List of Presidents of Azerbaijan: Past and Present

Last updated November 2026

This page lists the presidents and heads of state of Azerbaijan from 1991 to the present, with the years each leader was in office and a short summary of their time in power. Use it to find the current president of Azerbaijan, former presidents, and key dates in the country's political history.

Current president of Azerbaijan: Ilham Aliyev (in office since 2003).

Presidents of Azerbaijan in order, with years in office

Ayaz Mutalibov

Served: 1991–1992

First president of independent Azerbaijan and the last Communist Party leader of the Azerbaijan SSR. He resigned on 6 March 1992, briefly returned on 14 May and was ousted again four days later.

Yagub Mammadov

Served: 1992 (acting)

Speaker of parliament who acted as president from 6 March to 14 May 1992.

Isa Gambar

Served: 1992 (acting)

Speaker of parliament and Popular Front politician who acted as president from May to June 1992 and oversaw the election that Elchibey won.

Abulfaz Elchibey

Served: 1992–1993

Popular Front leader and the first freely elected president; overthrown in a military revolt in June 1993.

Heydar Aliyev

Served: 1993–2003

Former Soviet Politburo member invited to Baku by Elchibey in June 1993; he took power that month, was elected president on 3 October 1993 and re-elected in 1998. He handed over to his son in October 2003 because of ill health.

Ilham Aliyev

Served: 2003–present

Son of Heydar Aliyev; succeeded him in October 2003 and has been re-elected several times, most recently in February 2024.

Frequently asked questions about the presidents of Azerbaijan

Who is the current president of Azerbaijan?

The current head of state of Azerbaijan is Ilham Aliyev, in office since 2003.

Who were the previous presidents of Azerbaijan?

The presidents and heads of state of Azerbaijan listed on this page, in order, are: Ayaz Mutalibov, Yagub Mammadov, Isa Gambar, Abulfaz Elchibey, Heydar Aliyev, Ilham Aliyev.

Who was the first president of Azerbaijan?

Ayaz Mutalibov was the first president of Azerbaijan, in office 1991–1992.

Sources: Wikipedia, President of Azerbaijan and List of heads of state of Azerbaijan; biographies of Mutalibov, Gambar and Elchibey; president.az, Trend and AZERTAC reports confirming Aliyev in office in November 2026 (checked Nov 2026). Presidents since independence. Sources differ by a day or so on several 1992–93 handover dates, so only years are given for those. Azerbaijan is placed in Asia, as on the Asia hub; it is sometimes classed as European.. Last reviewed November 2026.

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