Top 10 Longest Serving Presidents in the World

In the annals of global politics, few phenomena are as striking as the endurance of certain leaders who have clung to power for decades, reshaping nations in their image. While democracies often impose term limits to prevent authoritarian drift, many countries—particularly in Africa, Asia, and the former Soviet sphere—have seen presidents extend their reigns through constitutional maneuvers, electoral dominance, or outright suppression of opposition. As of October 2025, the world's longest-serving presidents embody a mix of revolutionary heroes turned strongmen, coup plotters who became fixtures, and savvy politicians who bent rules to their will. These leaders have overseen economic booms and busts, conflicts and ceasefires, and profound social changes, often at the cost of civil liberties and democratic norms.

This list focuses on current non-royal heads of state who hold presidential titles (or equivalent executive roles) and have maintained continuous power for extraordinary lengths. Drawing from historical records and recent analyses, we rank the top 10 by total years in office, excluding monarchs and non-consecutive terms. Their longevity raises questions about governance: Does stability foster progress, or does it breed stagnation and abuse? From oil-rich dictatorships to post-colonial powerhouses, these figures dominate their nations' trajectories, influencing everything from foreign policy to daily life. Below, a table summarizes the essentials, followed by in-depth profiles of each leader.

Note: Years in office are approximate totals, accounting for continuous presidencies where applicable. For non-continuous cases like Nguesso, total time in power is noted.

1. Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo – Equatorial Guinea (46 Years)

Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo's iron grip on Equatorial Guinea began with a bloody coup in August 1979, when he overthrew—and allegedly executed—his uncle, Francisco Macías Nguema, the country's first post-independence president. Born in 1942 into the Esangui ethnic group, Obiang rose through the military ranks under Spanish colonial rule and has since transformed his oil-rich nation into a personal fiefdom. Despite vast petroleum wealth—making Equatorial Guinea one of Africa's richest per capita—poverty afflicts over 75% of the population, with funds allegedly funneled to Obiang's family and inner circle. Critics dub it the "North Korea of Africa" for its repression, including torture, disappearances, and media blackouts. Yet, Obiang portrays himself as a modernizer, hosting lavish international summits while his regime scores zero on Freedom House's political rights index. At 83, whispers of succession point to his son, Vice President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, amid fears of instability.

2. Paul Biya – Cameroon (43 Years)

Paul Biya, the world's oldest sitting president at 92, ascended to Cameroon's helm on November 6, 1982, succeeding Ahmadou Ahidjo in what was billed as a peaceful transition but quickly devolved into one-man rule. A former prime minister since 1975, Biya, born in 1933, initially promised multiparty democracy in the 1990s but has since rigged elections and crushed dissent, surviving a 1984 coup attempt. Under his watch, Cameroon has grappled with Boko Haram insurgency in the north, an Anglophone separatist crisis in the west, and economic stagnation despite oil and agricultural exports. Biya's regime is notorious for "creative" electoral tactics, like paying for favorable international observers in 2004. He spends much time abroad in Switzerland, fueling jokes about ruling "from Geneva." As health rumors swirl, Biya's endurance symbolizes authoritarian longevity in Central Africa.

3. Denis Sassou Nguesso – Republic of the Congo (45 Years Total)

Denis Sassou Nguesso's convoluted path to power spans two stints: first as president from 1979 to 1992, then reclaiming the office in 1997 after a civil war. Born in 1943, the former paratrooper led a Marxist regime post-independence before democratization ousted him. His return, backed by Angolan troops, installed a dynasty—his son Denis-Christel is a minister, and daughter Claudia heads a key ministry. Oil-dependent Congo-Brazzaville boomed under Nguesso but remains plagued by corruption, with billions allegedly siphoned offshore. Environmentalists decry his role in deforestation, while human rights groups highlight election fraud and militia violence. At 81, Nguesso's blend of charm and coercion has kept him atop a resource-cursed state.

4. Yoweri Museveni – Uganda (39 Years)

Yoweri Museveni stormed into Ugandan politics as a rebel leader, toppling Idi Amin's successor in 1986 after a bush war. Born in 1944, the ex-guerrilla positioned himself as Africa's anti-corruption crusader, stabilizing the economy and combating HIV/AIDS in the 1990s. But his "no-term-limits" pivot in 2005, followed by ageist constitutional tweaks, has drawn ire. Today, at 80, Museveni faces youth-led protests over jobs and freedoms, with security forces accused of abductions. Uganda's oil discoveries promise wealth, but patronage networks raise graft fears. Museveni's legacy: from liberator to lifelong ruler.

5. Vladimir Putin – Russia (26 Years)

Vladimir Putin's 26-year dominance began as acting president on December 31, 1999, succeeding Boris Yeltsin. A former KGB officer born in 1952, he navigated the chaotic post-Soviet era with a steely hand, boosting energy exports and annexing Crimea in 2014. Constitutional resets in 2020 cleared his path to 2036, amid Ukraine invasion fallout and domestic crackdowns. Putin's Russia blends nationalism and oligarchic control, making him a geopolitical titan—and pariah.

6. Isaias Afwerki – Eritrea (32 Years)

Isaias Afwerki, 78, has ruled Eritrea since independence from Ethiopia in 1993, following a 30-year liberation struggle. Born in 1946, the former fighter's one-party state enforces indefinite military service, earning the moniker "Africa's North Korea." Border wars and isolation define his tenure, though recent Ethiopia peace hints at thaw. Dissenters flee en masse, but Afwerki's vision of self-reliance persists.

7. Emomali Rahmon – Tajikistan (31 Years)

Emomali Rahmon, 72, emerged from Tajikistan's 1990s civil war to win his first election in 1994. Born in 1952, he's dynastically groomed his son Rustam as successor in the mountainous, impoverished ex-Soviet state. Anti-Islamic crackdowns and referendums extended his rule, amid poverty and remittances from Russia-dependent migrants.

8. Alexander Lukashenko – Belarus (31 Years)

Alexander Lukashenko, 70, has helmed Belarus since 1994, styling himself "Batka" (father) in the last European dictatorship. Born in 1954, his Soviet-nostalgic regime weathered 2020 protests with brutality, allying with Putin. Economic woes and isolation persist, but Lukashenko's survival instincts endure.

9. Paul Kagame – Rwanda (25 Years)

Paul Kagame, 67, took Rwanda's presidency in 2000 after ending the 1994 genocide as rebel leader. Born in 1957, his economic miracle—averaging 7% GDP growth—belies criticisms of stifled opposition and media control. Kagame's tech-savvy authoritarianism positions Rwanda as an African innovator.

10. João Lourenço – Angola (7 Years)

João Lourenço, 71, succeeded José Eduardo dos Santos in 2018 after 38 years of rule, but his reforms stall amid corruption scandals. Born in 1954, Lourenço's tenure marks a shift, though power lingers with the old guard. Oil wealth funds diversification, but inequality festers.

These presidents' tenures highlight a global paradox: longevity can deliver stability but often at democracy's expense. As generational shifts loom, their exits could reshape continents. In an era of populist uprisings, their stories warn of power's seductive permanence.