The Hon. Datuk Seri Panglima Joseph Pairin Kitingan was born on 17 August 1940 in Papar, Sabah. Datuk Pairin is married to Datin Genevieve Lee Chau Ha, a former teacher. They have two sons, Alexander and Daniel, who are both trained lawyers.  

Datuk Pairin is the founder and President of the Sabah United Party (Parti Bersatu Sabah). Trained as a lawyer at the University of Adelaide, Australia, he worked as State Counsel with the Sabah Legal Department and subsequently as Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP). Prior to joining politics, he also practised law with a local legal firm.

Datuk Pairin joined active politics in 1975 and was elected as Member of the Sabah Legislative Assembly for the Tambunan constituency in 1976 under BERJAYA party's ticket. He has served as Assemblyman for Tambunan since 1976 and Member of Parliament for the constituency of Keningau since 1986.

Datuk Pairin formed Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) in March 1985 and led the party to victory in the Sabah general election of April 1985. He held the post of Sabah Chief Minister from April 1985 to March 1994, during which he spearheaded his party's triumphant outings in four successive State elections (1985, 1986, 1990 and 1994). His nine-year term as Chief Minister ended abruptly on 17 March 1994 when 26 of his Assemblymen leapfrogged to the National Front (Barisan Nasional), thereby forcing PBS to lose its majority in the Legislative Assembly.

Political writings on Datuk Pairin have described him variously as "fearless, principled, sincere, humble and resilient". These traits have formed the distinguishing attributes of his inspiring and extremely popular leadership.

Datuk Seri Panglima Joseph Pairin Kitingan is also paramount leader (Huguan Siou) of the Kadazandusun community of Sabah, a grouping of some 40-odd sub-ethnic groups which form the largest indigenous component of the Sabah population. He is also President of the Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA), the community's principal cultural association.

In March 2004, Datuk Pairin was appointed as the Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Rural Development.

On 13th May 2009, the Chief Minister announced a minor Cabinet reshuffle which saw the appointment of Datuk Pairin as the Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Infrastructure Development.