Singapore Jurisdictions

Current Administrative Districts in Singapore
Singapore has a variety of different districts and councils, including Community Development Council Districts, Town Councils, and Constituencies. These districts are used for elections and estate management. Most genealogical relevant records are kept at the country level.

Singapore as a British Colony
In 1819, the British established a free port in Singapore which caused rapid growth in its population. In 1824, the Treaty of Friendship and Alliance ceded Singapore and neighboring islands to the East India Company and a British governor was installed. Singapore was included in the Straits Settlements in 1826. During World War II, Singapore was surrendered to the Japanese in 1942. In 1945, Britain regained control of Singapore and it became a crown colony in 1946 when the Straits Settlement dissolved. Singapore gained independence from Great Britain in 1965 and became the Republic of Singapore. When searching for records in Singapore during the British colonization, many records can be found under the Straits Settlements. Search the Colonial Records page for records during this era.