List of Nepal Prime Ministers (1951-2026)
Balendra 'Balen' Shah was sworn in as Nepal’s prime minister on 27 March 2026 . This article compiles the full List of Nepal Prime Ministers from the 1951 transition era to the present.
Quick snapshot: List of Nepal Prime Ministers — key facts
- Nepal’s political system changed from monarchy to republic when the monarchy was abolished in 2008 . That made the prime minister the head of government appointed by Parliament.
- The article you are reading cites 39 prime ministers including interim leaders, but public lists count more individual terms (see verification section). I flag that discrepancy below.
- Current prime minister: Balendra (Balen) Shah, 35 , sworn in on 27 March 2026 . He leads the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), which the article reports won 182 of 275 House seats in the general election held 5 March 2024 .
- Key recent events: mass Gen Z protests in early September 2025 led to unrest; K.P. Sharma Oli resigned on 9 September 2025 , and clashes on 8 September 2025 were reported to have killed at least 19 people.
How Nepal's political eras shaped the office (1951–present)
Transition era (1951–1960): After the end of Rana rule, Nepal experimented with parliamentary politics. The first elected prime minister, Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala, took office on 27 May 1959 . But the PM was still formally accountable to the King.
Panchayat partyless era (1960–1990): A royal coup in 1960 established the Panchayat system — a partyless political model. Prime ministers were chosen by the monarch and parties were banned.
Constitutional monarchy (1990–2008): Popular movements returned party politics and curbed royal power. Prime ministers came from political parties; the office saw frequent changes and repeated terms by the same leaders.
Federal Democratic Republic (2008–present): The monarchy was abolished in 2008 . The prime minister is now the head of government, chosen by Parliament. Coalition politics and short-lived governments have continued to shape the office.
Complete chronological List of Nepal Prime Ministers (1951–2026)
Below is a chronological table compiled from official-era reports and published lists. It shows name, party/affiliation (where reported) and the dates recorded in public reports. Note: some leaders served multiple times; interims and direct royal rule are marked.
| No. | Name | Party / Affiliation | Took office | Left office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matrika Prasad Koirala | Nepali Congress | 16 Nov 1951 | 14 Aug 1952 | Transition era |
| 2 | Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah | Direct rule by King | 14 Aug 1952 | 15 Jun 1953 | Monarch exercised direct power |
| 3 | Matrika Prasad Koirala | Rashtriya Praja Party | 15 Jun 1953 | 11 Apr 1955 | Returned to office |
| 4 | Surya Bahadur Thapa | Rashtriya Praja Party | 11 Apr 1955 | 14 Apr 1955 | Short term |
| 5 | Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah | Direct rule by King | 14 Apr 1955 | 27 Jan 1956 | Royal administration |
| 6 | Tanka Prasad Acharya | Nepal Praja Parishad | 27 Jan 1956 | 26 Jul 1957 | Transition era |
| 7 | Kunwar Inderjit Singh | United Democratic Party | 26 Jul 1957 | 15 May 1958 | Transition era |
| 8 | Subarna Shamsher Rana | Nepali Congress | 15 May 1958 | 27 May 1959 | Transition era |
| 9 | Bishweshwar Prasad (B.P.) Koirala | Nepali Congress | 27 May 1959 | 15 Dec 1960 | First elected PM |
| 10 | Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah | — | 15 Dec 1960 | 2 Apr 1963 | Start of Panchayat era |
