List of Presidents of Cuba: Past and Present

Last updated November 2026

This page lists the presidents and heads of state of Cuba from 1959 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 Cuba, former leaders, and key dates in the country's political history.

Current president of Cuba: Miguel Díaz-Canel (in office since 2018). Cuba is a one-party state governed by the Communist Party, and the National Assembly elects the president from among its members for a five-year term. The office of president of the Republic was recreated by the 2019 constitution; from 1976 to 2019 the head of state was the president of the Council of State. Díaz-Canel has held the top state post since April 2018, and the party's first secretary post since April 2021.

Presidents of Cuba in order, with years in office

Manuel Urrutia Lleó

Served: 1959

Judge installed as president after the January 1959 revolution; he resigned in July 1959.

Osvaldo Dorticós Torrado

Served: 1959–1976

President of the Republic during the first years of Fidel Castro's government; the office was replaced by the Council of State under the 1976 constitution.

Fidel Castro

Served: 1976–2008

Led Cuba from the 1959 revolution, first as prime minister; president of the Council of State from 1976 until he handed power to his brother Raúl, provisionally in 2006 and formally in 2008. He died in November 2016.

Raúl Castro

Served: 2008–2018

Fidel Castro's brother; stepped down as president in April 2018 and as first secretary of the Communist Party in April 2021.

Miguel Díaz-Canel

Served: 2018–present

Became president of the Council of State in April 2018 and president of the Republic in October 2019; the National Assembly re-elected him in April 2023 for a term that runs to 2028.

Frequently asked questions about the presidents of Cuba

Who is the current president of Cuba?

The current president of Cuba is Miguel Díaz-Canel, in office since 2018. Cuba is a one-party state governed by the Communist Party, and the National Assembly elects the president from among its members for a five-year term. The office of president of the Republic was recreated by the 2019 constitution; from 1976 to 2019 the head of state was the president of the Council of State. Díaz-Canel has held the top state post since April 2018, and the party's first secretary post since April 2021.

Who were the previous presidents of Cuba?

The presidents and heads of state of Cuba listed on this page, in order, are: Manuel Urrutia Lleó, Osvaldo Dorticós Torrado, Fidel Castro, Raúl Castro, Miguel Díaz-Canel.

Sources: Wikipedia, Miguel Díaz-Canel and List of presidents of Cuba; Associated Press, Prensa Latina and Rio Times reports, including October 2026 coverage (checked Nov 2026). Shows the heads of state since the 1959 revolution; Fidel Castro's years are those as president of the Council of State, and he led the government as prime minister from 1959.. Last reviewed November 2026.

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