Last Updated on May 24, 2026 by Gaurav
Italy is one of the oldest civilisations in the world and it is also home to the Roman Empire. But, Italy does have a fascinating tale to tell about its politics. There have been over 60 Prime Ministers in Italy since 1861. That’s more than other nations in the world. Indeed, Italy has had 37 Prime Ministers in its first 60 years.
Whether you’re a student, a GK enthusiast, or simply curious about world politics, this list of Prime Ministers of Italy (1861 – 2026) will help you understand the political landscape of the country and how it has changed over the years.
READ| List of Presidents of the United States (1789-2026)
List of Prime Ministers of Italy: From Kingdom to Republic
Italy became a unified country in the year 1861. From 1861 to 1946, it was ruled as a monarchy. In this period, there have been 30 Prime Ministers in 67 governments.
Benito Mussolini was the most feared leader during this time. He was in power in 1922 and served as a fascist dictator of Italy for more than 20 years, being the longest serving Prime Minister in Italian history. He was removed from power in 1943.
Complete List of Prime Ministers of Italy (Kingdom to Republic)
| No. | Prime Minister | Tenure |
| 1 | Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour | March 1861 to June 1861 |
| 2 | Bettino Ricasoli | June 1861 to March 1862 |
| 3 | Urbano Rattazzi | March 1862 to December 1862 |
| 4 | Luigi Carlo Farini | December 1862 to March 1863 |
| 5 | Marco Minghetti | March 1863 to September 1864 |
| 6 | Alfonso Ferrero La Marmora | September 1864 to June 1866 |
| 7 | Bettino Ricasoli (2nd term) | June 1866 to April 1867 |
| 8 | Urbano Rattazzi (2nd term) | April 1867 to October 1867 |
| 9 | Federico Luigi Menabrea | October 1867 to December 1869 |
| 10 | Giovanni Lanza | December 1869 to July 1873 |
| 11 | Marco Minghetti (2nd term) | July 1873 to March 1876 |
| 12 | Agostino Depretis | March 1876 to March 1878 |
| 13 | Benedetto Cairoli | March 1878 to December 1878 |
| 14 | Agostino Depretis (2nd term) | December 1878 to July 1879 |
| 15 | Benedetto Cairoli (2nd term) | July 1879 to May 1881 |
| 16 | Agostino Depretis (3rd term) | May 1881 to July 1887 |
| 17 | Francesco Crispi | July 1887 to February 1891 |
| 18 | Antonio di Rudini | February 1891 to May 1892 |
| 19 | Giovanni Giolitti | May 1892 to December 1893 |
| 20 | Francesco Crispi (2nd term) | December 1893 to March 1896 |
| 21 | Antonio di Rudini (2nd term) | March 1896 to June 1898 |
| 22 | Luigi Pelloux | June 1898 to June 1900 |
| 23 | Giuseppe Saracco | June 1900 to February 1901 |
| 24 | Giuseppe Zanardelli | February 1901 to November 1903 |
| 25 | Giovanni Giolitti (2nd term) | November 1903 to March 1905 |
| 26 | Tommaso Tittoni | March 1905 to March 1905 (only 16 days) |
| 27 | Alessandro Fortis | March 1905 to February 1906 |
| 28 | Sidney Sonnino | February 1906 to May 1906 |
| 29 | Giovanni Giolitti (3rd term) | May 1906 to December 1909 |
| 30 | Sidney Sonnino (2nd term) | December 1909 to March 1910 |
| 31 | Luigi Luzzatti | March 1910 to March 1911 |
| 32 | Giovanni Giolitti (4th term) | March 1911 to March 1914 |
| 33 | Antonio Salandra | March 1914 to June 1916 |
| 34 | Paolo Boselli | June 1916 to October 1917 |
| 35 | Vittorio Emanuele Orlando | October 1917 to June 1919 |
| 36 | Francesco Saverio Nitti | June 1919 to June 1920 |
| 37 | Giovanni Giolitti (5th term) | June 1920 to July 1921 |
| 38 | Ivanoe Bonomi | July 1921 to February 1922 |
| 39 | Luigi Facta | February 1922 to October 1922 |
| 40 | Benito Mussolini | October 1922 to July 1943 |
| 41 | Pietro Badoglio | July 1943 to June 1944 |
| 42 | Ivanoe Bonomi (2nd term) | June 1944 to June 1945 |
| 43 | Ferruccio Parri | June 1945 to December 1945 |
| 44 | Alcide De Gasperi | December 1945 to July 1946 |
A national referendum was held in 1946 and the country became a democratic republic after World War II. The office of Prime Minister has since been a democratic office, whose role is governed by the Italian constitution.
