister from 11 to 12 June 2024 where he made his introductory visits to Brunei and Malaysia as Prime Minister.[89][90] Wong attended his first ASEAN Meeting as Prime Minister from 9 to 12 October[91] and first Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting from 23 to 26 October.[92] Wong attended his first APEC and G20 Meetings as Prime Minister from 14 to 16 in Peru and 17 to 20 November in Brazil.[93]
Wong led the PAP in the2025 general election in May, contesting inMarsiling–Yew Tee Group Representation Constituency (GRC) against theSingapore Democratic Party (SDP).[94] This was his first general election as prime minister, and was described as his "first electoral test as leader".[95] The PAP would subsequently retain itssupermajority of 65.57% of the vote, consisting of 87 of the 97 seats in parliament.[96] In Marsiling–Yew Tee GRC, Wong and his team were elected with 73.46% of the vote, as compared to the SDP's 26.54%.[97] He unveiled hissecond cabinet on 21 May 2025.[98]
Wong previously married at the age of 28, but divorced his first wife after three years because of "incompatibility".[99][100] His second wife is Loo Tze Lui, a former banker currently working inwealth management and who served on the board of directors of YMCA Singapore.[101] He has no children[102] and is aMethodistChristian.[11][103] His elder brother is an aerospace engineer atDSO National Laboratories.[104] His hobbies include playing the guitar and riding motorcycles.[105][106]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| New office | Minister for Culture, Community and Youth 2012–2015 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister for National Development 2015–2020 | Succeeded by |
| Vacant | Second Minister for Finance 2016–2021 | Vacant |
| Preceded by | Minister for Education 2020–2021 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister for Finance 2021–present | Incumbent |
| Vacant | Deputy Prime Minister 2022–2024 Served alongside:Heng Swee Keat | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Prime Minister 2024–present | Incumbent |
| Parliament of Singapore | ||
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament for West Coast GRC 2011–2015 Served alongside:Foo Mee Har,Arthur Fong,Lim Hng Kiang,S. Iswaran | Succeeded by |
| New constituency | Member of Parliament forMarsiling–Yew Tee GRC 2015–present Served alongside: (2015-2020):Ong Teng Koon,Halimah Yacob,Alex Yam (2020-2025):Hany Soh,Zaqy Mohamad, Alex Yam (2020-present): Hany Soh, Zaqy Mohamad, Alex Yam | Incumbent |
News from WikinewsQuotations from Wikiquote
Texts from Wikisource
Data from Wikidata Current members of theCabinet of Singapore | |
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| Prime Minister | |
| Deputy Prime Minister(s) | |
| Senior Minister(s) | |
| Cabinet Minister(s) | |
Effective from 23 May 2025 | |
1 President is a non-participant; Taiwan is represented asChinese Taipei. |
