List of presidents of Colombia facts for kids

The Casa de Nariño, where the president lives and works.

The president of Colombia is the country's main leader. They are both the head of state and the head of government. This means the president leads the entire country and its government. The president is also the top commander of Colombia's military.

People in Colombia vote directly for their president. The president serves a four-year term. Before 2015, a president could be elected up to two times. However, a change in the constitution in 2015 brought back the rule of only one term. If a president leaves office early, the vice president takes over. To become president, a person must be at least 30 years old. They must also be a natural-born citizen of Colombia.

Leaders During the Fight for Independence (1810–1819)

While Simón Bolívar is often seen as the first president of an independent Colombia in 1819, many leaders came before him. These individuals governed the country during the Colombian War of Independence. This was the time when Colombia fought to become free from Spain.

From 1810 to 1819, different groups and leaders held power. Some were part of the Supreme Junta of Santa Fe. Others led the State of Cundinamarca or the Congress of the United Provinces of New Granada. At first, they still recognized the King of Spain, Ferdinand VII. But by 1813, they declared full independence.

During this period, there was also a civil war within the country. Different groups argued about how the new government should be set up. Some wanted a strong central government, while others preferred a system where regions had more power. Eventually, the federalist side won, with help from Simón Bolívar.

Leaders of New Kingdom of Granada (1810–1813)

These leaders held executive power in the early years of the independence movement. They were part of the Supreme Governing Junta of Santa Fe.

• Supreme Governing Junta of Santa Fe in the New Kingdom of Granada •
President of the Supreme Governing Junta of the New Kingdom of Granada
No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Place of birth	Elected	Took office	Left office	Political party	Monarch
—		Antonio José Amar y Borbón (1742–1826)	Aragon	1810	20 July 1810	25 July 1810	None (Royalist)	Ferdinand VII (de jure)
1		José Miguel Pey (1763–1838)	Santa Fe	1810	25 July 1810	1 April 1811	None (Centralist)	Ferdinand VII (de jure)

Leaders of the Free State of Cundinamarca (1810–1814)

The Free and Independent State of Cundinamarca had its own leaders during the independence period. They aimed for a centralist government.

• Free and Independent State of Cundinamarca •
President of the State of Cundinamarca
No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Place of birth	Elected	Took office	Left office	Political party	Monarch
1		Jorge Tadeo Lozano (1771–1816)	Santa Fe	Apr 1811	1 April 1811	29 September 1811	None (Centralist)	Ferdinand VII (de jure)
2		Antonio Nariño (1765–1823)	Santa Fe	Sep 1811	30 September 1811	13 August 1813	None (Centralist)	Ferdinand VII (de jure)
3		Manuel Bernardo Álvarez (1743–1816)	Santa Fe	1813	13 August 1813	12 December 1814	None (Centralist)	Independence declared in 1813

Leaders of the United Provinces of New Granada (1811–1816)

This group of provinces also had its own leaders during the fight for independence. They favored a federalist government.

• United Provinces of New Granada •
Secretary of the Congress of the United Provinces of New Granada
No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Place of birth	Elected	Took office	Left office	Political party
—		Antonio Nariño (1765–1823)	Santa Fe	1811	27 November 1811	27 October 1812	None (Centralist)
President of the Congress of the United Provinces of New Granada
1		Camilo Torres Tenorio (1766–1816)	Popayán	1812	27 October 1812	5 October 1814	None (Federalist)
Members of the Triumvirate of the United Provinces of New Granada
2		José María del Castillo y Rada (1766–1816)	Cartagena	1814	5 October 1814	25 January 1815	None (Federalist)
		José Fernández Madrid (1789–1830)	Cartagena				None (Federalist)
		Joaquín Camacho (1766–1816)	Tunja				None (Federalist)
		Custodio García Róvira (1780–1816)	Pamplona	1814	25 November 1814	25 March 1815	None (Federalist)
		José Miguel Pey (1763–1838)	Santa Fe	1815	25 March 1815	15 November 1815	None (Federalist)
		Crisanto Valenzuela (1776–1816)	Socorro	1815	25 July 1815	17 August 1815	None (Federalist)
		Manuel Rodríguez Torices (1788–1816)	Cartagena	1815	28 July 1815	15 November 1815	None (Federalist)
		Antonio Villavicencio (1775–1816)	Quito	1815	17 August 1815	15 November 1815	None (Federalist)
President of the United Provinces of New Granada
3		Camilo Torres Tenorio (1766–1816)	Popayán	1815	15 November 1815	12 March 1816	None (Federalist)
4		José Fernández Madrid (1789–1830)	Cartagena	1816	14 March 1816	22 June 1816	None (Federalist)
5		Custodio García Róvira (1780–1816)	Pamplona	1816	22 June 1816	16 July 1816	None (Federalist)
6		Fernando Serrano Uribe (1789–1819)	Pamplona	1816	16 July 1816	16 September 1816	None (Federalist)
Interim President of New Granada
—		Juan Nepomuceno Moreno (unknown–1839)	Casanare	1818	18 December 1818	10 September 1819	None (Federalist)

