Administrative divisions of Singapore

Community Development Council districts of Singapore
Community Development Council districts of Singapore
Category	Unitary state
Location	Republic of Singapore
Created by	PA Act 1997
Created	February 1997 ; 11 November 2001 (Finalized);
Number	5 districts (as of 2015)
Government	Community Development Council; National Government;
Subdivisions	Constituencies;

Subzones of Singapore, one of the many ways Singapore is locally divided

Singapore is governed as a unitary state without provinces or states. However, for the purposes of administration and urban planning, it has been subdivided in various ways throughout its history.

As of 2022, Singapore has a total land area of about 753 km² (291 sq mi), not including its sea area.

History

Historically, these subdivisions have been based on postal districts, especially during the colonial era. When local elections necessitated the setting up of electoral districts, however, it began to supplement postal districts as an alternative form of local governance, since each electoral district is headed by a member of parliament who represents and speaks for the respective electorates.

Administrative and electoral divisions

Community Development Council districts

Established in 1997 by the PA Act, there were 9 districts formerly, governed by 9 different Community Development Councils (CDCs). In 2001, the 9 districts and CDCs were then reformed into 5, namely the North East CDC, North West CDC, South East CDC, South West CDC and Central Singapore CDC.^[1]^[2] Each district is then further divided into electoral constituencies and town councils.

The council boundaries follow that of the existing political divisions, with each handling between four and six GRCs and SMCs and roughly dividing the country's population into equal parts. Each CDC is managed by a Council, which in turn is headed by a mayor and has between 12 and 80 members. The members are appointed by the Chairman or Deputy Chairman of the People's Association.

The role of the CDCs is to initiate, plan and manage community programmes to promote community bonding and social cohesion within local communities.^[3] The electoral boundaries of Singapore are relatively fluid, and are reviewed prior to each general election. The districts are composed of the constituencies and electoral districts (the latter as of the 2015 General Elections).

There are currently five CDCs, namely the

Town councils

The first town councils were set up in September 1986 by the Town Councils Act, with the main purpose of estate management.^[4] Prior to the introduction of town councils, housing estates were managed by the Housing Development Board.^[5] As the estates were centrally managed, the standardised rules that the board had set for all housing estates made HDB towns monotonous in appearance and problems faced by residents in the different estates were not addressed fast enough.^[5]

Town councils boundaries are drawn based on electoral district boundaries. A town council area can consist of a Group Representation Constituency (GRC), a Single Member Constituency (SMC), or a collection of neighbouring GRCs and SMCs controlled by the same political party. The Members of Parliament head the town councils of their constituencies. Town councils boundaries do not correspond to new town boundaries; different parts of the same HDB town may be managed by different town councils.^[6]

There are currently 17 town councils as of 2020:^[7]

Town Council	Constituency
Aljunied–Hougang	Aljunied GRC
Aljunied–Hougang	Hougang SMC
Ang Mo Kio	Ang Mo Kio GRC
	Kebun Baru SMC
	Yio Chu Kang SMC
Bishan–Toa Payoh	Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC
Bishan–Toa Payoh	Marymount SMC
Chua Chu Kang	Chua Chu Kang GRC
Chua Chu Kang	Hong Kah North SMC
East Coast	East Coast GRC
Holland–Bukit Panjang	Holland–Bukit Timah GRC
Holland–Bukit Panjang	Bukit Panjang SMC
Jalan Besar	Jalan Besar GRC
Jalan Besar	Potong Pasir SMC
Jurong–Clementi	Jurong GRC
	Bukit Batok SMC
	Yuhua SMC
Marine Parade	Marine Parade GRC
	MacPherson SMC
	Mountbatten SMC
Marsiling–Yew Tee	Marsiling–Yew Tee GRC
Nee Soon	Nee Soon GRC
Pasir Ris–Punggol	Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC
Pasir Ris–Punggol	Punggol West SMC
Sembawang	Sembawang GRC
Sengkang	Sengkang GRC
Tampines	Tampines GRC
Tanjong Pagar	Tanjong Pagar GRC
Tanjong Pagar	Radin Mas SMC
West Coast	West Coast GRC
West Coast	Pioneer SMC

Constituencies

Town councils are then further subdivided into different constituencies, which are classified as either Single Member Constituencies (SMCs) or Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs). The boundaries of the electoral constituencies are decided by the Elections Department, which is under the control of the Prime Minister's Office.^[8]

Other administrative subdivisions

URA Master Plan boundaries

Regions

The five regions of Singapore are groupings of the planning areas.

Planning areas

In the 1990s, the Urban Redevelopment Authority carved up the country into 55 of planning areas. The Singapore Department of Statistics adopted these boundaries for the latest 2000 nationwide population census, and the Singapore Police Force uses them as an approximate guide when demarcating boundaries for its Neighbourhood Police Centres.

