🇮🇱 Israel
Unitary state, parliamentary republicElectoral democracy
Benjamin Netanyahu
Prime Minister · 1,388 days in office
How the political system works in Israel
Israel is governed as a unitary state with a parliamentary republic. Its prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has led the country since Dec 29, 2022. Israel has had 15 prime ministers since 1948. Under the Regimes of the World classification, it counts as an electoral democracy.
Tenure records
Longest-serving
Benjamin Netanyahu
6,958 days · 3 terms
Shortest-serving
Yigal Allon
19 days
Average tenure
1,306 days
Benjamin Netanyahu: 6% above average
Female leaders
1 of 15
First: Golda Meir (1969)
Recent prime ministers by days in office
Is a leader's tenure getting longer or shorter in Israel?
Across 21 completed terms, the average prime minister of Israel has served 1,306 days (about 3.6 years). Terms are getting longer: the last five completed terms averaged 1,613 days.
One completed term Average tenure per decade
All prime ministers of Israel
| # | Name | Took office | Left office | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 |  Benjamin Netanyahu | Dec 29, 2022 | Incumbent | 1,388 |
| 21 |  Yair Lapid | Jul 1, 2022 | Dec 29, 2022 | 181 |
| 20 |  Naftali Bennett | Jun 13, 2021 | Jul 1, 2022 | 383 |
| 19 | Benjamin Netanyahu | Mar 31, 2009 | Jun 13, 2021 | 4,457 |
| 18 |  Ehud Olmert | Jan 4, 2006 | Mar 31, 2009 | 1,182 |
| 17 |  Ariel Sharon | Mar 7, 2001 | Apr 14, 2006 | 1,864 |
| 16 |  Ehud Barak | Jul 6, 1999 | Mar 7, 2001 | 610 |
| 15 | Benjamin Netanyahu | Jun 18, 1996 | Jul 6, 1999 | 1,113 |
| 14 |  Shimon Peres | Nov 4, 1995 | Jun 18, 1996 | 227 |
| 13 |  Yitzhak Rabin | Jul 13, 1992 | Nov 4, 1995 | 1,209 |
| 12 |  Isaac Shamir | Oct 20, 1986 | Jul 13, 1992 | 2,093 |
| 11 | Shimon Peres | Sep 13, 1984 | Oct 20, 1986 | 767 |
| 10 | Isaac Shamir | Oct 10, 1983 | Sep 13, 1984 | 339 |
| 9 |  Menachem Begin | Jun 20, 1977 | Oct 10, 1983 | 2,303 |
| 8 | Shimon Peres | Apr 22, 1977 | Jun 21, 1977 | 60 |
| 7 | Yitzhak Rabin | Jun 3, 1974 | Jun 20, 1977 | 1,113 |
| 6 |  Golda Meir | Mar 17, 1969 | Jun 3, 1974 | 1,904 |
| 5 |  Yigal Allon | Feb 26, 1969 | Mar 17, 1969 | 19 |
| 4 |  Levi Eshkol | Jun 26, 1963 | Feb 26, 1969 | 2,072 |
| 3 |  David Ben-Gurion | Nov 3, 1955 | Jun 26, 1963 | 2,792 |
| 2 |  Moshe Sharett | Jan 26, 1954 | Nov 3, 1955 | 646 |
| 1 | David Ben-Gurion | May 14, 1948 | Jan 26, 1954 | 2,083 |
Officeholder history via Wikidata. Multiple rows for one person indicate separate terms.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is the Prime Minister of Israel?
- Benjamin Netanyahu has been Prime Minister of Israel since Dec 29, 2022.
- How is the leader of Israel chosen?
- Israel is governed as a unitary state with a parliamentary republic. Its prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has led the country since Dec 29, 2022. Israel has had 15 prime ministers since 1948. Under the Regimes of the World classification, it counts as an electoral democracy.
- Who is the longest-serving Prime Minister of Israel?
- Benjamin Netanyahu, with 6,958 days in office across 3 terms.
- Are leaders serving longer or shorter terms in Israel?
- Across 21 completed terms, the average prime minister of Israel has served 1,306 days (about 3.6 years). Terms are getting longer: the last five completed terms averaged 1,613 days.
- Has Israel ever had a female prime minister?
- Yes. Israel has had 1 female prime minister. The first was Golda Meir, who took office in 1969.