Prime Minister of Bhutan

Prime Minister of Bhutan
Emblem of Bhutan
Incumbent
Tshering Tobgay
since 28 January 2023
StylePrime Minister
(informal)
The Honourable
(formal)
His Excellency
(formal, diplomatic)
AppointerJigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck
as King of Bhutan
Inaugural holderUgyen Dorji
(Chief Minister)
Jigme Palden Dorji
(Prime Minister)
Formation1907 (Chief Minister)
1952 (Prime Minister)
Salary37,365 USD annually[1]

The prime minister of Bhutan (Lyonchhen) is the head of government of Bhutan.

Prime ministers of the Kingdom of Bhutan

Chief ministers (Gongzim)

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Term of office Political party King
(Reign)
Took office Left office Days
1 Raja
Ugyen Dorji
(1855–1916) 		1907 1916
[a] 		c. 3285 Independent Ugyen

(1907–1926)
2 Raja
Sonam Topgay Dorji
(1896–1953) 		1917 1952 c. 12775 Independent
Jigme

(1926–1952)

Prime ministers (Lyonchen)

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Term of office Political party Election Cabinet King
(Reign)
Took office Left office Days
1 Jigme Palden Dorji
(1919–1964) 		1952 6 April 1964
[b] 		c. 4380 Independent — — Jigme Dorji

(1952–1972)
Vacant (6 April 1964–25 July 1964)
— Lhendup Dorji
(1935–2007)
Acting Prime Minister
[c] 		25 July 1964 27 November 1964 125 Independent — —
Post Abolished (27 November 1964–20 July 1998)
Jigme Singye

(1972–2006)
2 Jigme Thinley
(1952–)
1st time 		20 July 1998 9 July 1999 354 Independent — —
3 Sangay Ngedup
(1953–)
1st time 		9 July 1999 20 July 2000 377 Independent — —
4 Yeshey Zimba
(1952–)
1st time 		20 July 2000 8 August 2001 384 Independent — —
5 Khandu Wangchuk
(1950–)
1st time 		8 August 2001 14 August 2002 371 Independent — —
6 Kinzang Dorji
(1951–)
1st time 		14 August 2002 30 August 2003 381 Independent — —
(2) Jigme Thinley
(1952–)
2nd time 		30 August 2003 18 August 2004 354 Independent — —
(4) Yeshey Zimba
(1952–)
2nd time 		18 August 2004 5 September 2005 383 Independent — —
(3) Sangay Ngedup
(1953–)
2nd time 		5 September 2005 7 September 2006 367 Independent — —
(5) Khandu Wangchuk
(1950–)
2nd time 		7 September 2006 31 July 2007 327 Independent — —
Jigme Khesar Namgyel

(2006–present)
(6) Kinzang Dorji
(1951–)
2nd time 		31 July 2007 9 April 2008 253 Independent — —
Democratically elected
(2) Jigme Thinley
(1952–)
3rd time 		9 April 2008 28 April 2013 1845 DPT 2008 2008 Thinley Cabinet
— Sonam Tobgye
(1949–)
Chief Advisor 		28 April 2013 27 July 2013 90 Independent — 2013 Tobgye Interim Cabinet
7 Tshering Tobgay
(1965–) 		27 July 2013 9 August 2018 1839 PDP 2013 2013 Tobgay Cabinet
— Tshering Wangchuk
(19–)
Chief Advisor 		9 August 2018 7 November 2018 90 Independent — 2018 Wangchuk Interim Cabinet
8 Lotay Tshering
(1968–) 		7 November 2018 1 November 2023 1820 DNT 2018 2018 Tshering Cabinet
— Chogyal Dago Rigdzin
(19–)
Chief Advisor 		1 November 2023 28 January 2024 88 Independent — 2023 Rigdzin Interim Cabinet
(7) Tshering Tobgay
(1965–) 		28 January 2024 Incumbent 335 PDP 2023 2024 Tobgay Cabinet

Notes

  1. ↑ Died in office.
  2. ↑ Assassinated by a corporal of the Royal Bhutan Army.
  3. ↑ Brother of Jigme Palden Dorji.

References

  1. ↑ "15 Highest Paid Asian Political Leaders 2015". 23 June 2015. Archived from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2020.