List of Singaporean town councils explained

The following is a list of Singaporean town councils.

As of 30 July 2020, there are 17 town councils in Singapore.^[1]

Town council	Seats	Constituencies	Electorate (2020)		CDC
			Constituency	Town council
Aljunied–Hougang	6	Aljunied GRC	150,303	175,932	North East
		Hougang SMC	25,629
Ang Mo Kio	7	Ang Mo Kio GRC	180,186	228,645	Central
		Kebun Baru SMC	22,413
		Yio Chu Kang SMC	26,046
Bishan–Toa Payoh	5	Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC	100,036	123,475	Central
		Marymount SMC	23,439
Chua Chu Kang	5	Chua Chu Kang GRC	103,231	126,750	South West
		Hong Kah North SMC	23,519
East Coast	5	East Coast GRC	120,239	120,239	South East
Holland–Bukit Panjang	5	Holland–Bukit Timah GRC	112,999	148,257	North West
		Bukit Panjang SMC	35,258
Jalan Besar	5	Jalan Besar GRC	106,578	125,129	Central
		Potong Pasir SMC	18,551
Jurong–Clementi	7	Jurong GRC	129,933	180,510	South West
		Bukit Batok SMC	29,389
		Yuhua SMC	21,188
Marine Parade	7	Marine Parade GRC	137,906	189,515	South East
		MacPherson SMC	27,652
		Mountbatten SMC	23,957
Marsiling–Yew Tee	4	Marsiling–Yew Tee GRC	114,243	114,243	North West
Nee Soon	5	Nee Soon GRC	137,906	137,906	North West
Pasir Ris–Punggol	6	Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC	161,952	187,392	North East
		Punggol West SMC	25,440
Sembawang	5	Sembawang GRC	139,724	139,724	North West
Sengkang	4	Sengkang GRC	117,546	117,546	North East
Tampines	5	Tampines GRC	147,249	147,249	North East
Tanjong Pagar	6	Tanjong Pagar GRC	132,598	157,765	Central
		Radin Mas SMC	25,167
West Coast	6	West Coast GRC	144,516	169,195	South West
		Pioneer SMC	24,679

Past town councils

1986-1988

Three town councils were set up on 1 September 1986 as pilot projects for the town council scheme.^[2]

Town council	Constituencies	Electorate (1984)
		Constituency	Town council
Ang Mo Kio East	Cheng San	17,328	62,989
	Chong Boon	20,650
	Jalan Kayu	25,011
Ang Mo Kio South	Ang Mo Kio	14,633	46,276
	Bo Wen	14,777
	Teck Ghee	16,866
Ang Mo Kio West	Kebun Baru	17,542	61,173
	Nee Soon	26,897
	Yio Chu Kang	16,734

1988-1991

A total of 27 town councils were set up in three phases from 1988 to 1991.^[3]

Phase 1

Town council	Constituencies	Electorate (1988)
		Constituency	Town council
Aljunied	Aljunied GRC	65,351	82,414
	MacPherson SMC	17,063
Ang Mo Kio Town	Ang Mo Kio SMC	14,633	30,143
	Teck Ghee SMC	15,510
Ang Mo Kio West	Kebun Baru SMC	22,515	38,506
	Yio Chu Kang SMC	15,991
Bedok	Bedok GRC	54,969	89,503
	Changi SMC	17,145
	Fengshan SMC	17,389
Bukit Batok	Bukit Batok SMC	24,138	68,987
	Bukit Gombak SMC	25,221
	Chua Chu Kang SMC	19,628
Cheng San	Cheng San GRC	56,352	56,352
Potong Pasir	Potong Pasir SMC	19,852	19,852
Redhill	Bukit Merah SMC	14,723	55,296
	Leng Kee SMC	21,964
	Telok Blangah SMC	18,609
Tiong Bahru	Tiong Bahru GRC	58,898	77,939
	Tanjong Pagar SMC	19,041
Sources:^[4] ^[5] ^[6]

