List of presidents of Uruguay facts for kids
Uruguay is a country in South America. It's a republic, which means its leader, the president, is chosen by the people. The president is both the head of state (the main representative of the country) and the head of government (the person in charge of running the country day-to-day).
This article lists all the people who have been president of Uruguay since November 6, 1830. That's when Uruguay's first constitution, which is like a rulebook for the country, was put in place. We won't include leaders from the "National Council of Government" period (1955-1967) because they were a group of leaders, not a single president.
The first president on this list is Fructuoso Rivera. He was president twice and also part of a group of three leaders called a Triumvirate. Most of Uruguay's presidents have been from the Colorado Party. This party was started by Fructuoso Rivera in 1836. The first time people could freely vote for president was in 1922.
Today, the president is Luis Lacalle Pou from the National Party. He was chosen in the 2019 election.
Contents
Early Leaders of Uruguay
Before Uruguay became fully independent, it was a province with different governors. These leaders helped shape the country's early history.
Governors of the Oriental Province (1814–1817)
This area was once part of a larger group of provinces called the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata.
No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Term of office | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
Nicolás Rodríguez Peña (1775–1853) |
9 July 1814 | 25 August 1814 | He was a governor. He was chosen by Gervasio Antonio de Posadas, a main leader of the United Provinces. |
2 | ![]() |
Miguel Estanislao Soler (1783–1849) |
25 August 1814 | 25 February 1815 | He was a governor. |
3 | ![]() |
Fernando Otorgués (1774–1831) |
26 February 1815 | July 1815 | He was a governor. He was chosen by José Gervasio Artigas. |
4 | ![]() |
Miguel Barreiro (1789–1848) |
July 1815 | 20 January 1817 | He was a governor. He was chosen by José Gervasio Artigas. |
Cisplatine Province (1817–1828)
After being taken over by Portugal, the Oriental Province became part of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves. Later, in 1822, it became a province of the Empire of Brazil.
Oriental Province (1825–1828)
In 1825, the Oriental Province declared itself independent from the Empire of Brazil. It then joined back with the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata.
No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Term of office | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
7 | ![]() |
Juan Antonio Lavalleja (1784–1853) |
19 September 1825 | 5 July 1826 | He was a governor. He was chosen by the Congress of Florida. |
8 | ![]() |
Joaquín Suárez (1781–1868) |
5 July 1826 | 12 October 1827 | He was a governor. |
9 | Luis Eduardo Pérez (1774–1841) |
12 October 1827 | 27 August 1828 | He was a governor. He was chosen by Juan Antonio Lavalleja. |
Leaders of Independent Uruguay
Uruguay became truly independent after the Preliminary Peace Convention. This agreement meant it was no longer controlled by the Empire of Brazil or the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata.
Provisional Government (1828–1830)
During this time, Uruguay was setting up its own government. Leaders served as provisional governors and captains general.
No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Term of office | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
(9) | Luis Eduardo Pérez (1774–1841) |
27 August 1828 | 1 December 1828 | He was a provisional governor and captain general. He was chosen by Juan Antonio Lavalleja. | |
(8) | ![]() |
Joaquín Suárez (1781–1868) |
2 December 1828 | 22 December 1828 | He was a provisional governor and captain general. He was chosen by the General Constituent Assembly. |
10 | ![]() |
José Rondeau (1775–1844) |
22 December 1828 | 17 April 1830 | He was a provisional governor and captain general. He was chosen by the General Constituent Assembly. He stepped down. |
(7) | ![]() |
Juan Antonio Lavalleja (1784–1853) |
17 April 1830 | 28 June 1830 | He was a provisional governor and captain general. He was chosen by the General Constituent Assembly. |
Oriental State of Uruguay (1830–1919)
The Constitution of 1830 officially started. This set up the rules for how the country would be governed, including the role of the president.
