List of Presidents of Iraq: Past and Present

Last updated November 2026

This page lists the presidents and heads of state of Iraq from 1958 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 Iraq, former presidents, and key dates in the country's political history.

Current president of Iraq: Nizar Amidi (in office since 2026). The presidency is largely ceremonial; executive power rests with the prime minister.

Presidents of Iraq in order, with years in office

Muhammad Najib al-Ruba'i

Served: 1958–1963

Chairman of the Sovereignty Council and first republican head of state after the 1958 revolution.

Abdul Salam Arif

Served: 1963–1966

Died in a helicopter crash on 13 April 1966.

Abdul Rahman al-Bazzaz

Served: 1966 (acting)

Acted as president for three days in April 1966.

Abdul Rahman Arif

Served: 1966–1968

Brother of Abdul Salam Arif; deposed on 17 July 1968.

Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr

Served: 1968–1979

First Ba'ath Party president; resigned on 16 July 1979.

Saddam Hussein

Served: 1979–2003

Iraq's longest-serving president; deposed on 9 April 2003.

Ghazi al-Yawer

Served: 2004–2005

President of the interim government after the 2003 invasion.

Jalal Talabani

Served: 2005–2014

First president chosen after the new constitution; served until July 2014.

Fuad Masum

Served: 2014–2018

Served from July 2014 to October 2018.

Barham Salih

Served: 2018–2022

Served from October 2018 to October 2022.

Abdul Latif Rashid

Served: 2022–2026

Ninth president, from 17 October 2022 until 12 April 2026.

Nizar Amidi

Served: 2026–present

Former chief of staff to four presidents; elected on 11 April 2026 after parliament was deadlocked in December 2025 and February 2026, and took office the next day.

Frequently asked questions about the presidents of Iraq

Who is the current president of Iraq?

The current head of state of Iraq is Nizar Amidi, in office since 2026. The presidency is largely ceremonial; executive power rests with the prime minister.

Who were the previous presidents of Iraq?

The presidents and heads of state of Iraq listed on this page, in order, are: Muhammad Najib al-Ruba'i, Abdul Salam Arif, Abdul Rahman al-Bazzaz, Abdul Rahman Arif, Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr, Saddam Hussein, Ghazi al-Yawer, Jalal Talabani, Fuad Masum, Barham Salih, Abdul Latif Rashid, Nizar Amidi.

Who was the first president of Iraq?

Muhammad Najib al-Ruba'i was the first president of Iraq, in office 1958–1963.

Sources: Wikipedia, List of presidents of Iraq; WorldAtlas; CIDOB biography of Abdul Latif Rashid; Planet Rulers and news reports on the April 2026 election (checked Nov 2026). Presidents since the 1958 revolution, with the acting president labelled; the 2003–2004 transitional council is not listed.. Last reviewed November 2026.

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