Phase 2

Town council	Constituencies	Electorate (1988)
		Constituency	Town council
Brickworks	Brickworks GRC	43,117	43,117
Bukit Panjang	Bukit Panjang SMC	33,824	33,824
Eunos	Eunos GRC	75,723	75,723
Hong Kah	Hong Kah GRC	67,431	67,431
Jalan Besar	Jalan Besar GRC	54,941	76,186
	Kallang SMC	21,245
Jurong East	Ayer Rajah SMC	22,532	61,944
	Bukit Timah SMC	20,222
	Yuhua SMC	19,190
Marine Parade	Marine Parade GRC	62,385	98,782
	Mountbatten SMC	17,747
	Siglap SMC	18,650
Toa Payoh	Toa Payoh GRC	49,243	65,093
	Kim Keat SMC	15,850
Yishun	Nee Soon Central SMC	24,403	46,945
	Nee Soon South SMC	22,542
Sources:^[7] ^[8] ^[9]

Phase 3

• Bishan Serangoon (Serangoon Gardens SMC, Thomson SMC)^[10]
• City Centre (Kreta Ayer SMC, Kim Seng SMC, Kampong Glam SMC)^[11]
• Holland
• Hougang^[12]
• Jurong
• Pasir Panjang
• Sembawang (Sembawang GRC)
• Tampines
• Whampoa

1991-1997

By 1991, the number of town councils were reduced to 23.

• Aljunied
• Ang Mo Kio-Yishun (Ang Mo Kio until 1993)
• Bedok
• Bishan-Serangoon
• Brickworks
• Bukit Batok
• Bukit Gombak
• Cheng San
• City Centre
• Eunos-Pasir Ris (Eunos until 1995)
• Holland
• Hong Kah
• Hougang
• Jalan Besar
• Jurong
• Jurong East
• Marine Parade
• Nee Soon Central
• Sembawang
• Tampines
• Tanjong Pagar (Tiong Bahru until 1991)
• Toa Payoh
• Yishun (merged with Ang Mo Kio in 1993)

1997-2001

By 1997, the number of town councils was 14.^[13] For the first time, Community Development Councils (CDC) are established by the People's Association Act (CDC Rules & Regulations 1997) to promote cohesion and self-relisience for the electorates. During the period, there were nine CDCs, including Central Singapore and North East which still exists as of today.^[14]

Town council	Seats	Constituencies	Electorate (1997)		CDC
			Constituency	Town council
Aljunied	5	Aljunied GRC	103,466	103,466	North East
Ang Mo Kio	6	Ang Mo Kio GRC	125,344	125,344	Ang Mo Kio–Cheng San
Bishan–Toa Payoh	5	Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC	122,256	122,256	Central Singapore
Bukit Timah	7	Bukit Timah GRC	118,248	164,347	Bukit Timah
		Ayer Rajah SMC	22,025
		Chua Chu Kang SMC	24,074
Cheng San	5	Cheng San GRC	103,323	103,323	Ang Mo Kio–Cheng San
City Centre	5	Kreta Ayer–Tanglin GRC	75,126	95,170	Central Singapore
		Kampong Glam SMC	20,044
East Coast	6	East Coast GRC	142,201	142,201	Marine Parade
Hong Kah	7	Hong Kah GRC	125,452	170,375	Sembawang–Hong Kah
		Boon Lay SMC	20,014
		Bukit Gombak SMC	24,909
Jalan Besar	5	Jalan Besar GRC	71,922	71,922	Central Singapore
Marine Parade	7	Marine Parade GRC	142,106	162,840	Marine Parade
		MacPherson SMC	20,734
Pasir Ris	4	Pasir Ris GRC	85,908	85,908	North East
Sembawang	7	Sembawang GRC	154,402	180,659	Sembawang–Hong Kah
		Nee Soon Central SMC	26,257
Tampines	5	Tampines GRC	94,476	94,476	North East
Tanjong Pagar–West Coast	10	Tanjong Pagar GRC	141,520	215,542	Tanjong Pagar
		West Coast GRC	74,022

