🇵🇦 Panama
Presidential systemElectoral democracy
José Raúl Mulino
President · 838 days in office
How the political system works in Panama
Panama is governed as a presidential system. Its president, José Raúl Mulino, has led the country since Jul 1, 2024. Panama has had 20 presidents since 1903. Under the Regimes of the World classification, it counts as an electoral democracy.
Tenure records
Longest-serving
Laurentino Cortizo
1,827 days
Shortest-serving
Demetrio H. Brid
1 days
Average tenure
929 days
José Raúl Mulino: 10% below average
Female leaders
1 of 20
First: Mireya Moscoso (1999)
Recent presidents by days in office
Is a leader's tenure getting longer or shorter in Panama?
Across 22 completed terms, the average president of Panama has served 929 days (about 2.5 years). Terms are getting longer: the last five completed terms averaged 1,814 days.
One completed term Average tenure per decade
All presidents of Panama
| # | Name | Took office | Left office | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 |  José Raúl Mulino | Jul 1, 2024 | Incumbent | 838 |
| 22 |  Laurentino Cortizo | Jul 1, 2019 | Jul 1, 2024 | 1,827 |
| 21 |  Juan Carlos Varela | Jul 1, 2014 | Jul 1, 2019 | 1,826 |
| 20 |  Ricardo Martinelli | Jul 1, 2009 | Jul 1, 2014 | 1,826 |
| 19 |  Martín Torrijos | Sep 1, 2004 | Jul 1, 2009 | 1,764 |
| 18 |  Mireya Moscoso | Sep 1, 1999 | Sep 1, 2004 | 1,827 |
| 17 |  Guillermo Endara | Dec 20, 1989 | Sep 1, 1994 | 1,716 |
| 16 |  Eric Arturo Delvalle | Sep 28, 1985 | Feb 26, 1988 | 881 |
| 15 |  Arístides Royo | Oct 11, 1978 | Jul 31, 1982 | 1,389 |
| 14 |  Arnulfo Arias | Oct 1, 1968 | Oct 11, 1968 | 10 |
| 13 |  Ricardo Arias Espinosa | Mar 29, 1955 | Oct 1, 1956 | 552 |
| 12 | Arnulfo Arias | Nov 24, 1949 | May 9, 1951 | 531 |
| 11 | Daniel Chanis Pinzón | Jul 28, 1949 | Nov 20, 1949 | 115 |
| 10 |  Domingo Díaz Arosemena | Aug 7, 1948 | Jul 28, 1949 | 355 |
| 9 |  Enrique Adolfo Jiménez | Jun 15, 1945 | Aug 7, 1948 | 1,149 |
| 8 | Arnulfo Arias | Oct 1, 1940 | Oct 9, 1941 | 373 |
| 7 |  Harmodio Arias Madrid | Jun 5, 1932 | Oct 1, 1936 | 1,579 |
| 6 |  Ricardo Joaquín Alfaro Jované | Jan 16, 1931 | Jun 5, 1932 | 506 |
| 5 | Harmodio Arias Madrid | Jan 3, 1931 | Jan 16, 1931 | 13 |
| 4 |  Rodolfo Chiari | Oct 1, 1924 | Oct 1, 1928 | 1,461 |
| 3 |  Pablo Arosemena | Oct 5, 1910 | Oct 1, 1912 | 727 |
| 2 |  Federico Boyd | Oct 1, 1910 | Oct 5, 1910 | 4 |
| 1 |  Demetrio H. Brid | Nov 3, 1903 | Nov 4, 1903 | 1 |
Officeholder history via Wikidata. Multiple rows for one person indicate separate terms.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is the President of Panama?
- José Raúl Mulino has been President of Panama since Jul 1, 2024.
- How is the leader of Panama chosen?
- Panama is governed as a presidential system. Its president, José Raúl Mulino, has led the country since Jul 1, 2024. Panama has had 20 presidents since 1903. Under the Regimes of the World classification, it counts as an electoral democracy.
- Who is the longest-serving President of Panama?
- Laurentino Cortizo, with 1,827 days in office.
- Are leaders serving longer or shorter terms in Panama?
- Across 22 completed terms, the average president of Panama has served 929 days (about 2.5 years). Terms are getting longer: the last five completed terms averaged 1,814 days.
- Has Panama ever had a female president?
- Yes. Panama has had 1 female president. The first was Mireya Moscoso, who took office in 1999.