No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Term of office | Party | Elected | Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(7) | ![]() |
Juan Antonio Lavalleja (1784–1853) |
28 June 1830 | 24 October 1830 | — | — | He was a provisional governor and captain general. He was chosen by the General Constituent Assembly. | |
(9) | Luis Eduardo Pérez (1774–1841) |
24 October 1830 | 6 November 1830 | — | — | He was the President of the Senate and temporarily held the executive power. | ||
10 | ![]() |
Fructuoso Rivera (1784–1854) |
6 November 1830 | 24 October 1834 | — | 1830 | He was the 1st Constitutional President, chosen by the General Assembly. He stepped down. | |
11 | ![]() |
Carlos Anaya (1777–1862) |
24 October 1834 | 1 March 1835 | Colorado | — | He was the President of the Senate and temporarily held the executive power. | |
12 | ![]() |
Manuel Oribe (1792–1857) |
1 March 1835 | 24 October 1838 | National | 1835 | He was the 2nd Constitutional President, chosen by the General Assembly. He stepped down. | |
13 | ![]() |
Gabriel Antonio Pereira (1794–1861) |
24 October 1838 | 1 March 1839 | Colorado | — | He was the President of the Senate and temporarily held the executive power. | |
10 | ![]() |
Fructuoso Rivera (1784–1854) |
1 March 1839 | 1 March 1843 | Colorado | 1839 | He was the 3rd Constitutional President, chosen by the General Assembly. | |
12 | ![]() |
Manuel Oribe (1792–1857) |
16 February 1843 | 8 October 1851 | National | — | He declared himself president of the Gobierno del Cerrito during the Uruguayan Civil War. | |
8 | ![]() |
Joaquín Suárez (1781–1868) |
1 March 1843 | 15 February 1852 | Colorado | — | He was the President of the Senate and temporarily held the executive power. He was president of the Gobierno de la Defensa during the Uruguayan Civil War. | |
14 | ![]() |
Bernardo Prudencio Berro (1803–1868) |
15 February 1852 | 1 March 1852 | National | — | He was the President of the Senate and temporarily held the executive power. | |
15 | ![]() |
Juan Francisco Giró (1791–1863) |
1 March 1852 | 25 September 1853 | National | 1852 | He was the 4th Constitutional President, chosen by the General Assembly. He was removed from office by a coup d'état (a sudden, illegal takeover of power). | |
16 | ![]() |
Venancio Flores (1808–1868) |
25 September 1853 | 12 March 1854 | Colorado | — | He was part of a Triumvirate (a group of three leaders). Fructuoso Rivera and Juan Antonio Lavalleja passed away while in office. | |
10 | Fructuoso Rivera (1784–1854) |
25 September 1853 | 13 January 1854 | Colorado | ||||
7 | ![]() |
Juan Antonio Lavalleja (1784–1853) |
25 September 1853 | 22 October 1853 | — | |||
16 | ![]() |
Venancio Flores (1808–1868) |
12 March 1854 | 10 September 1855 | Colorado | 1854 | He was the 5th Constitutional President, chosen by the General Assembly. He stepped down. | |
17 | Luis María Lamas (1793–1864) |
29 August 1855 | 10 September 1855 | Conservative | — | He declared himself president after a rebellion by conservatives. | ||
18 | ![]() |
Manuel Basilio Bustamante (1785–1863) |
10 September 1855 | 15 February 1856 | Colorado | — | He was the President of the Senate and temporarily held the executive power. | |
19 | José María Plá (1794–1869) |
15 February 1856 | 1 March 1856 | Colorado | — | He was the President of the Senate and temporarily held the executive power. | ||
13 | ![]() |
Gabriel Antonio Pereira (1794–1861) |
1 March 1856 | 1 March 1860 | Colorado | 1856 | He was the 6th Constitutional President, chosen by the General Assembly. | |
14 | ![]() |
Bernardo Prudencio Berro (1803–1868) |
1 March 1860 | 1 March 1864 | National | 1860 | He was the 7th Constitutional President, chosen by the General Assembly. | |
20 | ![]() |
Atanasio Cruz Aguirre (1801–1875) |
1 March 1864 | 15 February 1865 | National | — | He was the President of the Senate and temporarily held the executive power. He stepped down after the Brazilian invasion. | |
21 | ![]() |
Tomás Villalba (1805–1886) |
15 February 1865 | 20 February 1865 | National | — | He was the President of the Senate and temporarily held the executive power. He stepped down after the Brazilian invasion. | |
16 | ![]() |
Venancio Flores (1808–1868) |
20 February 1865 | 15 February 1868 | Colorado | — | He became president de facto (in practice, but not officially by law) after the Brazilian invasion. He served as Provisional Governor for 3 years. | |
