🇲🇹 Malta
Parliamentary democracyElectoral democracy
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Robert Abela
Prime Minister · 2,481 days in office
How the political system works in Malta
Malta is governed as a parliamentary democracy. Its prime minister, Robert Abela, has led the country since Jan 1, 2020. Malta has had 14 prime ministers since 1921. Under the Regimes of the World classification, it counts as an electoral democracy.
Tenure records
Longest-serving
Dom Mintoff
6,075 days · 2 terms
Shortest-serving
Enrico Mizzi
110 days
Average tenure
1,728 days
Robert Abela: 44% above average
Female leaders
0 of 14
All male to date
Recent prime ministers by days in office
Is a leader's tenure getting longer or shorter in Malta?
Across 17 completed terms, the average prime minister of Malta has served 1,728 days (about 4.7 years). Terms are getting longer: the last five completed terms averaged 2,387 days.
One completed term Average tenure per decade
All prime ministers of Malta
| # | Name | Took office | Left office | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 |  Robert Abela | Jan 13, 2020 | Incumbent | 2,469 |
| 17 |  Joseph Muscat | Mar 9, 2013 | Jan 13, 2020 | 2,501 |
| 16 |  Lawrence Gonzi | Mar 23, 2004 | Mar 11, 2013 | 3,275 |
| 15 |  Eddie Fenech Adami | Sep 6, 1998 | Mar 23, 2004 | 2,025 |
| 14 |  Alfred Sant | Oct 28, 1996 | Sep 6, 1998 | 678 |
| 13 | Eddie Fenech Adami | May 12, 1987 | Oct 28, 1996 | 3,457 |
| 12 | Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici | Dec 22, 1984 | May 12, 1987 | 871 |
| 11 |  Dom Mintoff | Jun 21, 1971 | Dec 22, 1984 | 4,933 |
| 10 |  George Borg Olivier | Mar 5, 1962 | Jun 21, 1971 | 3,395 |
| 9 | Dom Mintoff | Mar 11, 1955 | Apr 26, 1958 | 1,142 |
| 8 | George Borg Olivier | Dec 20, 1950 | Mar 11, 1955 | 1,542 |
| 7 |  Enrico Mizzi | Sep 1, 1950 | Dec 20, 1950 | 110 |
| 6 |  Paul Boffa | Nov 4, 1947 | Sep 26, 1950 | 1,057 |
| 5 |  Ugo Pasquale Mifsud | Jun 21, 1932 | Nov 2, 1933 | 499 |
| 4 |  Gerald Strickland, 1st Baron Strickland | Aug 9, 1927 | Jun 21, 1932 | 1,778 |
| 3 | Ugo Pasquale Mifsud | Sep 22, 1924 | Aug 1, 1927 | 1,043 |
| 2 |  Francesco Buhagiar | Oct 13, 1923 | Sep 22, 1924 | 345 |
| 1 |  Joseph Howard | Oct 26, 1921 | Oct 13, 1923 | 717 |
Officeholder history via Wikidata. Multiple rows for one person indicate separate terms.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is the Prime Minister of Malta?
- Robert Abela has been Prime Minister of Malta since Jan 1, 2020.
- How is the leader of Malta chosen?
- Malta is governed as a parliamentary democracy. Its prime minister, Robert Abela, has led the country since Jan 1, 2020. Malta has had 14 prime ministers since 1921. Under the Regimes of the World classification, it counts as an electoral democracy.
- Who is the longest-serving Prime Minister of Malta?
- Dom Mintoff, with 6,075 days in office across 2 terms.
- Are leaders serving longer or shorter terms in Malta?
- Across 17 completed terms, the average prime minister of Malta has served 1,728 days (about 4.7 years). Terms are getting longer: the last five completed terms averaged 2,387 days.
- Has Malta ever had a female prime minister?
- No. All 14 prime ministers of Malta to date have been men.