Skip to main content

About

Prime Ministers

Prime Ministers of Australia

Every prime minister of Australia since Federation in 1901, with portraits, biographies and how the public debt changed while each was in office.

Every prime minister since 1901

  1. 31st Prime Minister · In office now

    Anthony Albanese

    Labor

    2022–present

  2. 30th Prime Minister

    Scott Morrison

    Liberal

    2018–2022

  3. 29th Prime Minister

    Malcolm Turnbull

    Liberal

    2015–2018

  4. 28th Prime Minister

    Tony Abbott

    Liberal

    2013–2015

  5. 26th Prime Minister

    Kevin Rudd

    Labor

    2007–2010; 2013

  6. 27th Prime Minister

    Julia Gillard

    Labor

    2010–2013

  7. 25th Prime Minister

    John Howard

    Liberal

    1996–2007

  8. 24th Prime Minister

    Paul Keating

    Labor

    1991–1996

  9. 23rd Prime Minister

    Bob Hawke

    Labor

    1983–1991

  10. 22nd Prime Minister

    Malcolm Fraser

    Liberal

    1975–1983

  11. 21st Prime Minister

    Gough Whitlam

    Labor

    1972–1975

  12. 20th Prime Minister

    William McMahon

    Liberal

    1971–1972

  13. 19th Prime Minister

    John Gorton

    Liberal

    1968–1971

  14. 18th Prime Minister

    John McEwen

    Country

    1967–1968

  15. 17th Prime Minister

    Harold Holt

    Liberal

    1966–1967

  16. 12th Prime Minister

    Robert Menzies

    Liberal

    1939–1941; 1949–1966

  17. 16th Prime Minister

    Ben Chifley

    Labor

    1945–1949

  18. 15th Prime Minister

    Frank Forde

    Labor

    1945

  19. 14th Prime Minister

    John Curtin

    Labor

    1941–1945

  20. 13th Prime Minister

    Arthur Fadden

    Country

    1941

  21. 11th Prime Minister

    Earle Page

    Country

    1939

  22. 10th Prime Minister

    Joseph Lyons

    United Australia

    1932–1939

  23. 9th Prime Minister

    James Scullin

    Labor

    1929–1932

  24. 8th Prime Minister

    Stanley Bruce

    Nationalist

    1923–1929

  25. 7th Prime Minister

    Billy Hughes

    Nationalist

    1915–1923

  26. 5th Prime Minister

    Andrew Fisher

    Labor

    1908–1909; 1910–1913; 1914–1915

  27. 6th Prime Minister

    Joseph Cook

    Commonwealth Liberal

    1913–1914

  28. 2nd Prime Minister

    Alfred Deakin

    Commonwealth Liberal

    1903–1904; 1905–1908; 1909–1910

  29. 4th Prime Minister

    George Reid

    Free Trade

    1904–1905

  30. 3rd Prime Minister

    Chris Watson

    Labor

    1904

  31. 1st Prime Minister

    Edmund Barton

    Protectionist

    1901–1903

National debt by prime minister

How Australia's public debt changed under every prime minister, measured the same way for all of them: as a share of the economy (GDP), and in dollars where GDP figures exist.

Updated 11 Oct 2026
Portrait of Anthony Albanese

31st Prime Minister · In office now

Anthony Albanese

Labor · Since 23 May 2022

Debt to GDP, taking office (end-2021)
55.5%
Latest (end-2024)
49.8%
Change so far
-5.7 points
Public debt, end-2024
$1.33 trillion