22 | ![]() |
Pedro Varela (1837–1906) |
15 February 1868 | 1 March 1868 | Colorado | — | He was the President of the Senate and temporarily held the executive power. | |
23 | ![]() |
Lorenzo Batlle (1810–1887) |
1 March 1868 | 1 March 1872 | Colorado | 1868 | He was the 8th Constitutional President, chosen by the General Assembly. | |
24 | ![]() |
Tomás Gomensoro Albín (1810–1900) |
1 March 1872 | 1 March 1873 | Colorado | — | He was the President of the Senate and temporarily held the executive power. | |
25 | ![]() |
José Eugenio Ellauri (1834–1894) |
1 March 1873 | 22 January 1875 | Colorado | 1873 | He was the 9th Constitutional President, chosen by the General Assembly. He stepped down. | |
22 | ![]() |
Pedro Varela (1837–1906) |
22 January 1875 | 10 March 1876 | Colorado | — | He was the 10th Constitutional President, chosen by the General Assembly after Ellauri stepped down. He was removed by a coup d'état. | |
– | ![]() |
Lorenzo Latorre (1844–1916) |
10 March 1876 | 1 March 1879 | Colorado | — | He took power as Provisional Governor. | |
26 | 1 March 1879 | 15 March 1880 | 1879 | He was the 11th Constitutional President, chosen by the General Assembly. He stepped down. | ||||
27 | Francisco Antonino Vidal (1825–1889) |
15 March 1880 | 1 March 1882 | Colorado | — | He was the 12th Constitutional President, chosen by the General Assembly to finish the presidential term. He stepped down. | ||
28 | ![]() |
Máximo Santos (1847–1889) |
1 March 1882 | 1 March 1886 | Colorado | — | He was the 13th Constitutional President, chosen by the General Assembly for a 4-year term. | |
27 | Francisco Antonino Vidal (1825–1889) |
1 March 1886 | 24 May 1886 | Colorado | 1886 | He was the 14th Constitutional President, chosen by the General Assembly. He stepped down. | ||
28 | ![]() |
Máximo Santos (1847–1889) |
24 May 1886 | 18 November 1886 | Colorado | — | He was the President of the Senate and temporarily held the executive power. He stepped down. | |
29 | ![]() |
Máximo Tajes (1852–1912) |
18 November 1886 | 1 March 1890 | Colorado | — | He was the 15th Constitutional President, chosen by the General Assembly to finish the presidential term. | |
30 | ![]() |
Julio Herrera y Obes (1841–1912) |
1 March 1890 | 1 March 1894 | Colorado | 1890 | He was the 16th Constitutional President, chosen by the General Assembly. | |
31 | ![]() |
Duncan Stewart (1833–1923) |
1 March 1894 | 21 March 1894 | Colorado | — | He was the President of the Senate and temporarily held the executive power. | |
32 | ![]() |
Juan Idiarte Borda (1844–1897) |
21 March 1894 | 25 August 1897 | Colorado | 1894 | He was the 17th Constitutional President, chosen by the General Assembly. He was assassinated. | |
33 | ![]() |
Juan Lindolfo Cuestas (1837–1905) |
25 August 1897 | 10 February 1898 | Colorado | — | He was the President of the Senate and temporarily held the executive power. | |
10 February 1898 | 15 February 1899 | He became president de facto after he took power himself. He stepped down. | ||||||
34 | ![]() |
José Batlle y Ordóñez (1856–1929) |
15 February 1899 | 1 March 1899 | Colorado | — | He was the President of the Senate and temporarily held the executive power. | |
33 | ![]() |
Juan Lindolfo Cuestas (1837–1905) |
1 March 1899 | 1 March 1903 | Colorado | 1899 | He was the 18th Constitutional President, chosen by the General Assembly. | |
34 | ![]() |
José Batlle y Ordóñez (1856–1929) |
1 March 1903 | 1 March 1907 | Colorado | 1903 | He was the 19th Constitutional President, chosen by the General Assembly. | |
35 | ![]() |
Claudio Williman (1861–1934) |
1 March 1907 | 1 March 1911 | Colorado | 1907 | He was the 20th Constitutional President, chosen by the General Assembly. | |
34 | ![]() |
José Batlle y Ordóñez (1856–1929) |
1 March 1911 | 1 March 1915 | Colorado | 1911 | He was the 21st Constitutional President, chosen by the General Assembly. | |
36 | ![]() |
Feliciano Viera (1872–1927) |
1 March 1915 | 1 March 1919 | Colorado | 1915 | He was the 22nd Constitutional President, chosen by the General Assembly. |
Oriental Republic of Uruguay (1919–present)
The Constitution of 1918 came into effect. This new constitution changed how the president was chosen. Now, the president is elected directly by the people for a five-year term. They can be re-elected, but not right away.