Complete List of Prime Ministers of Italy (1946 – 2026)
Here is a simplified list of key Prime Ministers of the Italian Republic:
| No. | Prime Minister | Party | Tenure |
| 1 | Alcide De Gasperi | Christian Democracy | 1945 to 1953 |
| 2 | Giuseppe Pella | Christian Democracy | 1953 to 1954 |
| 3 | Amintore Fanfani | Christian Democracy | Multiple terms (1954 to 1987) |
| 4 | Aldo Moro | Christian Democracy | 1963 to 1968, 1974 to 1976 |
| 5 | Giulio Andreotti | Christian Democracy | Multiple terms (1972 to 1992) |
| 6 | Bettino Craxi | Italian Socialist Party | 1983 to 1987 |
| 7 | Silvio Berlusconi | Forza Italia | 1994 to 1995, 2001 to 2006, 2008 to 2011 |
| 8 | Romano Prodi | Olive Tree | 1996 to 1998, 2006 to 2008 |
| 9 | Matteo Renzi | Democratic Party | 2014 to 2016 |
| 10 | Giuseppe Conte | Independent | 2018 to 2021 |
| 11 | Mario Draghi | Independent | 2021 to 2022 |
| 12 | Giorgia Meloni | Brothers of Italy | 2022 to Present |
Key Prime Ministers of Italy You Should Know
1. Alcide De Gasperi (1945 to 1953)
Alcide De Gasperi, the first Prime Minister of the Italian Republic, is sometimes referred to as one of the founders of modern Italy. He was the leader of the country after World War II, contributed to the reconstruction of the economy, and was a keen advocate of European unity. He is the only Prime Minister who exercised his functions in the Kingdom of Italy and the Italian Republic.
2. Aldo Moro (1963 to 1976)
Aldo Moro was one of the key political personalities in Italy for more than 20 years. He was a bridge builder in Italian politics, and worked to unite different political parties.
3. Silvio Berlusconi (1994 to 2011)
Silvio Berlusconi is the longest serving Prime Minister in the history of the Italian Republic. He was the owner of several media outlets and a rich businessman, and got into politics in 1994 and held office as Prime Minister three times. One of the most controversial personalities in the European political scene, for his legal battles, media influence and his personality. He passed away in June 2023.
4. Mario Draghi (2021 to 2022)
Mario Draghi is one of the renowned economists. He was the president of the European Central Bank, prior to being elected as the Prime Minister of Italy. His government was a national unity government aimed at easing Italy’s economic recovery from COVID-19. In 2022 his government stepped down due to the lack of coalition.
5. Giorgia Meloni (2022 to Present)
Giorgia Meloni is the current Prime Minister of Italy and she is the first female Prime Minister in the history of the country. She assumed leadership in October 2022 after her party, Brothers of Italy, won in the September 2022 elections. She heads a right-wing coalition government and is one of the most talked-about political leaders in Europe today.
Why Does Italy Change Prime Ministers So Often?
Italy has a parliamentary system of government, in which the Prime Minister requires a coalition. There are numerous political parties and coalitions constantly change, so governments are frequently toppled as political parties pull out coalitions. That’s why Italy has had so many Prime Ministers throughout its history.
Italy’s Prime Ministers from De Gasperi’s reconstruction of the nation after World War II to Meloni’s present leadership of a modern Europe have been a significant factor in shaping not only their own country, but the whole of the European continent.
READ| List of Prime Ministers of India (1947 – Present)
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