The prime minister of Jamaica () is Jamaica's head of government, currently Andrew Holness. Holness, as leader of the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), was sworn in as prime minister on 16 September 2025, having been re-elected as a result of the JLP's victory in the 2025 general election.
The prime minister is formally appointed into office by the governor-general, who represents .
Official residence and office
thumb|Front Lawns of Vale Royal
The prime minister of Jamaica's official residence is Vale Royal. The property was constructed in 1694 by the planter Sir William Taylor, one of Jamaica's richest men at the time. In 1928 the property was sold to the government and became the official residence of the British colonial secretary (then Sir Reginald Edward Stubbs). Vale Royal has subsequently become the official residence of the prime minister. Vale Royal is not open to the public.
has been the location of the Office of the Prime Minister since 1972. Prime ministers resided there from 1964 until 1980.
Chief ministers of Jamaica (1953–1959)
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! rowspan=2| Chief Minister<br />
! colspan=3| Term of office
! rowspan=2| Political party
! rowspan=2| Election
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! Took office
! Left office
! Time in office
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Premiers of Jamaica (1959–1962)
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! rowspan=2| Portrait
! rowspan=2| Premier<br />
! colspan=3| Term of office
! rowspan=2| Political party
! rowspan=2| Election
|-
! Took office
! Left office
! Time in office
|}
Prime ministers of Jamaica (1962–present)
Key:
Died in office
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! rowspan=2| Portrait
! rowspan=2| Prime Minister<br />
! colspan=3| Term of office
! rowspan=2| Political party
! rowspan=2| Election
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! Took office
! Left office
! Time in office
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Timeline
By tenure
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%;" cellpadding=2 cellspacing=2
|-
! Rank by<br />length<br />of terms !! Prime Minister !! Took office !! Left office !! Length by<br />time served !! Administrations !! Elected !! Political affiliation <br />
|-
| 1 || P. J. Patterson || 30 March 1992 || 30 March 2006 || 14 years || 1 || 1993<br />1997<br />2002 || People's National Party
|-
| 2 || Michael Manley || 2 March 1972<br />10 February 1989 || 1 November 1980<br />30 March 1992 || 11 years, 292 days<br /><small>(8 years, 244 days;<br />3 years, 48 days)</small> || 2 || 1972<br />1976<br />1989 || People's National Party
|-
| 3|| Andrew Holness <br />(incumbent) || 23 October 2011<br />3 March 2016 || 5 January 2012<br />present || | <br /><small>(74 days;<br />)</small> || 2 ||2016<br />2020 2025|| Jamaica Labour Party
|-
| 4|| Edward Seaga || 1 November 1980 || 10 February 1989 || 8 years, 101 days || 1 || 1980<br />1983|| Jamaica Labour Party
|-
| 5 || Portia Simpson Miller || 30 March 2006<br />5 January 2012 || 11 September 2007<br />3 March 2016 || 5 years, 223 days <br /><small>(1 year, 165 days;<br />)</small> || 2 || 2011 || People's National Party
|-
| 6 || Hugh Shearer || 11 April 1967 || 2 March 1972 || 4 years, 326 days || 1 || || Jamaica Labour Party
|-
| 7 || Alexander Bustamante || 29 April 1962 || 23 February 1967 || 4 years, 201 days || 1 || 1962 || Jamaica Labour Party
|-
| 8 || Bruce Golding || 11 September 2007 || 23 October 2011 || 4 years, 42 days || 1 || 2007 || Jamaica Labour Party
|-
| 9 || Donald Sangster || 23 February 1967 || 11 April 1967 || 47 days || 1 || 1967 || Jamaica Labour Party
|}
By education
{| class="sortable wikitable"
|-
! Prime Minister
! Term of office
! School
! University
! Degree
! Professional training
|-
<!-- 1 These numbers are not part of the official numbering scheme. They are here only to provide a better visual separation when editing this page -->
| Alexander Bustamante
| 1953–1955<br>1962–1967
| —
| —
|
|
|-
<!-- 2 -->
| Norman Manley
| 1955–1962
| Wolmer's School<br>Beckford & Smith High School<br>Jamaica College
| University of Oxford (Jesus Coll.)
| Law<small><br>B.C.L.</small>
| Inns of Court: Gray's Inn
|-
<!-- 3 -->
| Donald Sangster
| 1967
| Munro College
| —
|
|Correspondence course in bookkeeping and accounting
|-
<!-- 4 -->
| Hugh Shearer
| 1967–1972
| St Simon's College
| —
|
|
|-
<!-- 5 -->
| Michael Manley
| 1980–1980<br>1989–1992
| Jamaica College
| London School of Economics
| Economics<br><small>B.Sc. 1949</small>
|
|-
<!-- 6 -->
| Edward Seaga
| 1980–1989
| Wolmer's School
| Harvard University
| Social Sciences<br><small>A.B. 1952</small>
|
|-
<!-- 7 -->
| rowspan=2|P. J. Patterson
| rowspan=2|1992–2006
| rowspan=2|Calabar High School
| University College of the West Indies
| English<br><small>B.A. 1958</small>
| rowspan=2|Inns of Court: Middle Temple
|-
| London School of Economics
| Law<br><small>L.L.B. 1963</small>
|-
<!-- 8 -->
| Portia Simpson-Miller
| 2006–2007<br>2012–2016
| St Catherine High School<br>St Martin's High School
| Union Institute & University
| Public Administration<br><small>B.A. 1997</small>
|
|-
<!-- 9 -->
| Bruce Golding
| 2007–2011
| St George's College<br>Jamaica College
| University of the West Indies
| Economics<br><small>B.Sc. 1969</small>
|
|-
<!-- 10 -->
| rowspan=2|Andrew Holness
| rowspan=2|2011–2012<br>2016–present
| rowspan=2|St Catherine High School
| University of the West Indies
| Management Studies<br><small>B.Sc.</small><br>Development Studies<br><small>M.Sc.</small>
| rowspan=2|
|-
| Northeastern University
| Law and Policy<br><small>D.L.P. 2024</small>
|}
See also
- History of Jamaica
- Politics of Jamaica
- List of governors of Jamaica
- Governor-General of Jamaica
- List of heads of state of Jamaica
- Deputy Prime Minister of Jamaica
- List of prime ministers of Elizabeth II
- List of prime ministers of Charles III
- List of Commonwealth heads of government
- Privy Council of Jamaica
- List of Privy Counsellors (1952–2022)
- List of Privy Counsellors (2022–present)
- Prime Minister of the West Indies Federation
References
External links
- Government of Jamaica - Office of the Prime Minister - Official website