Survey districts

Singapore is divided into 64 survey districts, of which 34 are mukims (originally, rural districts) and 30 are town subdivisions.^[9]

Postal districts

Postal districts were numbered from 01 to 83 under the new system implemented on 1 September 1995. Census data and most forms of internal boundaries had been based on postal districts until the introduction of new planning boundaries in the 1990s.^{[citation needed]}

References

^ ^a ^b "Full map of CDCs released for first time". The Straits Times, p. 25 (Retrieved from Newspaper SG). 21 August 1997. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
^ "First 2 CDCs preparing for launch". The Straits Times, p. 27. (Retrieved from Newspaper SG). 17 February 1997. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
^ Fernandez, W. (19 August 1996). PM Goh urges young to rally behind him. The Straits Times, p. 1. Retrieved from NewspaperSG; The Straits Times, 19 Aug 1996, p. 24.
^ Low, A. (1 September 1986). Town councils take over from HDB. .The Straits Times, p. 8. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
^ ^a ^b Ngoo, I., et al. (7 April 1987). My kind of town. The Straits Times, Retrieved from NewspaperSG; Koh, T., et al.
^ Town Councils Act (Cap. 329A, 2000 Rev. Ed.)
^ "Town Councils (Declaration) Order 2020". Singapore Statues Online. 29 July 2020.
^ Alex Au Waipang, 'The Ardour of Tokens: Opposition Parties' Struggle to Make a Difference', in T.Chong (eds), Management of Success: Singapore Revisited (Singapore, 2010), p. 106.
^ "Land Titles Search". Singapore Land Authority. Archived from the original on 1 November 2015. Retrieved 23 April 2016.

External links

CDC Districts Archived 23 July 2020 at the Wayback Machine
Singapore Land Registry Archived 23 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine

[PAact1997-1] "Full map of CDCs released for first time". The Straits Times, p. 25 (Retrieved from Newspaper SG). 21 August 1997. Retrieved 19 August 2016.

[2] "First 2 CDCs preparing for launch". The Straits Times, p. 27. (Retrieved from Newspaper SG). 17 February 1997. Retrieved 19 August 2016.

[3] Fernandez, W. (19 August 1996). PM Goh urges young to rally behind him. The Straits Times, p. 1. Retrieved from NewspaperSG; The Straits Times, 19 Aug 1996, p. 24.

[4] Low, A. (1 September 1986). Town councils take over from HDB. .The Straits Times, p. 8. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.

[MyKindOfTown-5] Ngoo, I., et al. (7 April 1987). My kind of town. The Straits Times, Retrieved from NewspaperSG; Koh, T., et al.

[6] Town Councils Act (Cap. 329A, 2000 Rev. Ed.)

[7] "Town Councils (Declaration) Order 2020". Singapore Statues Online. 29 July 2020.

[8] Alex Au Waipang, 'The Ardour of Tokens: Opposition Parties' Struggle to Make a Difference', in T.Chong (eds), Management of Success: Singapore Revisited (Singapore, 2010), p. 106.

[9] "Land Titles Search". Singapore Land Authority. Archived from the original on 1 November 2015. Retrieved 23 April 2016.