Official List of Presidents

The Republic of Gran Colombia (1819–1831)

Flag of Gran Colombia

Coat of arms of Gran Colombia

After gaining independence, a new country called the Republic of Colombia was formed. Today, we often call it Gran Colombia to tell it apart from the Colombia we know now. Gran Colombia was a large union of territories. It included what is now Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama.

The idea for the presidency began at the Congress of Angostura. This meeting brought together leaders to plan a self-governing country. General Simón Bolívar, a hero of the revolution, was chosen as the first president. Francisco Antonio Zea Díaz became the first vice president.

Bolívar was re-elected several times. For a period, Vice President Francisco de Paula Santander managed the government. This was while Bolívar was away fighting to free other Spanish colonies. In 1828, Bolívar took on very strong powers. He did this after a new constitution could not be agreed upon. He later stepped down in 1830.

After Bolívar, Joaquín de Mosquera y Arboleda became president. But he was soon removed by General Rafael Urdaneta y Faría. Urdaneta hoped Bolívar would return to power. However, Bolívar refused and sadly passed away soon after. This led to a time when the presidency was unclear.

Finally, in 1832, Francisco de Paula Santander was elected president. He was the last president of Gran Colombia. Venezuela and Ecuador decided to become separate countries. This led to the creation of a new constitution for what remained of Colombia.

• Republic of Colombia •
No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Elected	Took office	Left office	Tenure	Political party	Vice President
1		Simón Bolívar y Palacios (1783–1830)	1819	15 February 1819	4 May 1830	11 years, 78 days	Independent	Francisco Antonio Zea Díaz (16 February 1819 – 21 March 1820) Juan Germán Roscio Nieves (21 March 1820 – 10 March 1821) Office vacant (10 March 1821 – 4 April 1821) Antonio Nariño y Álvarez (4 April 1821 – 6 June 1821) José María del Castillo y Rada (6 June 1821 – 3 October 1821) Francisco de Paula Santander (3 October 1821 – 27 August 1828) Office vacant (27 August 1828 – 4 May 1830)
			1821
			1825
2		Joaquín de Mosquera y Arboleda (1787–1878)	1830	4 May 1830	4 September 1830	123 days	Independent	Domingo Caycedo
3		Rafael Urdaneta y Faría (1788–1845)	—	4 September 1830	30 April 1831	238 days	Independent	Office suspended
Office vacant			—	30 April 1831	10 March 1832	315 days	N/A	Domingo Caycedo (30 April 1831 – 21 November 1831) José María Obando del Campo (21 November – 10 March 1832)
4		Francisco de Paula Santander y Omaña (1792–1840)	1832	10 March 1832	1 April 1837	5 years, 22 days	Independent	José Ignacio de Márquez

The Republic of New Granada (1832–1858)

After Gran Colombia broke apart, the remaining territory became the Republic of New Granada. A new constitution was created in 1832. This section lists the presidents who served during this time.

Most presidents were chosen through an electoral college system. However, José María Melo y Ortiz took power by force. Francisco de Paula Santander was the first president of this new republic. He served the longest, for over five years.

During this period, the president and vice president were elected separately. This sometimes led to periods when the presidency was empty. For example, between 1854 and 1857, there was no clear president. This happened after Melo removed President Obando, and then Obando could not return to power.

