🇹🇼 Taiwan
Democracy, constitutional republic, semi-presidential system, democratic republicLiberal democracy
Lai Ching-te
President · 880 days in office
How the political system works in Taiwan
Taiwan is governed as a democracy with a constitutional republic, semi-presidential system, democratic republic. Its president, Lai Ching-te, has led the country since May 20, 2024. Taiwan has had 14 presidents since 1917. Under the Regimes of the World classification, it counts as a liberal democracy.
Tenure records
Longest-serving
Chiang Kai-shek
9,412 days · 2 terms
Shortest-serving
Zhang Zuolin
352 days
Average tenure
2,283 days
Lai Ching-te: 61% below average
Female leaders
1 of 14
First: Tsai Ing-wen (2016)
Recent presidents by days in office
Is a leader's tenure getting longer or shorter in Taiwan?
Across 14 completed terms, the average president of Taiwan has served 2,283 days (about 6.3 years). Terms are getting longer: the last five completed terms averaged 3,360 days.
One completed term Average tenure per decade
All presidents of Taiwan
| # | Name | Took office | Left office | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 |  Lai Ching-te | May 20, 2024 | Incumbent | 880 |
| 14 |  Tsai Ing-wen | May 20, 2016 | May 19, 2024 | 2,921 |
| 13 |  Ma Ying-jeou | May 20, 2008 | May 20, 2016 | 2,922 |
| 12 |  Chen Shui-bian | May 20, 2000 | May 20, 2008 | 2,922 |
| 11 |  Lee Teng-hui | Jan 13, 1988 | May 20, 2000 | 4,511 |
| 10 |  Chiang Ching-kuo | May 20, 1978 | Jan 13, 1988 | 3,525 |
| 9 |  Yen Chia-kan | Apr 6, 1975 | May 20, 1978 | 1,140 |
| 8 |  Chiang Kai-shek | Mar 1, 1950 | Apr 5, 1975 | 9,166 |
| 7 |  Li Tsung-jen | Jan 21, 1949 | Mar 1, 1950 | 404 |
| 6 | Chiang Kai-shek | May 20, 1948 | Jan 21, 1949 | 246 |
| 5 |  Wang Jingwei | Mar 20, 1940 | Nov 10, 1944 | 1,696 |
| 4 |  Zhang Zuolin | Jun 18, 1927 | Jun 4, 1928 | 352 |
| 3 |  Cao Kun | Oct 5, 1923 | Nov 2, 1924 | 394 |
| 2 |  Hsu Shih-chang | Oct 10, 1918 | Jun 2, 1922 | 1,331 |
| 1 |  Feng Guozhang | Aug 6, 1917 | Oct 10, 1918 | 430 |
Officeholder history via Wikidata. Multiple rows for one person indicate separate terms.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is the President of Taiwan?
- Lai Ching-te has been President of Taiwan since May 20, 2024.
- How is the leader of Taiwan chosen?
- Taiwan is governed as a democracy with a constitutional republic, semi-presidential system, democratic republic. Its president, Lai Ching-te, has led the country since May 20, 2024. Taiwan has had 14 presidents since 1917. Under the Regimes of the World classification, it counts as a liberal democracy.
- Who is the longest-serving President of Taiwan?
- Chiang Kai-shek, with 9,412 days in office across 2 terms.
- Are leaders serving longer or shorter terms in Taiwan?
- Across 14 completed terms, the average president of Taiwan has served 2,283 days (about 6.3 years). Terms are getting longer: the last five completed terms averaged 3,360 days.
- Has Taiwan ever had a female president?
- Yes. Taiwan has had 1 female president. The first was Tsai Ing-wen, who took office in 2016.