No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Term of office | Party | Elected | Notes | Vice President | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
37 | ![]() |
Baltasar Brum (1883–1933) |
1 March 1919 | 1 March 1923 | Colorado | 1919 | He was the 23rd Constitutional President, chosen by the General Assembly. During this time, the president worked with a group called the National Council of Administration, which also had its own president:
|
Post not established | |
38 | ![]() |
José Serrato (1868–1960) |
1 March 1923 | 1 March 1927 | Colorado | 1922 | He was the 24th Constitutional President, chosen by the citizens. He also worked with the National Council of Administration:
|
||
39 | ![]() |
Juan Campisteguy (1859–1937) |
1 March 1927 | 1 March 1931 | Colorado | 1926 | He was the 25th Constitutional President, chosen by the citizens. He also worked with the National Council of Administration:
|
||
40 | ![]() |
Gabriel Terra (1873–1942) |
1 March 1931 | 31 March 1933 | Colorado | 1930 | He was the 26th Constitutional President, chosen by the citizens. He also worked with the National Council of Administration:
|
||
40 | 31 March 1933 | 18 May 1934 | — | He became president de facto after he took power himself. | |||||
18 May 1934 | 19 June 1938 | He was a provisional president chosen by the 3rd National Constituent Convention. | Alfredo Navarro | ||||||
41 | ![]() |
Alfredo Baldomir (1884–1948) |
19 June 1938 | 21 February 1942 | Colorado | 1938 | He was the 27th Constitutional President, chosen by the citizens. | César Charlone | |
– | 21 February 1942 | 1 March 1943 | — | He became president de facto after he took power himself. | |||||
42 | ![]() |
Juan José de Amézaga (1881–1956) |
1 March 1943 | 1 March 1947 | Colorado | 1942 | He was the 28th Constitutional President, chosen by the citizens. | Alberto Guani | |
43 | ![]() |
Tomás Berreta (1875–1947) |
1 March 1947 | 2 August 1947 | Colorado | 1946 | He was the 29th Constitutional President, chosen by the citizens. He passed away while in office. | Luis Batlle Berres | |
44 | ![]() |
Luis Batlle Berres (1897–1964) |
2 August 1947 | 1 March 1951 | Colorado | — | He was the 30th Constitutional President. He was the Vice-President under Berreta and became president after Berreta's death. | Alfeo Brum | |
45 | ![]() |
Andrés Martínez Trueba (1884–1959) |
1 March 1951 | 1 March 1952 | Colorado | 1950 | He was the 31st Constitutional President, chosen by the citizens. The role of president was later replaced by the National Council of Government. | ||
46 | ![]() |
National Council of Government 1952–1955 | 1 March 1952 | 1 March 1955 | Colorado | — | This was a group of leaders. The National Council of Government had a president who led for the rest of the 1951–1955 period:
|
Post abolished | |
47 | ![]() |
National Council of Government 1955–1959 | 1 March 1955 | 1 March 1959 | Colorado | 1954 | This group of leaders had a president who changed each year:
|
||
48 | ![]() |
National Council of Government 1959–1963 | 1 March 1959 | 1 March 1963 | National | 1958 | This group of leaders had a president who changed each year:
|
||
49 | ![]() |
National Council of Government 1963–67 | 1 March 1963 | 1 March 1967 | National | 1962 | This group of leaders had a president who changed each year:
|
||
50 | ![]() |
Óscar Diego Gestido (1901–1967) |
1 March 1967 | 6 December 1967 | Colorado | 1966 | He was the 32nd Constitutional President, chosen by the citizens. He passed away while in office. | Jorge Pacheco Areco | |
51 | ![]() |
Jorge Pacheco Areco (1920–1998) |
6 December 1967 | 1 March 1972 | Colorado | — | He was the 33rd Constitutional President. He was the Vice-President under Gestido and became president after his death. | Alberto Abdala | |
52 | ![]() |
Juan María Bordaberry (1928–2011) |
1 March 1972 | 27 June 1973 | Colorado | 1971 | He was the 34th Constitutional President, chosen by the citizens. | Jorge Sapelli | |
52 | 27 June 1973 | 12 June 1976 | — | A 1973 Uruguayan coup d'état happened, starting a period of military rule (a dictatorship) from 1973 to 1985. He was removed from office. | Vacant | ||||
53 | ![]() |
Alberto Demicheli (1896–1980) |
12 June 1976 | 1 September 1976 | Colorado | — | He was chosen by the Armed Forces. He was removed from office. | ||
54 | ![]() |
Aparicio Méndez (1904–1988) |
1 September 1976 | 1 September 1981 | National | — | He was chosen by the Armed Forces for a 5-year term. | ||
55 | ![]() |
Gregorio Álvarez (1925–2016) |
1 September 1981 | 12 February 1985 | Military | — | He was chosen by the Armed Forces. He stepped down. | ||
56 | ![]() |
Rafael Addiego (1923–2014) |
12 February 1985 | 1 March 1985 | Civic Union | — | He was the President of the Supreme Court, chosen by the Armed Forces. | ||
57 | ![]() |
Julio María Sanguinetti (born 1936) |
1 March 1985 | 1 March 1990 | Colorado | 1984 | He was the 35th Constitutional President, chosen by the citizens. He was the first democratically elected president after the military rule (1973-1985). | Enrique Tarigo | |
58 | ![]() |
Luis Alberto Lacalle (born 1941) |
1 March 1990 | 1 March 1995 | National | 1989 | He was the 36th Constitutional President, chosen by the citizens. | Gonzalo Aguirre Ramírez | |
59 | ![]() |
Julio María Sanguinetti (born 1936) |
1 March 1995 | 1 March 2000 | Colorado | 1994 | He was the 37th Constitutional President, chosen by the citizens. | Hugo Batalla | |
Hugo Fernández Faingold | |||||||||
60 | ![]() |
Jorge Batlle (1927–2016) |
1 March 2000 | 1 March 2005 | Colorado | 1999 | He was the 38th Constitutional President, chosen by the citizens. | Luis Antonio Hierro López | |
61 | ![]() |
Tabaré Vázquez (1940–2020) |
1 March 2005 | 1 March 2010 | Broad Front | 2004 | He was the 39th Constitutional President, chosen by the citizens. | Rodolfo Nin Novoa | |
62 | ![]() |
José Mujica (born 1935) |
1 March 2010 | 1 March 2015 | Broad Front | 2009 | He was the 40th Constitutional President, chosen by the citizens. | Danilo Astori | |
63 | ![]() |
Tabaré Vázquez (1940–2020) |
1 March 2015 | 1 March 2020 | Broad Front | 2014 | He was the 41st Constitutional President, chosen by the citizens. | Raúl Sendic Rodríguez | |
Lucía Topolansky | |||||||||
64 | ![]() |
Luis Lacalle Pou (born 1973) |
1 March 2020 | Incumbent (Term ends on 1 March 2025) |
National | 2019 | He is the 42nd Constitutional President, chosen by the citizens. | Beatriz Argimón |
Timeline of Presidents

More About Uruguay
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