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v t e Places in Singapore by region
Listed by planning areas (Subzones in parentheses)
Central	Central Area (City centre) Bishan Marymount Upper Thomson Bukit Merah Alexandra Hill Alexandra North Bukit Ho Swee Depot Road Everton Park HarbourFront/Maritime Square Henderson Hill Kampong Tiong Bahru Singapore General Hospital Telok Blangah Drive Telok Blangah Rise Telok Blangah Way Tiong Bahru Bukit Timah Anak Bukit Coronation Road Farrer Court Hillcrest Holland Road Leedon Park Swiss Club Ulu Pandan Downtown Core Anson Bayfront Subzone Bugis Cecil Central Subzone City Hall Clifford Pier Marina Centre Maxwell Phillip Raffles Place Tanjong Pagar Geylang Aljunied Geylang East Kallang Way Kampong Ubi MacPherson Kallang Bendemeer Boon Keng Crawford Geylang Bahru Kallang Bahru Kampong Bugis Kampong Java Lavender Tanjong Rhu Marina East Marina South Marine Parade East Coast Katong Marina East Mountbatten Museum Bras Basah Dhoby Ghaut Fort Canning Newton Cairnhill Goodwood Park Istana Negara Monk's Hill Newton Circus Orange Grove Novena Balestier Dunearn Malcolm Moulmein Mount Pleasant Orchard Boulevard Somerset Tanglin Outram China Square Chinatown Pearl's Hill People's Park Queenstown Commonwealth Dover Ghim Moh Kent Ridge Margaret Drive Mei Chin National University of Singapore one-north Pasir Panjang 1 Pasir Panjang 2 Tanglin Halt Queensway River Valley Institution Hill Leonie Hill One Tree Hill Oxley Paterson Rochor Bencoolen Farrer Park Kampong Glam Little India Mackenzie Mount Emily Rochor Canal Selegie Sungei Road Victoria Singapore River Boat Quay Clarke Quay Robertson Quay Southern Islands Kusu Island Lazarus Island Sentosa Sisters' Islands Saint John's Island Straits View Tanglin Chatsworth Nassim Ridout Tyersall Toa Payoh Bidadari Boon Teck Braddell Joo Seng Kim Keat Lorong 8 Toa Payoh Pei Chun Potong Pasir Sennett Toa Payoh Central Toa Payoh West Woodleigh
East	Bedok Bayshore Bedok North Reservoir Bedok South Frankel Kaki Bukit Kembangan Siglap Changi Airport Changi Point Changi West Changi Bay Pasir Ris Flora Drive Loyang East Loyang West Pasir Ris Central Pasir Ris Drive Pasir Ris Park Pasir Ris Wafer Fab Park Pasir Ris West Paya Lebar Airport Road Paya Lebar East Paya Lebar North Paya Lebar West Plab Tampines Simei Tampines East Tampines North Tampines West Xilin
North	Central Water Catchment Lim Chu Kang Mandai Mandai East Mandai Estate Mandai West Sembawang Admiralty Sembawang Central Sembawang East Sembawang North Sembawang Spring Sembawang Straits Senoko North Senoko South The Wharves Simpang Pulau Seletar Simpang North Simpang South Tanjong Irau Sungei Kadut Gali Batu Kranji Pang Sua Turf Club Reservoir View Woodlands Greenwood Park Midview North Coast Senoko West Woodgrove Woodlands East Woodlands Regional Centre Woodlands South Woodlands West Yishun Khatib Lower Seletar Nee Soon Northland Springleaf Yishun Central Yishun East Yishun South Yishun West
North-East	Ang Mo Kio Ang Mo Kio Town Centre Cheng San Chong Boon Kebun Baru Sembawang Hills Shangri-la Tagore Townsville, Singapore Yio Chu Kang Yio Chu Kang East Yio Chu Kang North Yio Chu Kang West Hougang Defu Industrial Park Hougang Central Hougang East Hougang West Kangkar Kovan Lorong Ah Soo Lorong Halus Tai Seng Trafalgar North-Eastern Islands Punggol Coney Island Matilda Northshore Punggol Canal Punggol Field Punggol Town Centre Waterway East Seletar Pulau Punggol Barat Pulau Punggol Timor Seletar Aerospace Park Sengkang Anchorvale Compassvale Fernvale Jalan Kayu Lorong Halus North Rivervale Sengkang Town Centre Sengkang West Serangoon Lorong Chuan Seletar Hills Serangoon Central Serangoon Garden Serangoon North Serangoon North Industrial Estate Upper Paya Lebar
West	Boon Lay Liu Fang Samulun Shipyard Tukang Bukit Batok Bukit Batok Central Bukit Batok East Bukit Batok South Bukit Batok West Brickworks Bukit Gombak Guilin Hillview Hong Kah North Bukit Panjang Bangkit Dairy Farm Fajar Jelebu Nature Reserve Saujana Senja Choa Chu Kang Choa Chu Kang Central Choa Chu Kang North Keat Hong Peng Siang Teck Whye Yew Tee Clementi Clementi Central Clementi North Clementi West Clementi Woods Faber Pandan Sunset Way Toh Tuck West Coast Jurong East International Business Park Jurong Gateway Jurong Port Lakeside Jurong River Penjuru Crescent Teban Gardens Toh Guan Yuhua Jurong West Central Boon Lay Place Chin Bee Hong Kah Kian Teck Safti Taman Jurong Wenya Yunnan Pioneer Benoi Sector Gul Basin Gul Circle Joo Koon Pioneer Sector Tengah Tuas Tengeh Tuas Bay Tuas North Tuas Promenade Tuas View Tuas View Extension Western Islands Jurong Island Bukum Semakau Sudong Western Water Catchment

v t e Articles on first-level administrative divisions of Asian countries
Sovereign states	Afghanistan Armenia² Azerbaijan¹ Bahrain Bangladesh Bhutan Brunei Cambodia China Cyprus² East Timor Egypt¹ Georgia¹ India Indonesia¹ Iran Iraq Israel Japan Jordan Kazakhstan¹ North Korea province special city South Korea province provincial-level city Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Lebanon Malaysia Maldives Mongolia Myanmar Nepal Oman Pakistan Philippines Qatar Russia¹ Saudi Arabia Singapore Sri Lanka Syria Tajikistan Thailand Turkey¹ Turkmenistan United Arab Emirates Uzbekistan Vietnam Yemen¹
States with limited recognition	Abkhazia² Northern Cyprus² Palestine South Ossetia² Taiwan
Table of administrative divisions by country ¹ Spans the conventional boundary between Asia and another continent. ² Considered European for cultural, political and historical reasons but is geographically in Western Asia.