Subdivisions of Singapore
Encyclopedia
While the small physical size of Singapore
does not justify the creation of national subdivisions in the form of province
s, states, and other national political divisions found in larger countries, the city-state is nonetheless subdivided in various ways throughout its history for the purpose of local administration and urban planning.
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.
In the 1990s, the Urban Redevelopment Authority
carved up the country into 55 planning areas. These boundaries became increasingly accepted as an alternative method of subdividing the country, made all the more popular as the boundaries do not change compared to the more fluid nature of electoral boundaries. 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 Centre
s, as opposed to the former Neighbourhood Police Post system which was also based on electoral divisions.
The administrative division of Singapore into five Community Development Council
Districts and the further breakdown into Constituencies (which mostly relate to local Town Councils, the second-level administrative division of Singapore) and further into Electoral Districts are treated together because of its hierarchical nature.
Since 24 November 2001, Singapore has had an administrative subdivision into 5 districts, headed by mayor
s and with Community Development Councils (CDCs) as local administrations. The CDCs initiate, plan and manage community programmes to promote community bonding and social cohesion. 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 2006 General Elections):
The council boundaries follow that of the existing political divisions, with each handling between four to 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 to 80 members. The members are appointed by the Chairman or Deputy Chairman of the People's Association
.
s (originally, rural districts) and 30 are town subdivisions.
in the 1990s.
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
does not justify the creation of national subdivisions in the form of province
Province
A province is a territorial unit, almost always an administrative division, within a country or state.-Etymology:The English word "province" is attested since about 1330 and derives from the 13th-century Old French "province," which itself comes from the Latin word "provincia," which referred to...
s, states, and other national political divisions found in larger countries, the city-state is nonetheless subdivided in various ways throughout its history for the purpose of local administration and urban planning.
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.
In the 1990s, the Urban Redevelopment Authority
Urban Redevelopment Authority
The Urban Redevelopment Authority is the national urban planning authority of Singapore, and a statutory board under the Ministry of National Development of the Singapore Government.-Mission:The authority was established on 1 April 1974, and is of especially critical importance to the city-state,...
carved up the country into 55 planning areas. These boundaries became increasingly accepted as an alternative method of subdividing the country, made all the more popular as the boundaries do not change compared to the more fluid nature of electoral boundaries. The Singapore Department of Statistics adopted these boundaries for the latest 2000 nationwide population census, and the Singapore Police Force
Singapore Police Force
The Singapore Police Force is the main agency tasked with maintaining law and order in the city-state. Formerly known as the Republic of Singapore Police , it has grown from an 11-man organisation to a 38,587 strong force...
uses them as an approximate guide when demarcating boundaries for its Neighbourhood Police Centre
Neighbourhood Police Centre
A neighbourhood police centre is a mid-sized police station in Singapore, introduced in 1997 to replace the Singapore Police Force's Neighbourhood Police Post system...
s, as opposed to the former Neighbourhood Police Post system which was also based on electoral divisions.
Administrative and Electoral Divisions
Community Development Council
A Community Development Council is a government-led programme to organise grassroot organisations and community programmes into smaller, local units as a bridge between the government and the community...
Districts and the further breakdown into Constituencies (which mostly relate to local Town Councils, the second-level administrative division of Singapore) and further into Electoral Districts are treated together because of its hierarchical nature.
Since 24 November 2001, Singapore has had an administrative subdivision into 5 districts, headed by mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
s and with Community Development Councils (CDCs) as local administrations. The CDCs initiate, plan and manage community programmes to promote community bonding and social cohesion. 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 2006 General Elections):
Community Development Council Districts
There are currently five CDCs, namely the- Central Singapore Community Development CouncilCentral Singapore Community Development CouncilThe Central Singapore Community Development Council is one of five Community Development Councils set up across the Republic of Singapore to aid in local administration of governmental policies and schemes.- External links :*...
- North East Community Development CouncilNorth East Community Development CouncilThe North East Community Development Council is one of five Community Development Councils set up across the Republic of Singapore to aid in local administration of governmental policies and schemes. They are funded in part by the government although they are free to engage in fund-raising...
- North West Community Development CouncilNorth West Community Development CouncilThe North West Community Development Council is one of five Community Development Councils set up across the Republic of Singapore to aid in local administration of governmental policies and schemes. They are funded in part by the government although they are free to engage in fund-raising...
- South East Community Development CouncilSouth East Community Development CouncilThe South East Community Development Council is one of five Community Development Councils set up across the Republic of Singapore to aid in local administration of governmental policies and schemes...
- South West Community Development CouncilSouth West Community Development CouncilThe South West Community Development Council is one of five Community Development Councils set up across the Republic of Singapore to aid in local administration of governmental policies and schemes...
The council boundaries follow that of the existing political divisions, with each handling between four to six GRCs
Group Representation Constituency
A Group Representation Constituency is a type of electoral division or constituency in Singapore, the Members of Parliament of which are voted into Parliament as a group...
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
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
and has between 12 to 80 members. The members are appointed by the Chairman or Deputy Chairman of the People's Association
People's Association
The People’s Association was established in Singapore as a statutory board on 1 July 1960 to promote racial harmony and social cohesion. PA commemorated its 50th Anniversary in 2010....
.
Urban Planning Areas
The urban planning areas are subdivisions of the regions.Survey Districts
Singapore is divided into 64 survey districts, of which 34 are mukimMukim
In Brunei, a mukim is a subdivision of a daerah . The equivalent of the word 'mukim' in English would be 'sub-district'.In Malaysia, a mukim can either be a subdivision of a daerah or a subdivision of sub-district, In Singapore, a mukim is one of two varieties of survey...
s (originally, rural districts) and 30 are town subdivisions.
Postal Districts
Postal districts were numbered from 01 to 83 under the new system implemented in 1 September 1995. Census data and most forms of internal boundaries had been based on postal districts until the introduction of new planning boundariesUrban planning areas in Singapore
Singapore is currently divided into 55 urban planning areas by the Urban Redevelopment Authority, organised into five regions. A Development Guide Plan is then drawn up for each planning area, providing for detailed planning guidelines for every individual plot of land throughout the country.The...
in the 1990s.