# Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea

The prime minister of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea (Tok Pisin: Prai Minista bilong Papua Niugini) is Papua New Guinea's head of government, consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the National Parliament. The prime minister serves as the head of his party, the head of the coalition government, and the chairman of the National Executive Council.

## History

The office of Prime Minister was preceded by the Chief Minister.

### 2011–2012 constitutional crisis

From December 2011, the office was disputed between Peter O'Neill of the People's National Congress Party and Sir Michael Somare of the National Alliance Party; the latter eventually supported O'Neill as Prime Minister on 3 August 2012, thus ending the constitutional crisis.

## Department of the Prime Minister

The Department of the Prime Minister has the task of providing administrative services to the restoration exercise as well as advising the Prime Minister and other government leaders. After a July 1995 cabinet reshuffle by Julius Chan, functions of the department were expanded.

## Office

The office of the prime minister and other key government offices were initially located in Konedobu before being relocated to Waigani shortly after independence in 1975. Since April 2024, the Prime Minister's Office has been located at the newly-constructed Melanesia Haus, located opposite the main entrance to the National Parliament House.

## List of prime ministers of Papua New Guinea (1975–present)
### Status

| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Election | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Political party |
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Election | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Political party |
| 1 | | Michael Somare (1936–2021) | 1977 | 16 September 1975 | 11 March 1980 | 4 years, 177 days | Pangu |
| 2 | | Sir Julius Chan (1939–2025) | — | 11 March 1980 | 2 August 1982 | 2 years, 144 days | PPP |
| (1) | | Michael Somare (1936–2021) | 1982 | 2 August 1982 | 21 November 1985 | 3 years, 111 days | Pangu |
| 3 | | Paias Wingti (born 1951) | 1987 | 21 November 1985 | 4 July 1988 | 2 years, 226 days | PDM |
| 4 | | Sir Rabbie Namaliu (1947–2023) | — | 4 July 1988 | 17 July 1992 | 4 years, 13 days | Pangu |
| (3) | | Paias Wingti (born 1951) | 1992 | 17 July 1992 | 30 August 1994 | 2 years, 44 days | PDM |
| (2) | | Sir Julius Chan (1939–2025) | — | 30 August 1994 | 27 March 1997 | 2 years, 209 days | PPP |
| 5 | | John Giheno (1949–2017) | — | 27 March 1997 | 2 June 1997 | 67 days | PPP |
| (2) | | Sir Julius Chan (1939–2025) | — | 2 June 1997 | 22 July 1997 | 50 days | PPP |
| 6 | | Bill Skate (1953–2006) | 1997 | 22 July 1997 | 14 July 1999 | 1 year, 357 days | PNC |
| 7 | | Sir Mekere Morauta (1946–2020) | — | 14 July 1999 | 5 August 2002 | 3 years, 22 days | PDM |
| (1) | | Sir Michael Somare (1936–2021) | 2002 2007 | 5 August 2002 | 4 April 2011 | 8 years, 362 days | NAP |
| — | | Sam Abal (born 1958) (acting) | — | 13 December 2010 | 17 January 2011 | 35 days | NAP |
| — | | Sam Abal (born 1958) (acting) | — | 4 April 2011 | 2 August 2011 | 120 days | NAP |
| 8 | | Peter O'Neill (born 1965) | 2012 2017 | 2 August 2011 | 29 May 2019 | 7 years, 300 days | PNC |
| 9 | | James Marape (born 1971) | 2022 | 30 May 2019 | Incumbent | 5 years, 247 days | Pangu |

## Timeline

This is a graphical lifespan timeline of prime ministers of Papua New Guinea. They are listed in order of office (Somare, Chan, and Wingti are shown in order of their first premierships).