List of Presidents of Kazakhstan: Past and Present

Last updated November 2026

This page lists the presidents and heads of state of Kazakhstan from 1990 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 Kazakhstan, former presidents, and key dates in the country's political history.

Current president of Kazakhstan: Kassym-Jomart Tokayev (in office since 2019). A new constitution, approved in a March 2026 referendum and in force from 1 July 2026, provides for a single seven-year presidential term and restores the post of vice president.

Presidents of Kazakhstan in order, with years in office

Nursultan Nazarbayev

Served: 1990–2019

First president; elected to the new office of president of the Kazakh SSR in 1990, led the country through independence in 1991, and resigned in March 2019.

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev

Served: 2019–present

Became acting president when Nazarbayev resigned in March 2019, won the June 2019 election and was re-elected in a snap election in November 2022.

Frequently asked questions about the presidents of Kazakhstan

Who is the current president of Kazakhstan?

The current head of state of Kazakhstan is Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, in office since 2019. A new constitution, approved in a March 2026 referendum and in force from 1 July 2026, provides for a single seven-year presidential term and restores the post of vice president.

Who were the previous presidents of Kazakhstan?

The presidents and heads of state of Kazakhstan listed on this page, in order, are: Nursultan Nazarbayev, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

Who was the first president of Kazakhstan?

Nursultan Nazarbayev was the first president of Kazakhstan, in office 1990–2019.

Sources: Wikipedia, President of Kazakhstan; Reuters, Associated Press and Kazinform reports on the March 2026 constitutional referendum; Trend and Astana Times reports confirming Tokayev in office in November 2026 (checked Nov 2026). Presidents since the office was created in the Kazakh SSR in 1990.. Last reviewed November 2026.

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