2001-2006

By 2001, the number of town councils is 16. For the first time, CDCs were simplified into five regions: Central Singapore and North East, as well as the newly formed North West, South East and South West, which were reorganized from the other seven existing CDCs.^[15]

Town council	Sears	Constituencies	Electorate (2001)		CDC
			Constituency	Town council
Aljunied	5	Aljunied GRC	125,115	125,115	North East
Ang Mo Kio	6	Ang Mo Kio GRC	166,644	166,644	Central Singapore
Bishan–Toa Payoh	5	Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC	114,621	114,621	Central Singapore
East Coast	6	East Coast GRC	144,012	165,757	South East
		Joo Chiat SMC	21,745
Holland–Bukit Panjang	5	Holland–Bukit Panjang GRC	118,834	118,834	North West
Hong Kah	6	Hong Kah GRC	129,073	153,936	South West
		Chua Chu Kang SMC	24,863
Jalan Besar	5	Jalan Besar GRC	100,268	100,268	Central Singapore
Jurong	6	Jurong GRC	115,113	142,064	South West
		Bukit Timah SMC	26,951
Marine Parade	7	Marine Parade GRC	140,174	162,184	South East
		MacPherson SMC	22,010
Pasir Ris–Punggol	5	Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC	134,151	134,151	North East
Sembawang	8	Sembawang GRC	166,137	217,577	North West
		Nee Soon Central SMC	22,975
		Nee Soon East SMC	28,465
Tampines	5	Tampines GRC	125,432	125,432	North East
Tanjong Pagar	6	Tanjong Pagar GRC	141,150	141,150	Central Singapore
West Coast–Ayer Rajah	6	West Coast GRC	110,779	129,254	South West
		Ayer Rajah SMC	18,475

2006-2011

By 2001, the number of town councils is 16.^[16]

Town council	Seats	Constituencies	Electorate (2006)		CDC
			Constituency	Town council
Aljunied	5	Aljunied GRC	145,141	145,141	North East
Ang Mo Kio-Yio Chu Kang	7	Ang Mo Kio GRC	159,872	184,944	Central Singapore
		Yio Chu Kang SMC	25,072
Bishan-Toa Payoh	5	Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC	115,323	115,323	Central Singapore
East Coast	6	East Coast GRC	116,653	138,511	South West
		Joo Chiat SMC	21,858
Holland-Bukit Panjang	6	Holland-Bukit Timah GRC	118,155	148,607	North West
		Bukit Panjang SMC	30,452
Hong Kah	6	Hong Kah GRC	144,677	169,652	South West
		Chua Chu Kang SMC	24,975
Hougang	1	Hougang SMC	23,759	23,759	North East
Jalan Besar	5	Jalan Besar GRC	93,025	93,025	Central Singapore
Jurong	5	Jurong GRC	116,636	116,636	South West
Marine Parade	7	Marine Parade GRC	155,149	176,190	South East
		MacPherson SMC	21,041
Pasir Ris–Punggol	6	Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC	178,443	178,443	North East
Potong Pasir	1	Potong Pasir SMC	15,888	15,888	Central Singapore
Sembawang	8	Sembawang GRC	184,804	240,542	North West
		Nee Soon Central SMC	23,152
		Nee Soon East SMC	32,586
Tampines	5	Tampines GRC	126,163	126,163	North East
Tanjong Pagar	6	Tanjong Pagar GRC	148,141	148,141	Central Singapore
West Coast	5	West Coast GRC	137,739	137,739	South West

2011-2013

By 2011, the number of town councils is 15.^[17]