| 11 | Tulsi Giri | — | 2 Apr 1963 | 23 Dec 1963 | Panchayat era |
| 12 | Surya Bahadur Thapa | — | 23 Dec 1963 | 26 Feb 1964 | Panchayat era |
| 13 | Tulsi Giri | — | 26 Feb 1964 | 26 Jan 1965 | Panchayat era |
| 14 | Surya Bahadur Thapa | — | 26 Jan 1965 | 7 Apr 1969 | Panchayat era |
| 15 | Kirti Nidhi Bista | — | 7 Apr 1969 | 13 Apr 1970 | Panchayat era |
| 16 | Gehendra Bahadur Rajbhandari | — | 13 Apr 1970 | 14 Apr 1971 | Panchayat era |
| 17 | Kirti Nidhi Bista | — | 14 Apr 1971 | 16 Jul 1973 | Panchayat era |
| 18 | Nagendra Prasad Rijal | — | 16 Jul 1973 | 1 Dec 1975 | Panchayat era |
| 19 | Tulsi Giri | — | 1 Dec 1975 | 12 Sep 1977 | Panchayat era |
| 20 | Kirti Nidhi Bista | — | 12 Sep 1977 | 30 May 1979 | Panchayat era |
| 21 | Surya Bahadur Thapa | — | 30 May 1979 | 12 Jul 1983 | Panchayat era |
| 22 | Lokendra Bahadur Chand | — | 12 Jul 1983 | 21 Mar 1986 | Panchayat era |
| 23 | Nagendra Prasad Rijal | — | 21 Mar 1986 | 15 Jun 1986 | Panchayat era |
| 24 | Marich Man Singh Shrestha | — | 15 Jun 1986 | 6 Apr 1990 | Last Panchayat PM |
| 25 | Lokendra Bahadur Chand | — | 6 Apr 1990 | 19 Apr 1990 | Transition to constitutional monarchy |
| 26 | Krishna Prasad Bhattarai | Nepali Congress | 6 Apr 1990 | 26 May 1991 | Constitutional monarchy begins |
| 27 | Girija Prasad Koirala | Nepali Congress | 26 May 1991 | 30 Nov 1994 | |
| 28 | Man Mohan Adhikari | Communist Party of Nepal | 30 Nov 1994 | 12 Sep 1995 | |
| 29 | Sher Bahadur Deuba | Nepali Congress | 12 Sep 1995 | 12 Mar 1997 | |
| 30 | Lokendra Bahadur Chand | Rastriya Prajatantra Party (Chand) | 12 Mar 1997 | 7 Oct 1997 | |
| 31 | Surya Bahadur Thapa | Rastriya Prajatantra Party | 7 Oct 1997 | 15 Apr 1998 | |
| 32 | Girija Prasad Koirala | Nepali Congress | 15 Apr 1998 | 31 May 1999 | |
| 33 | Krishna Prasad Bhattarai | Nepali Congress | 31 May 1999 | 22 Mar 2000 | |
| 34 | Girija Prasad Koirala | Nepali Congress | 22 Mar 2000 | 26 Jul 2001 | |
| 35 | Sher Bahadur Deuba | Nepali Congress | 26 Jul 2001 | 4 Oct 2002 | |
| 36 | Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah | — | 4 Oct 2002 | 11 Oct 2002 | Royal takeover period |
| 37 | Lokendra Bahadur Chand | Rastriya Prajatantra Party | 11 Oct 2002 | 5 Jun 2003 | |
| 38 | Surya Bahadur Thapa | Rastriya Prajatantra Party | 5 Jun 2003 | 3 Jun 2004 | |
| 39 | Sher Bahadur Deuba | Nepali Congress | 3 Jun 2004 | 1 Feb 2005 | |
| 40 | Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah | — | 1 Feb 2005 | 25 Apr 2006 | Direct royal rule resumed briefly |
| 41 | Girija Prasad Koirala | Nepali Congress | 25 Apr 2006 | 28 May 2008 | Transition to republic |
| 42 | Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) | Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) | 18 Aug 2008 | 25 May 2009 | First PM in republic era |
| 43 | Madhav Kumar Nepal | Communist Party of Nepal (UML) | 25 May 2009 | 6 Feb 2011 | |
| 44 | Jhala Nath Khanal | Communist Party of Nepal (UML) | 6 Feb 2011 | 29 Aug 2011 | |
| 45 | Baburam Bhattarai | Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) | 29 Aug 2011 | 14 Mar 2013 | |
| 46 | Khil Raj Regmi | Independent | 14 Mar 2013 | 11 Feb 2014 | Interim head (judicial-administration) |
| 47 | Sushil Koirala | Nepali Congress | 11 Feb 2014 | 12 Oct 2015 | |
| 48 | K.P. Sharma Oli | Communist Party of Nepal (UML) | 12 Oct 2015 | 4 Aug 2016 | First Oli term (post-2015 constitution) |
| 49 | Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) | Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) | 4 Aug 2016 | 7 Jun 2017 | |
