Prime Ministers And Living Ex-Prime Ministers

This table shows how many former prime ministers were alive during the terms of subsequent prime ministers.

The record was created on two occasions in the 1940s, when eight former prime ministers were alive.

The first occasion was in Oct-Nov 1941, during the first five weeks of John Curtin’s prime ministership. Fadden, Menzies, Page, Scullin, Bruce, Hughes, Cook and Watson were still living. Five of the ex-leaders remained in parliament at that time, including Menzies, who would return as PM in 1949.

The second occasion was the period between July 1945 and July 1947, the first two years of Ben Chifley’s prime ministership. Forde, Fadden, Menzies, Page, Scullin, Bruce, Hughes and Cook were still living. For most of this period, six of the ex-leaders were still in parliament.

Three prime ministers (Lyons, Curtin and Holt) have died in office. Two former prime ministers (Chifley and Hughes) were still in parliament when they died.

Currently, all seven former prime ministers since December 20, 1991 are still living: Keating, Howard, Rudd, Gillard, Abbott, Turnbull and Morrison. Following Morrison’s defeat at the May 21, 2022 election, he was the only former prime minister remaining in parliament. He resigned from parliament on February 28, 2024.

The table shows the dates and names of every living ex-prime minister during the term of every incumbent PM. A name in bold indicates that the former PM was still in parliament. A date indicates when the PM left parliament.

• Complete lists of all living former Prime Ministers, Premiers and Chief Ministers