Every ministry since 1901

  1. 30Scott Morrison Liberal · 2018–2022
    +13.7 pts
    Debt to GDP
    41.8% → 55.5%
    Measured at
    end-2018 → end-2021
    In dollars (at the time)
    $772.9 billion → $1.16 trillion
  2. 29Malcolm Turnbull Liberal · 2015–2018
    +4.1 pts
    Debt to GDP
    37.7% → 41.8%
    Measured at
    end-2015 → end-2018
    In dollars (at the time)
    $614.8 billion → $772.9 billion
  3. 28Tony Abbott Liberal · 2013–2015
    +7.2 pts
    Debt to GDP
    30.5% → 37.7%
    Measured at
    end-2013 → end-2015
    In dollars (at the time)
    $470.8 billion → $614.8 billion
  4. 26Kevin Rudd Labor · 2013 · Term 2 of 2
    +3 pts
    Debt to GDP
    27.5% → 30.5%
    Measured at
    end-2012 → end-2013
    In dollars (at the time)
    $414.1 billion → $470.8 billion
  5. 27Julia Gillard Labor · 2010–2013
    +10.9 pts
    Debt to GDP
    16.6% → 27.5%
    Measured at
    end-2009 → end-2012
    In dollars (at the time)
    $210.1 billion → $414.1 billion
  6. 26Kevin Rudd Labor · 2007–2010 · Term 1 of 2
    +6.9 pts
    Debt to GDP
    9.7% → 16.6%
    Measured at
    end-2007 → end-2009
    In dollars (at the time)
    $105.8 billion → $210.1 billion
  7. 25John Howard Liberal · 1996–2007
    -21.4 pts
    Debt to GDP
    31.1% → 9.7%
    Measured at
    end-1995 → end-2007
    In dollars (at the time)
    $154.4 billion → $105.8 billion
  8. 24Paul Keating Labor · 1991–1996
    +9.5 pts
    Debt to GDP
    21.6% → 31.1%
    Measured at
    end-1991 → end-1995
    In dollars (at the time)
    $89.8 billion → $154.4 billion
  9. 23Bob Hawke Labor · 1983–1991
    +4.8 pts
    Debt to GDP
    16.8% → 21.6%
    Measured at
    end-1982 → end-1991
    In dollars (at the time)
    $29.6 billion → $89.8 billion
  10. 22Malcolm Fraser Liberal · 1975–1983
    -6.8 pts
    Debt to GDP
    23.6% → 16.8%
    Measured at
    end-1975 → end-1982
    In dollars (at the time)
    $16.8 billion → $29.6 billion
  11. 21Gough Whitlam Labor · 1972–1975
    -7.1 pts
    Debt to GDP
    30.7% → 23.6%
    Measured at
    end-1972 → end-1975
    In dollars (at the time)
    $13.7 billion → $16.8 billion
  12. 20William McMahon Liberal · 1971–1972
    -4.2 pts
    Debt to GDP
    34.9% → 30.7%
    Measured at
    end-1970 → end-1972
    In dollars (at the time)
    $12.9 billion → $13.7 billion
  13. 19John Gorton Liberal · 1968–1971
    -5.6 pts
    Debt to GDP
    40.5% → 34.9%
    Measured at
    end-1967 → end-1970
    In dollars (at the time)
    $11.0 billion → $12.9 billion
  14. 18John McEwen Country · 1967–1968
    +0 pts
    Debt to GDP
    40.5% → 40.5%
    Measured at
    end-1967 → end-1967
    In dollars (at the time)
    $11.0 billion → $11.0 billion
  15. 17Harold Holt Liberal · 1966–1967
    -3.2 pts
    Debt to GDP
    43.7% → 40.5%
    Measured at
    end-1965 → end-1967
    In dollars (at the time)
    $10.2 billion → $11.0 billion
  16. 12Robert Menzies Liberal · 1949–1966 · Term 2 of 2
    -21.7 pts
    Debt to GDP
    65.4% → 43.7%
    Measured at
    end-1949 → end-1965
  17. 16Ben Chifley Labor · 1945–1949
    -24.3 pts
    Debt to GDP
    89.7% → 65.4%
    Measured at
    end-1945 → end-1949
  18. 15Frank Forde Labor · 1945
    +0 pts
    Debt to GDP