Political parties

     Conservative      Liberal

• Republic of New Granada •
No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Elected	Took office	Left office	Tenure	Political party	Vice President
1		Francisco de Paula Santander y Omaña (1792–1840)	1832	10 March 1832	1 April 1837	5 years, 22 days	Independent	José Ignacio de Márquez (10 March 1832 – 1 April 1833) Joaquín Mariano Mosquera (1 April 1833 – 1 April 1835) José Ignacio de Márquez (1 April 1835 – 1 April 1837)
			1833
2		José Ignacio de Márquez Barreto (1793–1880)	1837	1 April 1837	1 April 1841	4 years, 0 days	Independent (Ministerials)	Office vacant (1 April 1837 – 1 April 1839) Domingo Caycedo (1 April 1839–1 April 1841)
3		Pedro Alcántara Herrán Martínez (1800–1872)	1841	1 April 1841	1 April 1845	4 years, 0 days	Independent (Ministerials)	Domingo Caycedo (1 April 1841 – 1 April 1843) Joaquín José Gori (1 April 1843 – 1 April 1845)
4		Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera y Arboleda (1798–1878)	1845	1 April 1845	1 April 1849	4 years, 0 days	Independent (Ministerials)	Joaquín José Gori (1 April 1845 – 1 April 1847) Rufino Cuervo y Barreto (1 April 1847 – 1 April 1849)
5		José Hilario López Valdéz (1798–1869)	1849	1 April 1849	1 April 1853	4 years, 0 days	Liberal	Rufino Cuervo y Barreto (1 April 1849 – 1 April 1851) José de Obaldía y Orejuela (1 April 1851 – 1 April 1853)
6		José María Obando del Campo (1795–1861)	1853	1 April 1853	17 April 1854	1 year, 16 days	Liberal	José de Obaldía y Orejuela
7		José María Melo y Ortiz (1800–1860)	—	17 April 1854	4 December 1854	231 days	Liberal (Draconians)	José de Obaldía y Orejuela
Office vacant			—	4 December 1854	1 April 1857	2 years, 118 days	N/A	José de Obaldía y Orejuela (4 December 1854 – 1 April 1855) Manuel María Mallarino (1 April 1855 – 1 April 1857)
8		Mariano Ospina Rodríguez (1805–1885)	1857	1 April 1857	1 April 1861	4 years, 0 days	Conservative	Manuel María Mallarino (1 April 1857 – 1 April 1859

The Granadine Confederation (1858–1863)

In 1858, the country changed its name again to the Granadine Confederation. A new constitution was adopted, which removed the role of vice president. Instead, there were "Presidential Designates." These were people chosen by Congress each year to take over if the president was unable to serve.

Only a few people served as president during this time. Mariano Ospina Rodríguez was the first president under this new system. The country experienced a civil war between the Conservative and Liberal parties. This made it very difficult for leaders to take office.

Because of the civil war, there were many disagreements about who was the rightful president. Different generals and politicians claimed the presidency. This struggle for power ended in 1863 when Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera y Arboleda, a Liberal leader, took control.

Political parties

     Conservative      Liberal

• Granadine Confederation •
No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Elected	Took office	Left office	Tenure	Political party	Vice President
1		Mariano Ospina Rodríguez (1805–1885)	1857	1 April 1857	1 April 1861	4 years, 0 days	Conservative	Office abolished
2		Bartolomé Calvo Díaz (1815–1889)	1861	1 April 1861	18 July 1861	108 days	Conservative	Office abolished
3		Juan José Nieto Gil (1804–1866)	—	25 January 1861	18 July 1861	174 days	Liberal	Office abolished
4		Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera y Arboleda (1798–1878)	—	18 July 1861	4 February 1863	1 year, 201 days	Liberal	Office abolished

The United States of Colombia (1863–1886)

In 1863, the country became the United States of Colombia. A new constitution was put in place. This constitution kept the system of Presidential Designates instead of a vice president. These designates were chosen yearly by Congress.

There were 11 different presidents during this period. Some, like Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera y Arboleda and Manuel Murillo Toro, served more than one term. Most presidents were elected. However, José Eusebio Otálora Martínez took office after a president died. Santos Acosta Castillo took power by force.

Rafael Núñez Moledo served the longest, for over 10 years. The shortest term was served by Francisco Javier Zaldúa y Racines, who passed away in office. When President Zaldúa died, the system of Presidential Designates was used to find a successor.

