List of Presidents of Turkey: Past and Present

Last updated November 2026

This page lists the presidents and heads of state of Turkey from 1923 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 Turkey, former presidents, and key dates in the country's political history.

Current president of Turkey: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (in office since 2014).

Presidents of Turkey in order, with years in office

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

Served: 1923–1938

Founder and first president of the Republic of Turkey; he died in office on 10 November 1938.

İsmet İnönü

Served: 1938–1950

Atatürk's long-time prime minister; he oversaw the move to multiparty politics and lost the 1950 election.

Celâl Bayar

Served: 1950–1960

Democratic Party president who was removed in the military coup of 27 May 1960.

Cemal Gürsel

Served: 1960–1966

Led the 1960 coup as head of state and was president from 1961 until ill health ended his term; İbrahim Şevki Atasagun acted briefly in 1966.

Cevdet Sunay

Served: 1966–1973

Former chief of the General Staff who served a full seven-year term.

Tekin Arıburun

Served: 1973 (acting)

Speaker of the Senate who acted as president for about nine days in 1973.

Fahri Korutürk

Served: 1973–1980

Retired admiral whose term ended in April 1980.

İhsan Sabri Çağlayangil

Served: 1980 (acting)

Senate speaker who acted as president from April to September 1980, until the military coup.

Kenan Evren

Served: 1980–1989

Led the 12 September 1980 coup as head of state and became president under the 1982 Constitution.

Turgut Özal

Served: 1989–1993

Former prime minister and the first civilian president since 1960; he died in office on 17 April 1993.

Hüsamettin Cindoruk

Served: 1993 (acting)

Parliament speaker who acted as president from 17 April to 16 May 1993.

Süleyman Demirel

Served: 1993–2000

Former prime minister who was elected by parliament after Özal's death.

Ahmet Necdet Sezer

Served: 2000–2007

Former president of the Constitutional Court.

Abdullah Gül

Served: 2007–2014

Co-founder of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and former prime minister.

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

Served: 2014–present

First president elected by popular vote in 2014; re-elected in 2018 and 2023, and also head of government since Turkey's 2018 switch to a presidential system.

Frequently asked questions about the presidents of Turkey

Who is the current president of Turkey?

The current head of state of Turkey is Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in office since 2014.

Who were the previous presidents of Turkey?

The presidents and heads of state of Turkey listed on this page, in order, are: Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, İsmet İnönü, Celâl Bayar, Cemal Gürsel, Cevdet Sunay, Tekin Arıburun, Fahri Korutürk, İhsan Sabri Çağlayangil, Kenan Evren, Turgut Özal, Hüsamettin Cindoruk, Süleyman Demirel, Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Abdullah Gül, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Who was the first president of Turkey?

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was the first president of Turkey, in office 1923–1938.

Sources: Wikipedia, List of presidents of Turkey; Archontology.org, Turkey: Heads of State; Daily Sabah and Anadolu Agency reports (checked Nov 2026). Acting presidents are listed and labelled. Turkey is a transcontinental country and is listed under Asia, where most of its territory lies.. Last reviewed November 2026.

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