    89.7% → 89.7%
    Measured at
    end-1945 → end-1945
  19. 14John Curtin Labor · 1941–1945
    +23.2 pts
    Debt to GDP
    66.5% → 89.7%
    Measured at
    end-1941 → end-1945
  20. 13Arthur Fadden Country · 1941
    +0 pts
    Debt to GDP
    66.5% → 66.5%
    Measured at
    end-1941 → end-1941
  21. 12Robert Menzies United Australia · 1939–1941 · Term 1 of 2
    -2.2 pts
    Debt to GDP
    68.7% → 66.5%
    Measured at
    end-1938 → end-1941
  22. 11Earle Page Country · 1939
    +0 pts
    Debt to GDP
    68.7% → 68.7%
    Measured at
    end-1938 → end-1938
  23. 10Joseph Lyons United Australia · 1932–1939
    -21.1 pts
    Debt to GDP
    89.8% → 68.7%
    Measured at
    end-1931 → end-1938
  24. 9James Scullin Labor · 1929–1932
    +26 pts
    Debt to GDP
    63.8% → 89.8%
    Measured at
    end-1929 → end-1931
  25. 8Stanley Bruce Nationalist · 1923–1929
    +0.4 pts
    Debt to GDP
    63.4% → 63.8%
    Measured at
    end-1922 → end-1929
  26. 7Billy Hughes Nationalist · 1915–1923
    +19 pts
    Debt to GDP
    44.4% → 63.4%
    Measured at
    end-1915 → end-1922
  27. 5Andrew Fisher Labor · 1914–1915 · Term 3 of 3
    +6.3 pts
    Debt to GDP
    38.1% → 44.4%
    Measured at
    end-1914 → end-1915
  28. 6Joseph Cook Commonwealth Liberal · 1913–1914
    +0.7 pts
    Debt to GDP
    37.4% → 38.1%
    Measured at
    end-1912 → end-1914
  29. 5Andrew Fisher Labor · 1910–1913 · Term 2 of 3
    -3.2 pts
    Debt to GDP
    40.6% → 37.4%
    Measured at
    end-1909 → end-1912
  30. 2Alfred Deakin Commonwealth Liberal · 1909–1910 · Term 3 of 3
    -1.8 pts
    Debt to GDP
    42.4% → 40.6%
    Measured at
    end-1908 → end-1909
  31. 5Andrew Fisher Labor · 1908–1909 · Term 1 of 3
    +0 pts
    Debt to GDP
    42.4% → 42.4%
    Measured at
    end-1908 → end-1908
  32. 2Alfred Deakin Protectionist · 1905–1908 · Term 2 of 3
    -6.7 pts
    Debt to GDP
    49.1% → 42.4%
    Measured at
    end-1905 → end-1908
  33. 4George Reid Free Trade · 1904–1905
    +1.2 pts
    Debt to GDP
    47.9% → 49.1%
    Measured at
    end-1904 → end-1905
  34. 3Chris Watson Labor · 1904
    -1.8 pts
    Debt to GDP
    49.7% → 47.9%
    Measured at
    end-1903 → end-1904
  35. 2Alfred Deakin Protectionist · 1903–1904 · Term 1 of 3
    +0 pts
    Debt to GDP
    49.7% → 49.7%
    Measured at
    end-1903 → end-1903
  36. 1Edmund Barton Protectionist · 1901–1903
    -1.2 pts
    Debt to GDP
    50.9% → 49.7%
    Measured at
    end-1900 → end-1903

How this is measured: gross public debt of all levels of government (Commonwealth, state and local combined) as a share of GDP at the year-end nearest each change of prime minister. From 1950 the figures are the IMF Global Debt Database's general government debt; earlier years use the IMF's historical public debt series. Dollar amounts apply that share to the year's GDP (World Bank, from 1960) and are not adjusted for inflation; the share of GDP is the comparable measure. A sitting prime minister is measured to the latest year available. Prime ministers do not borrow alone: Parliament passes every budget, and wars, recessions and interest rates shape the numbers. Updated automatically every month. See the live national debt clock.

Back to top