Ministerial salaries in Singapore will rise from 15 October, raising the prime minister’s annual pay by 64 per cent to S$3.6 million (about £2.1 million) from S$2.2 million (about £1.3 million). The increase is part of a broader review that will also boost junior ministers’ salaries, with those earning S$1.1 million now potentially reaching S$1.8 million, depending on performance and responsibilities.
Singapore justifies high salaries for political leaders as a way to attract talent and deter corruption, a policy that is controversial in a city‑state where the median worker earns roughly S$5,775 a month. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong acknowledged the sensitivity of the issue in a parliamentary speech, noting that the sums involved are far above most citizens’ earnings. He added that he would donate his salary increment to charity for the next five years and stressed that the pay rise reflects the need for quality leadership to serve Singaporeans.
The new figures place the Singapore prime minister as the highest‑paid world leader, surpassing the UK prime minister’s £170,171 and the US president’s $296,000. Hong Kong’s chief executive is the second‑highest earner at £53,200, followed by the Swiss president at £44,800, according to the Political Salaries database.
Singapore last adjusted ministerial pay in 2012, when a 36 per cent cut was imposed to quell public concern. Subsequent reviews in 2017 and 2023 were postponed due to economic uncertainty. The announcement sparked strong reactions on social media, with some users calling the hike “tone deaf” while others defended it as necessary for effective governance. Opposition parties did not issue statements. The Public Service Division says ministerial pay is benchmarked against the top 1,000 earners in the country, a practice that a National University of Singapore political scientist noted could align ministers more closely with the wealthy than with ordinary citizens. A recent case of graft involved former transport minister S Iswaran, who was jailed in 2024 for obstructing justice and accepting gifts worth over $300,000.