Town council	Seats	Constituencies	Electorate (2006)		CDC
			Constituency	Town council
Aljunied-Hougang	6	Aljunied GRC	143,148	167,708	North East
		Hougang SMC	24,560
Ang Mo Kio	7	Ang Mo Kio GRC	179,071	205,953	Central Singapore
		Sengkang West SMC	26,882
Bishan-Toa Payoh	5	Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC	122,492	122,492	Central Singapore
Chua Chu Kang	6	Chua Chu Kang GRC	158,648	214,856	South West
		Hong Kah North SMC	27,701
East Coast	6	East Coast GRC	120,324	142,393	South West
		Joo Chiat SMC	22,069
Holland-Bukit Panjang	5	Holland-Bukit Timah GRC	91,607	124,660	North West
		Bukit Panjang SMC	33,053
Jurong	6	Jurong GRC	125,276	148,475	South West
		Yuhua SMC	23,199
Marine Parade	6	Marine Parade GRC	154,451	178,182	South East
		Mountbatten SMC	23,731
Moulmein-Kallang	5	Moulmein-Kallang GRC	87,595	109,226	Central Singapore
		Whampoa SMC	21,631
Pasir Ris–Punggol	7	Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC	168,971	202,252	North East
		Punggol East SMC	33,281
Potong Pasir	1	Potong Pasir SMC	17,327	17,327	Central Singapore
Sembawang-Nee Soon	10	Nee Soon GRC	148,290	290,749	North West
		Sembawang GRC	142,459
Tampines	5	Tampines GRC	137,532	137,532	North East
Tanjong Pagar	6	Tanjong Pagar GRC	139,771	170,785	Central Singapore
		Radin Mas SMC	31,014
West Coast	6	West Coast GRC	121,045	146,790	South West
		Pioneer SMC	25,745

2013-2015

By 2013, the number of town councils is 16. The seat for Punggol East SMC was transferred from Pasir Ris-Punggol town council to Aljunied-Hougang town council (renaming it to Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East) as a result of the 2013 by-election held 26 January 2013, and Sembawang-Nee Soon town council was hived into separate town councils based on boundaries for the respective GRCs and overpopulation.^{[18] [19]}

Town council	Seats	Constituencies	Electorate (2006)		CDC
			Constituency	Town council
Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East	7	Aljunied GRC	143,148	200,989	North East
		Hougang SMC	24,560
		Punggol East SMC	33,281
Ang Mo Kio	7	Ang Mo Kio GRC	179,071	205,953	Central Singapore
		Sengkang West SMC	26,882
Bishan-Toa Payoh	5	Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC	122,492	122,492	Central Singapore
Chua Chu Kang	6	Chua Chu Kang GRC	158,648	214,856	South West
		Hong Kah North SMC	27,701
East Coast	6	East Coast GRC	120,324	142,393	South West
		Joo Chiat SMC	22,069
Holland-Bukit Panjang	5	Holland-Bukit Timah GRC	91,607	124,660	North West
		Bukit Panjang SMC	33,053
Jurong	6	Jurong GRC	125,276	148,475	South West
		Yuhua SMC	23,199
Marine Parade	6	Marine Parade GRC	154,451	178,182	South East
		Mountbatten SMC	23,731
Moulmein-Kallang	5	Moulmein-Kallang GRC	87,595	109,226	Central Singapore
		Whampoa SMC	21,631
Nee Soon	5	Nee Soon GRC	148,290	148,290	North West
Pasir Ris–Punggol	6	Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC	168,971	168,971	North East
Potong Pasir	1	Potong Pasir SMC	17,327	17,327	Central Singapore
Sembawang	5	Sembawang GRC	142,459	142,259	North West
Tampines	5	Tampines GRC	137,532	137,532	North East
Tanjong Pagar	6	Tanjong Pagar GRC	139,771	170,785	Central Singapore
		Radin Mas SMC	31,014
West Coast	6	West Coast GRC	121,045	146,790	South West
		Pioneer SMC	25,745

2015-2020

By 2015, the number of town councils is 16. For the first time, all town councils are overseen by GRCs due to Potong Pasir SMC subsuming into the revived Jalan Besar town council (retaining the new logo from Moulmein-Kallang).^{[20] [21]}

