Prime Minister of Bhutan

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

Prime Minister of Bhutan
Emblem of Bhutan
Incumbent Tshering Tobgay since 28 January 2023
Style	Prime Minister (informal) The Honourable (formal) His Excellency (formal, diplomatic)
Appointer	Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck as King of Bhutan
Inaugural holder	Ugyen Dorji (Chief Minister) Jigme Palden Dorji (Prime Minister)
Formation	1907 (Chief Minister) 1952 (Prime Minister)
Salary	37,365 USD annually[1]

Prime ministers of the Kingdom of Bhutan

list of Prime Ministers 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	560	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.