Political parties

      Liberal

• United States of Colombia •
No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Elected	Took office	Left office	Tenure	Political party	Vice President
1		Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera y Arboleda (1798–1878)	1860	14 May 1863	1 April 1864	323 days	Liberal (Radical)	Office abolished
2		Manuel Murillo Toro (1816–1880)	1864	1 April 1864	1 April 1866	2 years, 0 days	Liberal (Radical)	Office abolished
3		Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera y Arboleda (1798–1878)	1866	1 April 1866	23 May 1867	1 year, 52 days	Liberal (Moderate)	Office abolished
4		Santos Acosta Castillo (1828–1901)	—	23 May 1867	1 April 1868	314 days	Liberal (Radical)	Office abolished
5		Santos Gutiérrez Prieto (1820–1872)	1868	1 April 1868	1 April 1870	2 years, 0 days	Liberal (Radical)	Office abolished
6		Eustorgio Salgar Moreno (1831–1885)	1870	1 April 1870	1 April 1872	2 years, 0 days	Liberal (Radical)	Office abolished
7		Manuel Murillo Toro (1816–1880)	1872	1 April 1872	1 April 1874	2 years, 0 days	Liberal (Radical)	Office abolished
8		Santiago Pérez de Manosalbas (1830–1900)	1874	1 April 1874	1 April 1876	2 years, 0 days	Liberal (Radical)	Office abolished
9		Aquileo Parra Gómez (1825–1900)	1876	1 April 1876	1 April 1878	2 years, 0 days	Liberal (Radical)	Office abolished
10		Julián Trujillo Largacha (1828–1883)	1878	1 April 1878	1 April 1880	2 years, 0 days	Liberal (Radical)	Office abolished
11		Rafael Núñez Moledo (1825–1894)	1880	1 April 1880	1 April 1882	2 years, 0 days	Liberal (Independent)	Office abolished
12		Francisco Javier Zaldúa y Racines (1811–1882)	1882	1 April 1882	21 December 1882	264 days	Liberal (Independent)	Office abolished
13		José Eusebio Otálora Martínez (1826–1884)	—	21 December 1882	1 April 1884	1 year, 102 days	Liberal (Independent)	Office abolished
14		Rafael Núñez Moledo (1825–1894)	1884	1 April 1884	1 April 1886	2 years, 0 days	Liberal (Independent)	Office abolished

The Republic of Colombia (1886–Present)

Since 1886, Colombia has been known as the Republic of Colombia, with a new constitution. This list includes all presidents from that time until today.

There have been 33 different people who served as president. Some, like Alfonso López Pumarejo and Alberto Lleras Camargo, served more than one term. Most presidents were elected by the people. However, some took office through other means, like José Manuel Marroquín Ricaurte and Gustavo Rojas Pinilla who took power by force.

Rafael Núñez Moledo was the first president under the 1886 constitution. He served the longest overall. More recently, Álvaro Uribe Vélez and Juan Manuel Santos each served for eight years, being re-elected for a second term.

Important changes happened over time. In 1910, the presidential term became four years. In 1938, Eduardo Santos Montejo was the first president elected by all men, as voting rules changed. In 1958, Alberto Lleras Camargo was the first president elected after women gained the right to vote.

The role of vice president was brought back in 1991 with a new constitution. This constitution also set rules for presidential elections. If no candidate gets more than 50% of the votes, a second round of voting is held. The constitution also stated that a president could only be elected once. However, a change in 2004 allowed presidents to be re-elected once. This allowed Álvaro Uribe and Juan Manuel Santos to serve two terms. But in 2015, this rule was changed again, going back to a single term limit.

As of August 7, 2026, Abelardo de la Espriella became the new president of Colombia.

Political parties

     National      Conservative      Liberal      Republican Union      Military rule      Colombia First      National Unity      Democratic Center      Humane Colombia      Defenders of the Homeland

