The post was re-established in 2021 by the State Administration Council (SAC), the country's ruling military junta, to lead its nominally-civilian provisional government.

The current prime minister is Min Aung Hlaing, who is also the leader of the junta and the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services.

The actual power of the prime minister has considerably varied over time, differing based on who holds the office.

But after the 2015 general election, as Aung San Suu Kyi was constitutionally barred from becoming President, an office named State Counsellor, functionally identical to that of prime minister, was established for her on 6 April 2016.

On 1 August 2021, State Administration Council formed the caretaker government and chairman of SAC became prime minister.