🇵🇼 Palau
Surangel Whipps Jr.
President · 2,095 days in office
How the political system works in Palau
Its president, Surangel Whipps Jr., has led the country since Jan 21, 2021. Palau has had 9 presidents since 1981.
Tenure records
Longest-serving
Thomas Remengesau Jr.
5,862 days · 2 terms
Shortest-serving
Alfonso Oiterong
115 days
Average tenure
1,457 days
Surangel Whipps Jr.: 44% above average
Female leaders
0 of 9
All male to date
Recent presidents by days in office
Is a leader's tenure getting longer or shorter in Palau?
Across 10 completed terms, the average president of Palau has served 1,457 days (about 4.0 years). Terms are getting longer: the last five completed terms averaged 2,342 days.
One completed term Average tenure per decade
All presidents of Palau
| # | Name | Took office | Left office | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 |  Surangel Whipps Jr. | Jan 21, 2021 | Incumbent | 2,095 |
| 10 |  Thomas Remengesau Jr. | Jan 17, 2013 | Jan 21, 2021 | 2,926 |
| 9 |  Johnson Toribiong | Jan 15, 2009 | Jan 17, 2013 | 1,463 |
| 8 | Thomas Remengesau Jr. | Jan 1, 2001 | Jan 15, 2009 | 2,936 |
| 7 |  Kuniwo Nakamura | Jan 1, 1993 | Jan 1, 2001 | 2,922 |
| 6 | Ngiratkel Etpison | Jan 1, 1989 | Jan 1, 1993 | 1,461 |
| 5 |  Thomas Remengesau | Aug 20, 1988 | Jan 1, 1989 | 134 |
| 4 |  Lazarus Salii | Oct 25, 1985 | Aug 20, 1988 | 1,030 |
| 3 |  Alfonso Oiterong | Jul 2, 1985 | Oct 25, 1985 | 115 |
| 2 | Thomas Remengesau | Jun 30, 1985 | Jul 2, 1985 | 2 |
| 1 |  Haruo Remeliik | Mar 2, 1981 | Jun 30, 1985 | 1,581 |
Officeholder history via Wikidata. Multiple rows for one person indicate separate terms.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is the President of Palau?
- Surangel Whipps Jr. has been President of Palau since Jan 21, 2021.
- How is the leader of Palau chosen?
- Its president, Surangel Whipps Jr., has led the country since Jan 21, 2021. Palau has had 9 presidents since 1981.
- Who is the longest-serving President of Palau?
- Thomas Remengesau Jr., with 5,862 days in office across 2 terms.
- Are leaders serving longer or shorter terms in Palau?
- Across 10 completed terms, the average president of Palau has served 1,457 days (about 4.0 years). Terms are getting longer: the last five completed terms averaged 2,342 days.
- Has Palau ever had a female president?
- No. All 9 presidents of Palau to date have been men.