The 10 highest paid government heads in the world
Although most of the countries on the list have developed economies, the salaries of the heads of government are many times higher than the per capita GDP of the countries
Even though China is the second-largest economy of the world, Chinese President Xi Jinping is not in the list of world's top ten highest-paid government heads. On the other hand, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is considering resigning due to his low salary.
The current highest paid head of government is Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Fourth on the list is US President Donald Trump. The list also includes the President of Mauritania, which is an African country.
Although most of the countries on the list have developed economies, the salaries of the heads of government are many times higher than the per capita GDP of the countries.
Here is a list of the top ten highest-paid heads of state in the world. The list was compiled by USA Today.
Lee Hsien Loong
The annual salary of the Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong is USD 16 lakh 10 thousand or about TK 13 crore 62 lakh. His salary is 20 times higher than Singapore's per capita GDP. The country's per capita GDP is USD 86,810. His income is 12 times higher than that of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Carrie Lam
The annual salary of Carrie Lam, the chief executive of the Hong Kong government, is USD 5 lakh 68 thousand 400 (about Tk 4 crore 80 lakh 91 thousand). Hong Kong's per capita GDP is USD 57,081.
Simonetta Sommaruga
President Simonetta Sommaruga of Switzerland earns USD 4 lakh 82 thousand 958 (about Tk 4 crore 8 lakh 72 thousand)– more than any other head of government in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The per capita GDP of the country is USD 56,473.
Donald Trump
President Donald Trump of the United States, the world's largest economy, has an annual salary of USD 400,000 (approximately Tk 3 crore 38 lakh 43 thousand). His salary is seven times the country's GDP per capita. The per capita GDP of the United States is USD 54,440.
Scott Morrison
The annual salary of the Prime Minister of Australia Scott Morrison is USD 3 lakh 78 thousand 415 (about Tk 3 crore 20 lakh 17 thousand). His salary is seven times the average income of the people of the country. Australia's per capita GDP is USD 46,554.
Angela Merkel
German Chancellor Angela Merkel's annual salary is USD 3 lakh 69 thousand 727 (about Tk 3 crore 12 lakh 82 thousand). Her salary is eight times the average income of the people of the country. Germany's per capita GDP is USD 46,719.
Jacinda Ardern
The annual salary of the Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern is USD 3 lakh 39 thousand 862 (about Tk 3 crore 87 lakh 55 thousand), which is more than 20 times the economic output of the average kiwi citizen. The country's GDP per capita is USD 35,244. Jacinda has been re-elected for a second term in the 2020 general election.
Mohamed Ould Ghazouani
The annual salary of the President of Mauritania, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, is USD 3 lakh 30 thousand (approximately Tk 2 crore 79 lakh 84 thousand). The country's per capita GDP is USD 3,655. China's GDP is 2,400 times Mauritania's GDP, yet President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani earns almost as much per month as Chinese President Xi Jinping earns per year, according to Saraya, a Jordanian online newspaper.
Sebastian Karz
The annual salary of the Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Karz is USD 3 lakh 28 thousand 584 (about Tk 2 crore 78 lakh 64 thousand). Sebastian, 34, is the world's youngest head of government. His annual income is six times the average income of the people of the country. Austria's per capita GDP is USD 45,478.
Xavier Bettel
The annual salary of the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Xavier Bettel, is USD 2 lakh 78 thousand 35 (about Tk 2 crore 35 lakh 77 thousand). With a population of less than 6 lakhs, Luxembourg is the smallest country to make this list. The country's per capita GDP is USD 93,891.
