Ranking of the World's Most Highly Compensated Presidents in 2025
In 2025, the salaries of world leaders are influenced by a variety of factors, including national economic conditions, the country's wealth, exchange rates, political structures, and efforts to align salaries with public sector standards or to deter corruption.
Joe Biden, the former President of the United States, received a fixed salary of $400,000 while in office and is eligible for a pension of approximately $221,000 per year during retirement. Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada, will earn a total of $292,000 in 2025, which includes his prime ministerial and parliamentary salaries. Emmanuel Macron, the President of France in 2025, receives a salary of $205,000, adjusted for inflation and the state of the economy. Olaf Scholz, the former Chancellor of Germany, received an annual salary of $367,000.
The highest salary for a sitting head of government in 2025 is approximately $1.7 million USD, earned by Singapore’s prime minister, Lawrence Wong. Wealthier countries or city-states like Singapore tend to pay higher salaries due to their economic strength and size.
The ranking of the top ten highest-paid heads of state and government in 2025 includes:
| Rank | Leader | Country | Annual Salary (approx.) | |-------|--------------------------|-----------------|-------------------------------| | 1 | Lawrence Wong | Singapore | US$1.7 million (S$2.2 million) | | 2 | Karin Keller-Sutter | Switzerland | US$603,000 (CHF 489,688) | | 3 | Friedrich Merz | Germany | US$417,000 (€365,000) | | 4 | Anthony Albanese | Australia | US$400,000 | | 4 | Donald Trump | USA | US$400,000 | | Others in Top 10 | Austria, Belgium, Canada, New Zealand, Denmark | Salaries range around US$223,500 to US$450,000 for other leaders like Cyril Ramaphosa (South Africa: $223,500), Emmanuel Macron (France: $239,000), Justin Trudeau (Canada: $267,000), Keir Starmer (UK: $450,000), Friedrich Merz (Germany: $500,000), Ishiba Shigeru (Japan: $515,000) and others.
Singapore’s prime minister is by far the highest paid, significantly outpacing others, a factor related to Singapore’s policy of paying public servants competitive salaries to attract and retain talent.
Other influences on salaries include the role and responsibilities of leaders, constitutional and political systems, public expectations, and anti-corruption measures. For example, some leaders combine roles of head of state and government, which can affect pay. Parliamentary systems might have different compensation standards compared to presidential ones. Some countries adjust salaries to reduce the temptation for corruption.
In addition to their salaries, world leaders have access to state-funded travel, security, and residences. Notable examples include Paul Biya, the President of Cameroon, who earns an unusually high salary of $620,976, and Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, who has access to state oil revenues and personal wealth derived from assets owned by royal family members.
The salaries of the Prime Ministers and Presidents of the countries mentioned reflect the economic strength and political complexity of their respective countries. For instance, the compensation package for the Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia takes into account the country's enormous oil wealth and crucial role in global energy markets.
In conclusion, world leaders' salaries are a reflection of their roles as leaders of their respective countries, with the top earners such as Singapore’s prime minister earning substantially more than most counterparts worldwide.
Read also:
- Foreign financial aid for German citizens residing abroad persists
- "Germany appears less environmentally friendly compared to Texas, according to Harald Lesch's climate documentary"
- Investing 1 billion funds into the police force of North Rhine-Westphalia for battling rodents and mold issues
- Tesla resurrects transferred Full Self-Driving feature amid other promotional offers
