This is a list of heads of state of Albania who have served since the Declaration of Independence of 1912.
Since the collapse of the communist regime in 1991, the head of state of Albania is the president of the republic. The president is indirectly elected to a five-year term and is limited to a maximum of two terms, as specified by the Constitution. As in most parliamentary systems, the president is now by-and-large a ceremonial office, with the prime minister de facto heading the executive branch.
Heads of state
Independent Albania (1912–1914)
No. Portrait NameTerm of office Title Affiliation1 Ismail Qemali 28 November 1912 22 January 1914 Chairman of the Provisional Government Independent2 Fejzi Alizoti 22 January 1914 7 March 1914 Chairman of the Central Administration Independent
Republic of Central Albania (1913–1914)
No. Portrait NameTerm of office Title Affiliation— Essad Toptani 12 October 1913 12 February 1914 Chairman of the Opposition Council of the Elders of Central Albania Independent
Principality of Albania (1914–1925)
No. Portrait NameTerm of office Title Affiliation3 Wilhelm I 7 March 1914 3 September 1914 Prince of Albania House of Wied-Neuwied— Mustafa Ndroqi 23 September 1914 4 October 1914 Chairman of the First General Council Independent4 Essad Toptani 5 October 1914 24 February 1916 Chairman of the Provisional Government Independent 5 Turhan Përmeti 28 December 1918 28 January 1920 Chairman of the Provisional Government Independent— Sulejman Delvina 28 January 1920 30 January 1920 Chairman of the Provisional Government Independent 6 Fan Noli 2 July 1924 24 December 1924 Head of state in place of the High Council People's Party
Albanian Republic (1925–1928)
No. Portrait NameTerm of office Title Election Affiliation7 Ahmet Zogu 31 January 1925 1 September 1928 President of Albania 1925 Conservative Party
Albanian Kingdom (1928–1939)
No. Portrait NameReign Title Affiliation(7) Zog I 1 September 1928 9 April 1939 King of the Albanians House of Zogu
Italian Albania (1939–1943)
No. Portrait NameTerm of office Title Affiliation― Xhafer Ypi 9 April 1939 12 April 1939 Chairman of the Provisional Administration Committee Fascist Party― Shefqet Vërlaci 12 April 1939 16 April 1939 Chairman of the Provisional Administration Committee Fascist Party9 Victor Emmanuel III 16 April 1939 8 September 1943 King of the Albanians House of Savoy
German occupation of Albania (1943–1944)
No. Portrait NameTerm of office Title Affiliation10 Ibrahim Biçaku 14 September 1943 20 October 1943 Chairman of the Provisional Executive Committee Balli Kombëtar11 Mehdi Frashëri 20 October 1943 25 October 1944 Chairman of the Provisional Administration Committee Balli Kombëtar
People's Socialist Republic of Albania (1944–1991)
No. Portrait NameTerm of office Title Affiliation12 Omer Nishani 26 May 1944 1 August 1953 Chairman of the Presidium of the People's Assembly of Albania Communist PartyParty of Labour13 Haxhi Lleshi 1 August 1953 22 November 1982 Chairman of the Presidium of the People's Assembly of Albania Party of Labour14 Ramiz Alia 22 November 1982 29 April 1991 Chairman of the Presidium of the People's Assembly of Albania Party of Labour
Republic of Albania (1991–present)
No. Portrait NameTerm of office Title Election Affiliation(14) Ramiz Alia 30 April 1991 3 April 1992 President of Albania 1991 Party of Labour― Kastriot Islami 3 April 1992 6 April 1992 Speaker of the Parliament ― Socialist Party― Pjetër Arbnori 6 April 1992 9 April 1992 Speaker of the Parliament ― Democratic Party15 Sali Berisha 9 April 1992 24 July 1997 President of Albania 1992 Democratic Party― Skënder Gjinushi 24 July 1997 Speaker of the Parliament ― Social Democratic Party16 Rexhep Meidani 24 July 1997 24 July 2002 years President of Albania 1997 Socialist Party9 Alfred Moisiu 24 July 2002 24 July 2007 years President of Albania 2002 Independent17 Bamir Topi 24 July 2007 24 July 2012 years President of Albania 2007 Democratic Party18 Bujar Nishani 24 July 2012 24 July 2017 years President of Albania 2012 Democratic Party19 Ilir Meta 24 July 2017 24 July 2022 years President of Albania 2017 Socialist Movement for Integration20 Bajram Begaj 24 July 2022 Incumbent President of Albania 2022 Independent
Timeline This is a graphical lifespan timeline of the heads of state of Albania. They are listed in order of first assuming office.
The following chart lists heads of state by lifespan (living heads of state on the green line), with the years outside of their tenure in beige. Heads of state with an unknown birth date or death date are shown with only their tenure or their earlier or later life.
The following chart shows heads of state by their age (living heads of state in green), with the years of their tenure in blue. Heads of state with an unknown birth or death date are excluded. The vertical black line at 40 years indicates the minimum age to be president as of now.
See also List of Albanian monarchs King of Albania President of Albania List of de facto leaders of Communist Albania
Notes
References
External links A brief history of the institution