🇹🇷 Turkey
Presidential republicElectoral autocracy
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
President · 4,387 days in office · 640 days remaining
How the political system works in Turkey
Turks elect their president directly every five years. Since 2018 the president has run the government as well as representing the country. There is a two-term limit, but it can reset if parliament calls an early election.
Next election: 2028 — Turkish presidential election, due May 14, 2028.
Tenure records
Longest-serving
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
5,491 days
Shortest-serving
Tekin Arıburun
9 days
Average tenure
2,333 days
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan: 88% above average
Recent presidents by days in office
Is a leader's tenure getting longer or shorter in Turkey?
Across 14 completed terms, the average president of Turkey has served 2,333 days (about 6.4 years). That has stayed fairly steady: the last five completed terms averaged 2,475 days.
One completed term Average tenure per decade
All presidents of Turkey
| # | Name | Took office | Left office | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 |  Recep Tayyip Erdoğan | Aug 28, 2014 | Incumbent | 4,387 |
| 14 |  Abdullah Gül | Aug 28, 2007 | Aug 28, 2014 | 2,557 |
| 13 |  Ahmet Necdet Sezer | May 16, 2000 | Aug 28, 2007 | 2,660 |
| 12 |  Süleyman Demirel | May 16, 1993 | May 16, 2000 | 2,557 |
| 11 |  Turgut Özal | Nov 9, 1989 | Apr 17, 1993 | 1,255 |
| 10 |  Kenan Evren | Sep 12, 1980 | Nov 9, 1989 | 3,345 |
| 9 |  İhsan Sabri Çağlayangil | Apr 6, 1980 | Sep 12, 1980 | 159 |
| 8 |  Fahri Korutürk | Apr 6, 1973 | Apr 6, 1980 | 2,557 |
| 7 | Tekin Arıburun | Mar 28, 1973 | Apr 6, 1973 | 9 |
| 6 |  Cevdet Sunay | Feb 2, 1966 | Mar 28, 1973 | 2,611 |
| 5 | İbrahim Şevki Atasagun | Feb 2, 1966 | Mar 28, 1966 | 54 |
| 4 |  Cemal Gürsel | Nov 10, 1961 | Feb 2, 1966 | 1,545 |
| 3 |  Celâl Bayar | May 27, 1950 | May 27, 1960 | 3,653 |
| 2 |  İsmet İnönü | Nov 11, 1938 | May 22, 1950 | 4,210 |
| 1 |  Mustafa Kemal Atatürk | Oct 29, 1923 | Nov 10, 1938 | 5,491 |
Officeholder history via Wikidata. Multiple rows for one person indicate separate terms.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is the President of Turkey?
- Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been President of Turkey since Aug 28, 2014.
- How is the leader of Turkey chosen?
- Turks elect their president directly every five years. Since 2018 the president has run the government as well as representing the country. There is a two-term limit, but it can reset if parliament calls an early election.
- Who is the longest-serving President of Turkey?
- Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, with 5,491 days in office.
- Are leaders serving longer or shorter terms in Turkey?
- Across 14 completed terms, the average president of Turkey has served 2,333 days (about 6.4 years). That has stayed fairly steady: the last five completed terms averaged 2,475 days.