List of Presidents of Yemen: Past and Present

Last updated November 2026

This page lists the presidents and heads of state of Yemen from 1962 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 Yemen, former presidents, and key dates in the country's political history.

Current president of Yemen: Rashad al-Alimi (in office since 2022). Since 7 April 2022 the president's powers have been exercised by an eight-member Presidential Leadership Council chaired by Rashad al-Alimi, which governs from the south; the Houthi movement controls Sanaa and its Supreme Political Council, led by Mahdi al-Mashat, disputes the council's authority. Leaders of South Yemen before unification in 1990 are not listed.

Presidents of Yemen in order, with years in office

Abdullah al-Sallal

Served: 1962–1967

First president of the Yemen Arab Republic after the 1962 revolution; he was overthrown in 1967.

Abdul Rahman al-Iryani

Served: 1967–1974

Chaired the Republican Council and was North Yemen's only civilian president; he was deposed in 1974.

Ibrahim al-Hamdi

Served: 1974–1977

Army officer who took power in a bloodless coup; he was assassinated in October 1977.

Ahmad al-Ghashmi

Served: 1977–1978

Killed by a bomb in June 1978.

Abdul Karim al-Arashi

Served: 1978

Chairman of the Presidential Council for 24 days in 1978.

Ali Abdullah Saleh

Served: 1978–2012

Ruled North Yemen from 1978 and unified Yemen from 22 May 1990; he handed power to Hadi in February 2012 and was killed in December 2017.

Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi

Served: 2012–2022

Vice president who was elected unopposed in February 2012; he transferred his powers to the Presidential Leadership Council on 7 April 2022.

Rashad al-Alimi

Served: 2022–present

Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council since 7 April 2022.

Frequently asked questions about the presidents of Yemen

Who is the current president of Yemen?

The current head of state of Yemen is Rashad al-Alimi, in office since 2022. Since 7 April 2022 the president's powers have been exercised by an eight-member Presidential Leadership Council chaired by Rashad al-Alimi, which governs from the south; the Houthi movement controls Sanaa and its Supreme Political Council, led by Mahdi al-Mashat, disputes the council's authority. Leaders of South Yemen before unification in 1990 are not listed.

Who were the previous presidents of Yemen?

The presidents and heads of state of Yemen listed on this page, in order, are: Abdullah al-Sallal, Abdul Rahman al-Iryani, Ibrahim al-Hamdi, Ahmad al-Ghashmi, Abdul Karim al-Arashi, Ali Abdullah Saleh, Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, Rashad al-Alimi.

Who was the first president of Yemen?

Abdullah al-Sallal was the first president of Yemen, in office 1962–1967.

Sources: Wikipedia, List of heads of state of Yemen, Presidential Leadership Council and President of Yemen (checked March 2026 edition); Al Jazeera and Saudi Gazette reports on the council's January 2026 membership changes (checked Nov 2026). Listed from the 1962 revolution in North Yemen; the leaders of South Yemen before 1990 are not listed.. Last reviewed November 2026.

Presidents of other Asia countries

Presidents of Afghanistan · Presidents of Armenia · Presidents of Azerbaijan · Presidents of Bangladesh · Presidents of China · Presidents of Georgia · Presidents of India · Presidents of Indonesia · Presidents of Iran · Presidents of Iraq · Presidents of Israel · Presidents of Kazakhstan · Presidents of Kyrgyzstan · Presidents of Laos · Presidents of Lebanon · Presidents of Maldives · Presidents of Mongolia · Presidents of Myanmar · Presidents of Nepal · Presidents of North Korea · Presidents of Pakistan · Presidents of Palestine · Presidents of Philippines · Presidents of Singapore · Presidents of South Korea · Presidents of Sri Lanka · Presidents of Syria · Presidents of Taiwan · Presidents of Tajikistan · Presidents of Timor-Leste · Presidents of Turkey · Presidents of Turkmenistan · Presidents of Uzbekistan · Presidents of Vietnam · All Asia presidents