| 50 | Sher Bahadur Deuba | Nepali Congress | 7 Jun 2017 | 15 Feb 2018 | |
| 51 | K.P. Sharma Oli | Communist Party of Nepal (UML) | 15 Feb 2018 | 13 May 2021 | Oli re-elected |
| 52 | K.P. Sharma Oli | Communist Party of Nepal (UML) | 13 May 2021 | 13 Jul 2021 | Brief continuity / constitutional challenge |
| 53 | Sher Bahadur Deuba | Nepali Congress | 13 Jul 2021 | 26 Dec 2022 | |
| 54 | Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) | Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) | 26 Dec 2022 | 15 Jul 2024 | |
| 55 | K.P. Sharma Oli | Communist Party of Nepal (UML) | 15 Jul 2024 | 9 Sep 2025 | Resigned amid protests |
| 56 | Sushila Karki | Independent / Interim | Late 2025 – 27 Mar 2026 | Interim | Served as interim prime minister leading up to 2026 transition (dates vary across reports) |
| 57 | Balendra 'Balen' Shah | Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) | 27 Mar 2026 | Incumbent | Youngest PM at 35 |
Notes on the table: I used the publicly reported dates and party names. Several leaders served multiple non-consecutive terms; I list each term separately. Where the monarch directly ruled or a PM served as an interim, the table records that role.
Why the total count varies (verification note)
Public references sometimes say Nepal has had 39 prime ministers including interims. Counting every separate term and short interim raises that number well above 39. The difference comes from two practices:
- Some lists count individual persons only once even if they served multiple times. Others count each term separately.
- Interim or acting heads (including brief royal administrations) are counted differently across sources.
I flag this so you know why different lists show different totals. For precise official counts, check parliamentary records or government archives.
Spotlight: Recent timeline (2014–2026) and key transitions
The last decade has seen rapid changes and repeat premiers. Below is a compact timeline you can scan quickly.
| Period | Prime Minister | Party | Key point |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–2015 | Sushil Koirala | Nepali Congress | Post-2013 elections; served until 12 Oct 2015 |
| 2015–2016 | K.P. Sharma Oli | CPN (UML) | Took office 12 Oct 2015 |
| 2016–2017 | Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) | Maoist Centre | Coalition shift |
| 2017–2018 | Sher Bahadur Deuba | Nepali Congress | Short term before 2018 polls |
| 2018–2021 | K.P. Sharma Oli | CPN (UML) | Elected on majority; multiple constitutional fights |
| 2021–2022 | Sher Bahadur Deuba | Nepali Congress | Returned to power 13 July 2021 |
| 2022–2024 | Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) | Maoist Centre | Took office 26 Dec 2022 |
| 2024–2025 | K.P. Sharma Oli | CPN (UML) | Reassumed office 15 July 2024; resigned 9 Sep 2025 |
| Late 2025 – Mar 2026 | Sushila Karki (interim) | Interim | Led transitional arrangements ahead of 2026 swearing-in |
| 27 Mar 2026 – | Balendra 'Balen' Shah | RSP | Youngest PM; leads Rastriya Swatantra Party majority |
This shorter timeline helps you follow the key shifts. The Gen Z protests in September 2025 accelerated the change from Oli to interim arrangements and then to the 2026 formation.
Balen Shah: profile and significance
Balendra 'Balen' Shah is a high-profile entrant into national politics. Reported background details from public coverage include:
- Professionally known as a structural engineer and as an artist. He served as Mayor of Kathmandu from 2022 to 2026 .