• Republic of Colombia •
No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Elected	Took office	Left office	Tenure	Political party	Vice President
1		Rafael Núñez Moledo (1825–1894)	1886	1 April 1886	18 September 1894	8 years, 170 days	National	Eliseo Payán (7 August 1886 – 7 August 1892) Miguel Antonio Caro (7 August 1892 – 18 September 1894)
			1892
2		Miguel Antonio Caro Tobar (1845–1909)	—	18 September 1894	7 August 1898	3 years, 323 days	National	Office vacant
3		Manuel Antonio Sanclemente Sanclemente (1814–1902)	1898	7 August 1898	31 July 1900	1 year, 358 days	National	José Manuel Marroquín
4		José Manuel Marroquín Ricaurte (1827–1908)	—	31 July 1900	7 August 1904	4 years, 7 days	Conservative	Office vacant
5		Rafael Reyes Prieto (1849–1921)	1904	7 August 1904	27 July 1909	4 years, 354 days	Conservative	Ramón González Valencia (7 August 1904 – 10 March 1905) Office vacant/abolished (10 March 1905 – 27 July 1909)
6		Ramón González Valencia (1851–1928)	—	7 August 1909	7 August 1910	1 year, 0 days	Conservative	Office abolished
7		Carlos Eugenio Restrepo Restrepo (1867–1937)	1910	7 August 1910	7 August 1914	4 years, 0 days	Republican Union	Office abolished
8		José Vicente Concha Ferreira (1867–1929)	1914	7 August 1914	7 August 1918	4 years, 0 days	Conservative	Office abolished
9		Marco Fidel Suárez (1855–1927)	1918	7 August 1918	11 November 1921	3 years, 96 days	Conservative	Office abolished
10		Jorge Holguín Mallarino (1848–1928)	—	11 November 1921	7 August 1922	269 days	Conservative	Office abolished
11		Pedro Nel Ospina Vázquez (1858–1927)	1922	7 August 1922	7 August 1926	4 years, 0 days	Conservative	Office abolished
12		Miguel Abadía Méndez (1867–1947)	1926	7 August 1926	7 August 1930	4 years, 0 days	Conservative	Office abolished
13		Enrique Olaya Herrera (1880–1937)	1930	7 August 1930	7 August 1934	4 years, 0 days	Liberal	Office abolished
14		Alfonso López Pumarejo (1886–1959)	1934	7 August 1934	7 August 1938	4 years, 0 days	Liberal	Office abolished
15		Eduardo Santos Montejo (1888–1974)	1938	7 August 1938	7 August 1942	4 years, 0 days	Liberal	Office abolished
16		Alfonso López Pumarejo (1886–1959)	1942	7 August 1942	7 August 1945	3 years, 0 days	Liberal	Office abolished
17		Alberto Lleras Camargo (1906–1990)	—	7 August 1945	7 August 1946	1 year, 0 days	Liberal	Office abolished
18		Mariano Ospina Pérez (1891–1976)	1946	7 August 1946	7 August 1950	4 years, 0 days	Conservative	Office abolished
19		Laureano Gómez Castro (1889–1965)	1949	7 August 1950	13 June 1953	2 years, 310 days	Conservative	Office abolished
20		Gustavo Rojas Pinilla (1900–1975)	1954	13 June 1953	10 May 1957	3 years, 331 days	Military	Office abolished
—		Military Junta	—	10 May 1957	7 August 1958	1 year, 89 days	Military	Office abolished
21		Alberto Lleras Camargo (1906–1990)	1958	7 August 1958	7 August 1962	4 years, 0 days	Liberal	Office abolished
22		Guillermo León Valencia Muñoz (1909–1971)	1962	7 August 1962	7 August 1966	4 years, 0 days	Conservative	Office abolished
23		Carlos Lleras Restrepo (1908–1994)	1966	7 August 1966	7 August 1970	4 years, 0 days	Liberal	Office abolished
24		Misael Pastrana Borrero (1923–1997)	1970	7 August 1970	7 August 1974	4 years, 0 days	Conservative	Office abolished
25		Alfonso López Michelsen (1913–2007)	1974	7 August 1974	7 August 1978	4 years, 0 days	Liberal	Office abolished
26		Julio César Turbay Ayala (1916–2005)	1978	7 August 1978	7 August 1982	4 years, 0 days	Liberal	Office abolished
27		Belisario Betancur Cuartas (1923–2018)	1982	7 August 1982	7 August 1986	4 years, 0 days	Conservative	Office abolished
28		Virgilio Barco Vargas (1921–1997)	1986	7 August 1986	7 August 1990	4 years, 0 days	Liberal	Office abolished
29		César Gaviria Trujillo (born 1947)	1990	7 August 1990	7 August 1994	4 years, 0 days	Liberal	Office abolished
30		Ernesto Samper Pizano (born 1950)	1994	7 August 1994	7 August 1998	4 years, 0 days	Liberal	Humberto De la Calle (7 August 1994 – 19 September 1997) Carlos Lemos Simmonds (19 September 1997 – 7 August 1998)
31		Andrés Pastrana Arango (born 1954)	1998	7 August 1998	7 August 2002	4 years, 0 days	Conservative	Gustavo Bell
32		Álvaro Uribe Vélez (born 1952)	2002	7 August 2002	7 August 2010	8 years, 0 days	Colombia First	Francisco Santos Calderón
			2006
33		Juan Manuel Santos Calderón (born 1951)	2010	7 August 2010	7 August 2018	8 years, 0 days	National Unity	Angelino Garzón (7 August 2010 – 7 August 2014) German Vargas Lleras (7 August 2014 – 21 March 2017) Óscar Naranjo (29 March 2017 – 7 August 2018)
			2014
34		Iván Duque Márquez (born 1976)	2018	7 August 2018	7 August 2022	4 years, 0 days	Democratic Center	Marta Lucía Ramírez
35		Gustavo Petro Urrego (born 1960)	2022	7 August 2022	7 August 2026	4 years, 0 days	Humane Colombia (Historic Pact)	Francia Márquez
36		Abelardo de la Espriella Otero (born 1978)	2026	7 August 2026	Incumbent (Term ends on 7 August 2030)	1 day	Defenders of the Homeland	José Manuel Restrepo

Timeline

See also

In Spanish: Anexo:Presidentes de Colombia para niños

• List of vice presidents of Colombia
• List of presidential designates of Colombia
• List of viceroys of New Granada