Franjo Tuđman
Served: 1990–1999
First president of independent Croatia; he died in office in December 1999.
List of Presidents of Croatia: Past and Present
Last updated
This page lists the presidents and heads of state of Croatia from 1990 to the present, with the years each leader was in office and a short summary of their time in power. Use it to find the current president of Croatia, former leaders, and key dates in the country's political history.
Current president of Croatia: Zoran Milanović (in office since 2020).
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Presidents of Croatia in order, with years in office
Vlatko Pavletić
Served: 1999–2000 (acting)
Speaker of parliament who acted as president after Tuđman's death.
Zlatko Tomčić
Served: 2000 (acting)
Speaker of parliament who acted as president until Stjepan Mesić took office.
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Stjepan Mesić
Served: 2000–2010
Served two terms.
Ivo Josipović
Served: 2010–2015
Law professor and composer.
Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović
Served: 2015–2020
First woman president of Croatia.
Zoran Milanović
Served: 2020–present
Former prime minister who was re-elected in January 2025 for a second five-year term.
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Frequently asked questions about the presidents of Croatia
Who is the current president of Croatia?
The current president of Croatia is Zoran Milanović, in office since 2020.
Who were the previous presidents of Croatia?
The presidents and heads of state of Croatia listed on this page, in order, are: Franjo Tuđman, Vlatko Pavletić, Zlatko Tomčić, Stjepan Mesić, Ivo Josipović, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, Zoran Milanović.
Who was the first president of Croatia?
Franjo Tuđman was the first president of Croatia, in office 1990–1999.
Sources: Wikipedia, List of presidents of Croatia; Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia (predsjednik.hr); AP reports on the 2025 election (checked Nov 2026). Presidents since independence in 1991; acting presidents are labelled.. Last reviewed November 2026.
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