List of Presidents of Guatemala: Past and Present

Last updated November 2026

This page lists the presidents and heads of state of Guatemala from 1986 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 Guatemala, former leaders, and key dates in the country's political history.

Current president of Guatemala: Bernardo Arévalo (in office since 2024).

Presidents of Guatemala in order, with years in office

Vinicio Cerezo

Served: 1986–1991

First civilian president after years of military rule.

Jorge Serrano Elías

Served: 1991–1993

Dissolved Congress and the courts in May 1993 in a failed self-coup and fled the country.

Ramiro de León Carpio

Served: 1993–1996

Human rights ombudsman chosen by Congress to finish the term after Serrano's fall.

Álvaro Arzú

Served: 1996–2000

Former mayor of Guatemala City who signed the final peace accords in December 1996, ending the civil war.

Alfonso Portillo

Served: 2000–2004

Won the 2000 election for the Guatemalan Republican Front; later pleaded guilty to a money-laundering charge in the United States.

Óscar Berger

Served: 2004–2008

Former mayor of Guatemala City who won the 2003 runoff.

Álvaro Colom

Served: 2008–2012

Centre-left president from the National Unity of Hope party.

Otto Pérez Molina

Served: 2012–2015

Retired general who resigned in September 2015 after a customs corruption scandal.

Alejandro Maldonado Aguirre

Served: 2015–2016

Vice president chosen by Congress to finish Pérez Molina's term.

Jimmy Morales

Served: 2016–2020

Television comedian who won the 2015 election.

Alejandro Giammattei

Served: 2020–2024

Physician who won the 2019 runoff.

Bernardo Arévalo

Served: 2024–present

Anti-corruption candidate of the Semilla movement who won the August 2023 runoff and took office in January 2024; his term ends in January 2028.

Frequently asked questions about the presidents of Guatemala

Who is the current president of Guatemala?

The current president of Guatemala is Bernardo Arévalo, in office since 2024.

Who were the previous presidents of Guatemala?

The presidents and heads of state of Guatemala listed on this page, in order, are: Vinicio Cerezo, Jorge Serrano Elías, Ramiro de León Carpio, Álvaro Arzú, Alfonso Portillo, Óscar Berger, Álvaro Colom, Otto Pérez Molina, Alejandro Maldonado Aguirre, Jimmy Morales, Alejandro Giammattei, Bernardo Arévalo.

Sources: Wikipedia, List of presidents of Guatemala and Bernardo Arévalo; Agencia Guatemalteca de Noticias, Infobae and Rio Times reports, including October 2026 coverage (checked Nov 2026). Shows the twelve presidents since 1986; Arévalo's term ends in January 2028.. Last reviewed November 2026.

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