- Political party: Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). Public reports record a strong performance in the 5 March 2024 general election; the RSP is reported to have won 182 of 275 seats in the House of Representatives.
- Historic notes: At 35 , he is reported as the youngest prime minister in Nepal’s history. Coverage also mentions him as the first PM reported to be of Madheshi origin in mainstream accounts.
- Immediate agenda mentioned in reporting includes anti-corruption measures, infrastructure focus, and economic stabilization — consistent with the RSP’s campaign themes and the youth-led mandate after the Gen Z protests.
What led to the 2025–2026 change: Gen Z protests and Oli's resignation
In early September 2025 , mass protests organised largely by young people (widely described as the “Gen Z protests”) challenged the government. Major triggers cited in coverage included frustration over alleged corruption, economic problems, and restrictions on social media.
Clashes escalated on 8 September 2025 ; reports state at least 19 people were killed in police clashes on that day. Following the unrest, K.P. Sharma Oli resigned on 9 September 2025 . That resignation set in motion interim arrangements and a reordering of national politics that culminated in the 27 March 2026 swearing-in of Balendra Shah.
Data, verification gaps and sources to check
Where this article follows published reports, I also highlight areas where you should check primary records:
- Total count of prime ministers: some public pages say 39 including interims; counting individual terms gives a larger number. Check official parliamentary lists to resolve this.
- Election seat numbers: the RSP’s 182 of 275 seats figure is reported across media; verify with the Election Commission of Nepal for official confirmation.
- Exact interim tenure dates: Sushila Karki and other short-term heads appear in reports with varying start/end dates. Parliament records will give exact dates.
- Protest fatality figures: the “at least 19” deaths on 8 September 2025 come from news accounts; for official tolls consult investigation or government briefings.
Primary places to verify: official Parliament of Nepal records, the Election Commission of Nepal, and formal government announcements. International press and investigative reports can provide corroboration on events such as protests and resignations.
Takeaway for students and quick context
Nepal’s prime ministership has been shaped by major constitutional shifts: end of Rana rule, Panchayat partyless system, return to party politics, and the 2008 republic. That history explains why the office changed hands often and why some leaders served multiple times.
Right now, the focus is on Balendra 'Balen' Shah (RSP), sworn in 27 March 2026 after a turbulent period marked by youth-led protests and the resignation of K.P. Sharma Oli. Watch official parliamentary updates and Election Commission releases for the clearest, most reliable records.
FAQs
Q: Who is the current Prime Minister of Nepal? A: Balendra 'Balen' Shah (Balen Shah) was sworn in on 27 March 2026 and is the incumbent.
Q: Who was the first elected Prime Minister of Nepal? A: Bishweshwar Prasad (B.P.) Koirala became the first elected prime minister on 27 May 1959 .
Q: When was the monarchy abolished in Nepal? A: The monarchy was abolished and Nepal became a federal democratic republic in 2008 .
Q: How many prime ministers has Nepal had? A: Public reports cite 39 prime ministers including interim leaders, but counting each separate term raises that number. Official parliamentary lists give the definitive count.
Q: Why did K.P. Sharma Oli resign? A: K.P. Sharma Oli resigned on 9 September 2025 after mass protests (the Gen Z protests) and significant public unrest.
Q: What is the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP)? A: The RSP is the party led by Balendra 'Balen' Shah. Public reports state the RSP won 182 of 275 House seats in the general election held 5 March 2024 .
Q: Is Balen Shah the youngest prime minister? A: Reports list Balendra 'Balen' Shah as the youngest prime minister at 35 .
Q: Where can I check official dates and election results? A: For verified records, consult the official Parliament of Nepal website and the Election Commission of Nepal. Those hold formal dates, gazette notifications and certified election results.
(Article first published and last updated Mar 27, 2026, 14:23 IST in public reports.)