🇪🇪 Estonia
Parliamentary republicLiberal democracy
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Kristen Michal
Prime Minister · 816 days in office
How the political system works in Estonia
Estonia is governed as a parliamentary republic. Its prime minister, Kristen Michal, has led the country since Jul 23, 2024. Estonia has had 21 prime ministers since 1918. Under the Regimes of the World classification, it counts as a liberal democracy.
Tenure records
Longest-serving
Andrus Ansip
3,268 days · 3 terms
Shortest-serving
Ado Birk
2 days
Average tenure
664 days
Kristen Michal: 23% above average
Female leaders
1 of 21
First: Kaja Kallas (2021)
Recent prime ministers by days in office
Is a leader's tenure getting longer or shorter in Estonia?
Across 25 completed terms, the average prime minister of Estonia has served 664 days (about 1.8 years). Terms are getting longer: the last five completed terms averaged 1,261 days.
One completed term Average tenure per decade
All prime ministers of Estonia
| # | Name | Took office | Left office | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 |  Kristen Michal | Jul 22, 2024 | Incumbent | 817 |
| 25 |  Kaja Kallas | Jan 26, 2021 | Jul 22, 2024 | 1,273 |
| 24 |  Jüri Ratas | Nov 23, 2016 | Jan 13, 2021 | 1,512 |
| 23 |  Taavi Rõivas | Mar 26, 2014 | Nov 23, 2016 | 973 |
| 22 |  Andrus Ansip | Apr 5, 2011 | Mar 26, 2014 | 1,086 |
| 21 | Andrus Ansip | Apr 5, 2007 | Apr 4, 2011 | 1,460 |
| 20 | Andrus Ansip | Apr 13, 2005 | Apr 5, 2007 | 722 |
| 19 |  Juhan Parts | Apr 10, 2003 | Apr 12, 2005 | 733 |
| 18 |  Siim Kallas | Jan 28, 2002 | Apr 10, 2003 | 437 |
| 17 |  Mart Laar | Mar 25, 1999 | Jan 28, 2002 | 1,040 |
| 16 |  Mart Siimann | Mar 17, 1997 | Mar 25, 1999 | 738 |
| 15 |  Tiit Vähi | Apr 17, 1995 | Feb 25, 1997 | 680 |
| 14 |  Andres Tarand | Nov 8, 1994 | Apr 17, 1995 | 160 |
| 13 | Mart Laar | Oct 21, 1992 | Nov 8, 1994 | 748 |
| 12 | Tiit Vähi | Jan 30, 1992 | Sep 1, 1992 | 215 |
| 11 |  Edgar Savisaar | Aug 20, 1991 | Jan 29, 1992 | 162 |
| 10 |  Otto Tief | Sep 18, 1944 | Jan 12, 1953 | 3,038 |
| 9 | Jun 21, 1940 | Aug 25, 1940 | 65 | |
| 8 |  Jüri Uluots | Oct 12, 1939 | Jun 20, 1940 | 252 |
| 7 |  Kaarel Eenpalu | Apr 21, 1938 | Oct 12, 1939 | 539 |
| 6 |  Ants Piip | Oct 26, 1920 | Dec 20, 1920 | 55 |
| 5 |  Jaan Tõnisson | Jul 30, 1920 | Oct 26, 1920 | 88 |
| 4 |  Ado Birk | Jul 28, 1920 | Jul 30, 1920 | 2 |
| 3 | Jaan Tõnisson | Nov 18, 1919 | Jul 28, 1920 | 253 |
| 2 |  Otto Strandman | May 9, 1919 | Nov 18, 1919 | 193 |
| 1 |  Konstantin Päts | Nov 12, 1918 | May 9, 1919 | 178 |
Officeholder history via Wikidata. Multiple rows for one person indicate separate terms.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is the Prime Minister of Estonia?
- Kristen Michal has been Prime Minister of Estonia since Jul 23, 2024.
- How is the leader of Estonia chosen?
- Estonia is governed as a parliamentary republic. Its prime minister, Kristen Michal, has led the country since Jul 23, 2024. Estonia has had 21 prime ministers since 1918. Under the Regimes of the World classification, it counts as a liberal democracy.
- Who is the longest-serving Prime Minister of Estonia?
- Andrus Ansip, with 3,268 days in office across 3 terms.
- Are leaders serving longer or shorter terms in Estonia?
- Across 25 completed terms, the average prime minister of Estonia has served 664 days (about 1.8 years). Terms are getting longer: the last five completed terms averaged 1,261 days.
- Has Estonia ever had a female prime minister?
- Yes. Estonia has had 1 female prime minister. The first was Kaja Kallas, who took office in 2021.