Town council	Seats	Constituencies	Electorate (2015)		CDC
			Constituency	Town council
Aljunied-Hougang	6	Aljunied GRC	148,142	172,239	North East
		Hougang SMC	24,097
Ang Mo Kio	7	Ang Mo Kio GRC	187,771	217,890	Central Singapore
		Sengkang West SMC	30,119
Bishan-Toa Payoh	5	Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC	129,975	129,975	Central Singapore
Chua Chu Kang	5	Chua Chu Kang GRC	119,931	148,076	South West
		Hong Kah North SMC	28,145
East Coast-Fengshan	5	East Coast GRC	99,118	122,545	South East
		Fengshan SMC	23,427
Holland-Bukit Panjang	5	Holland-Bukit Timah GRC	104,491	138,808	North West
		Bukit Panjang SMC	34,317
Jalan Besar	5	Jalan Besar GRC	102,540	119,947	Central Singapore
		Potong Pasir SMC	17,407
Jurong-Clementi	7	Jurong GRC	130,498	180,192	South West
		Bukit Batok SMC	27,077
		Yuhua SMC	22,617
Marine Parade	7	Marine Parade GRC	146,244	198,898	South East
		MacPherson SMC	28,511
		Mountbatten SMC	24,143
Marsiling-Yew Tee	4	Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC	107,599	107,599	North West
Nee Soon	5	Nee Soon GRC	132,289	132,289	North West
Pasir Ris–Punggol	7	Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC	187,396	221,862	North East
		Punggol East SMC	34,466
Sembawang	5	Sembawang GRC	144,672	144,672	North West
Tampines	5	Tampines GRC	143,518	143,518	North East
Tanjong Pagar	6	Tanjong Pagar GRC	130,752	159,658	Central Singapore
		Radin Mas SMC	28,906
West Coast	5	West Coast GRC	99,300	124,758	South West
		Pioneer SMC	25,458

Notes and References

1. Web site: 30 July 2020. Town Councils (Declaration) Order 2020. Singapore Statutes Online.
2. News: Low. Augustine. 1 September 1986. Town councils take over from HDB. The Straits Times.
3. Web site: About Town Councils. Ministry of National Development.
4. News: Tan. Cephah. 28 October 1988. S'pore's first 3 town councils to be formed next week. The Straits Times.
5. News: 3 December 1988. 3 more town councils formed. The Straits Times.
6. News: 31 December 1988. Three more town councils formed under Phase One. The Straits Times.
7. News: 1 July 1989. Town councils: 3 more gazetted. The Straits Times.
8. News: 5 August 1989. More town councils gazetted. The Straits Times.
9. News: 4 September 1989. Three more town councils gazetted. The Straits Times.
10. News: 4 September 1990. Last three town councils formed. The Straits Times.
11. News: 27 January 1991. More town councils take over. The Straits Times.
12. News: 30 June 1990. The Business Times. Town councils under Phase 3.
13. Web site: 13 January 1997. Town Councils (Declaration of Towns) Order 1997. Singapore Statutes Online.
14. Web site: CDCs, Singapore- History and Milestones . 11 February 2021.
15. Web site: 13 November 2001. Town Councils (Declaration of Towns) Order 2001. Singapore Statutes Online.
16. Web site: 26 May 2006. Town Councils (Declaration of Towns) Order 2006. Singapore Statutes Online.
17. Web site: 27 May 2011. Town Councils (Declaration of Towns) Order 2011. Singapore Statutes Online.
18. Web site: 22 February 2013. Town Councils (Declaration of Towns) Order 2013. Singapore Statutes Online.
19. Web site: 12 March 2013. Town Councils (Declaration of Towns) (Amendment No. 2) Order 2013. Singapore Statutes Online.
20. Web site: Formation of Town Councils . 10 February 2021.
21. Web site: 1 October 2015. Town Councils (Declaration of Towns) Order 2015. Singapore Statutes Online.