🇧🇮 Burundi
Presidential system, representative democracyElectoral autocracy
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Évariste Ndayishimiye
President · 2,312 days in office
How the political system works in Burundi
Burundi is governed as a presidential system with a representative democracy. Its president, Évariste Ndayishimiye, has led the country since Jun 18, 2020. Burundi has had 12 presidents since 1966. Under the Regimes of the World classification, it counts as an electoral autocracy.
Tenure records
Longest-serving
Pierre Nkurunziza
5,400 days
Shortest-serving
François Ngeze
6 days
Average tenure
1,630 days
Évariste Ndayishimiye: 42% above average
Female leaders
1 of 12
First: Sylvie Kinigi (1993)
Recent presidents by days in office
Is a leader's tenure getting longer or shorter in Burundi?
Across 12 completed terms, the average president of Burundi has served 1,630 days (about 4.5 years). Terms are getting longer: the last five completed terms averaged 1,914 days.
One completed term Average tenure per decade
All presidents of Burundi
| # | Name | Took office | Left office | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 |  Évariste Ndayishimiye | Jun 18, 2020 | Incumbent | 2,312 |
| 12 | Pascal Nyabenda | Jun 8, 2020 | Jun 18, 2020 | 10 |
| 11 |  Pierre Nkurunziza | Aug 26, 2005 | Jun 8, 2020 | 5,400 |
| 10 |  Domitien Ndayizeye | Apr 30, 2003 | Aug 26, 2005 | 849 |
| 9 |  Pierre Buyoya | Jul 25, 1996 | Apr 30, 2003 | 2,470 |
| 8 |  Sylvestre Ntibantunganya | Apr 6, 1994 | Jul 25, 1996 | 841 |
| 7 |  Cyprien Ntaryamira | Feb 5, 1994 | Apr 6, 1994 | 60 |
| 6 |  Sylvie Kinigi | Oct 27, 1993 | Feb 5, 1994 | 101 |
| 5 | François Ngeze | Oct 21, 1993 | Oct 27, 1993 | 6 |
| 4 |  Melchior Ndadaye | Jul 10, 1993 | Oct 21, 1993 | 103 |
| 3 | Pierre Buyoya | Sep 3, 1987 | Jul 10, 1993 | 2,137 |
| 2 | Nov 2, 1976 | Sep 3, 1987 | 3,957 | |
| 1 |  Michel Micombero | Nov 28, 1966 | Nov 1, 1976 | 3,626 |
Officeholder history via Wikidata. Multiple rows for one person indicate separate terms.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is the President of Burundi?
- Évariste Ndayishimiye has been President of Burundi since Jun 18, 2020.
- How is the leader of Burundi chosen?
- Burundi is governed as a presidential system with a representative democracy. Its president, Évariste Ndayishimiye, has led the country since Jun 18, 2020. Burundi has had 12 presidents since 1966. Under the Regimes of the World classification, it counts as an electoral autocracy.
- Who is the longest-serving President of Burundi?
- Pierre Nkurunziza, with 5,400 days in office.
- Are leaders serving longer or shorter terms in Burundi?
- Across 12 completed terms, the average president of Burundi has served 1,630 days (about 4.5 years). Terms are getting longer: the last five completed terms averaged 1,914 days.
- Has Burundi ever had a female president?
- Yes. Burundi has had 1 female president. The first was Sylvie Kinigi, who took office in 1993.