| Post: | Prime Minister |
| Body: | the Independent State of Papua New Guinea |
| Insignia: | National emblem of Papua New Guinea.svg |
| Insigniasize: | 150px |
| Insigniacaption: | Emblem of Papua New Guinea |
| Flag: | Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg |
| Flagsize: | 120px |
| Flagcaption: | Flag of Papua New Guinea |
| Flagborder: | Yes |
| Incumbent: | James Marape |
| Incumbentsince: | 30 May 2019 |
| Style: | The Honourable |
| Abbreviation: | PM |
| Precursor: | Chief Minister of Papua and New Guinea |
| Constituting-Instrument: | Constitution of Papua New Guinea |
| Seat: | Port Moresby |
| Status: | Head of Government |
| Salary: | PGK346,037/US$ 97,201 annually (2015)[1] |
| Appointer: | Governor-General |
| Termlength: | At the Governor-General's pleasure |
| Formation: | 16 September 1975 |
| Inaugural: | Michael Somare |
| Deputy: | Deputy Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea |
| Website: | https://pmnec.gov.pg/ |
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.
The office of Prime Minister was preceded by the Chief Minister.
See main article: article and 2011–2012 Papua New Guinean 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.
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.[2]
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.[3] [4]
| Portrait | Name | Election | Term of office | Political party | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||||||
| 1 | Michael Somare | 1977 | 16 September 1975 | 11 March 1980 | Pangu[5] [6] [7] | |||
| 2 | Sir Julius Chan | — | 11 March 1980 | 2 August 1982 | PPP | |||
| (1) | Michael Somare | 1982 | 2 August 1982 | 21 November 1985 | Pangu | |||
| 3 | Paias Wingti | 1987 | 21 November 1985 | 4 July 1988 | PDM | |||
| 4 | Sir Rabbie Namaliu | — | 4 July 1988 | 17 July 1992 | Pangu | |||
| (3) | Paias Wingti | 1992 | 17 July 1992 | 30 August 1994 | PDM | |||
| (2) | Sir Julius Chan | — | 30 August 1994 | 27 March 1997 | PPP | |||
| 5 | John Giheno | — | 27 March 1997 | 2 June 1997 | PPP | |||
| (2) | Sir Julius Chan | — | 2 June 1997 | 22 July 1997 | PPP | |||
| 6 | Bill Skate | 1997 | 22 July 1997 | 14 July 1999 | PNC | |||
| 7 | Sir Mekere Morauta | — | 14 July 1999 | 5 August 2002 | PDM | |||
| (1) | Sir Michael Somare | 2002 2007 | 5 August 2002 | 4 April 2011 | NAP | |||
| — | Sam Abal | — | 13 December 2010 | 17 January 2011 | NAP | |||
| — | 4 April 2011 | 2 August 2011 | ||||||
| 8 | Peter O'Neill | 2012 2017 | 2 August 2011 | 29 May 2019 | PNC | |||
| 9 | James Marape | 2022 | 30 May 2019 | Incumbent | Pangu | |||