🇿🇲 Zambia
Presidential system, representative democracyElectoral autocracy
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Hakainde Hichilema
President · 1,880 days in office
How the political system works in Zambia
Zambia is governed as a presidential system with a representative democracy. Its president, Hakainde Hichilema, has led the country since Aug 24, 2021. Zambia has had 8 presidents since 1964. Under the Regimes of the World classification, it counts as an electoral autocracy.
Tenure records
Longest-serving
Kenneth Kaunda
9,870 days
Shortest-serving
Guy Scott
89 days
Average tenure
2,967 days
Hakainde Hichilema: 37% below average
Female leaders
0 of 8
All male to date
Recent presidents by days in office
Is a leader's tenure getting longer or shorter in Zambia?
Across 7 completed terms, the average president of Zambia has served 2,967 days (about 8.1 years). Terms are getting shorter: the last five completed terms averaged just 1,437 days. The last leader to beat the average was Frederick Chiluba, who left office in 2002.
One completed term Average tenure per decade
All presidents of Zambia
| # | Name | Took office | Left office | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 |  Hakainde Hichilema | Aug 24, 2021 | Incumbent | 1,880 |
| 7 |  Edgar Lungu | Jan 25, 2015 | Aug 24, 2021 | 2,403 |
| 6 |  Guy Scott | Oct 28, 2014 | Jan 25, 2015 | 89 |
| 5 |  Michael Sata | Sep 23, 2011 | Oct 28, 2014 | 1,131 |
| 4 |  Rupiah Banda | Aug 8, 2008 | Sep 23, 2011 | 1,141 |
| 3 |  Levy Mwanawasa | Jan 2, 2002 | Aug 19, 2008 | 2,421 |
| 2 |  Frederick Chiluba | Nov 2, 1991 | Jan 2, 2002 | 3,714 |
| 1 |  Kenneth Kaunda | Oct 24, 1964 | Nov 2, 1991 | 9,870 |
Officeholder history via Wikidata. Multiple rows for one person indicate separate terms.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is the President of Zambia?
- Hakainde Hichilema has been President of Zambia since Aug 24, 2021.
- How is the leader of Zambia chosen?
- Zambia is governed as a presidential system with a representative democracy. Its president, Hakainde Hichilema, has led the country since Aug 24, 2021. Zambia has had 8 presidents since 1964. Under the Regimes of the World classification, it counts as an electoral autocracy.
- Who is the longest-serving President of Zambia?
- Kenneth Kaunda, with 9,870 days in office.
- Are leaders serving longer or shorter terms in Zambia?
- Across 7 completed terms, the average president of Zambia has served 2,967 days (about 8.1 years). Terms are getting shorter: the last five completed terms averaged just 1,437 days. The last leader to beat the average was Frederick Chiluba, who left office in 2002.
- Has Zambia ever had a female president?
- No. All 8 presidents of Zambia to date have been men.