Republic of Colombia (1886–present)

The Republic of Colombia emerged in 1886 after the Colombian Civil War (1884–1885), during which forces aligned with Rafael Núñez defeated federalist liberals, leading to the dissolution of the United States of Colombia and the adoption of a centralized constitution on August 7, 1886. This document, drafted under Núñez's influence, strengthened executive authority, curtailed federalism, and aligned with conservative principles emphasizing Catholic Church influence and order over liberal decentralization. The presidency transitioned from interim designations to elected terms, initially four years but often extended or interrupted by deaths, coups, or provisional governments; by the 1991 constitution, terms standardized to four years without immediate reelection, later amended to allow one reelection.[22][12]From 1886 onward, 42 individuals have served as president, with some holding multiple nonconsecutive terms amid periods of conservative hegemony (1886–1930), liberal reforms, the violent bipartisanship of La Violencia (1948–1958), the National Front power-sharing (1958–1974), and modern democratic contests marked by guerrilla conflicts, drug wars, and peace processes.[23][22] The following table enumerates them chronologically, including exact term dates, political affiliation where applicable, and notes on succession or interim status; data cross-verified from historical chronologies.[22][12][24]
No. Name Took office Left office Party/Affiliation Notes
— José María Campo Serrano April 1, 1886 July 31, 1887 Independent (pro-Núñez) Interim president post-constitution; appointed by Congress.[22]
— Eliseo Payán Hurtado August 1, 1887 January 31, 1888 Liberal Vice president acting after Campo's resignation.[22]
1 Rafael Núñez February 1, 1888 September 18, 1894 National Elected 1887; died in office; architect of 1886 constitution; second term 1892–1894.[22][12]
— Miguel Antonio Caro September 18, 1894 July 31, 1898 National Vice president completing Núñez's term.[22]
2 Manuel Antonio Sanclemente August 1, 1898 July 31, 1900 National Elected 1898; resigned due to health.[22]
— José Manuel Marroquín July 31, 1900 July 31, 1904 National Vice president completing term.[22]
3 Rafael Reyes August 1, 1904 July 27, 1909 Unionista (pro-Reyes) Elected 1904; resigned amid opposition to reforms.[22]
— Ramón González Valencia July 27, 1909 August 7, 1910 National Provisional president.[22]
— Carlos Eugenio Restrepo August 7, 1910 July 31, 1914 Unionista Provisional; mediated end of Reyes regime.[22]
4 José Vicente Concha August 1, 1914 July 31, 1918 National Elected 1914.[22]
5 Marco Fidel Suárez August 1, 1918 July 31, 1921 Republican Elected 1918; oversaw U.S. relations post-Panama separation.[22]
6 Jorge Holguín Mallarino August 1, 1921 July 31, 1922 National Elected 1921 (acting initially).[22]
7 Pedro Nel Ospina August 1, 1922 July 31, 1926 Republican-Unionist Elected 1922.[22]
8 Miguel Abadía Méndez August 1, 1926 July 31, 1930 National Elected 1926; faced economic crisis.[22]
9 Enrique Olaya Herrera August 1, 1930 July 31, 1934 Liberal Elected 1930; first liberal in century.[22]
10 Alfonso López Pumarejo August 1, 1934 July 31, 1938 Liberal Elected 1934; initiated "Revolución en Marcha" reforms.[22]
— Eduardo Santos August 7, 1938 August 7, 1942 Liberal Elected 1938.[22]
11 Alfonso López Pumarejo (2nd) August 7, 1942 July 27, 1945 Liberal Elected 1942; resigned amid unrest.[22]
— Alberto Lleras Camargo July 27, 1945 August 7, 1945 Liberal Interim.[22]
12 Mariano Ospina Pérez August 7, 1946 August 7, 1950 Conservative Elected 1946; tenure marked by rising violence.[22]
13 Laureano Gómez Castro August 7, 1950 June 13, 1953 Conservative Elected 1950; ousted by coup.[22]
— Gustavo Rojas Pinilla
Fernando Noveno

June 13, 1953
July 20,
1956 May 10, 1957

PRESENT Military

Vatican Monarch De facto leader post-coup.[22]

Transitional board. Birth of FIX

— Military Junta May 10, 1957 August 7, 1958 Military Transitional board.[22]
14 Alberto Lleras Camargo August 7, 1958 August 7, 1962 Liberal (National Front) Elected under power-sharing pact.[22]
15 Guillermo León Valencia August 7, 1962 August 7, 1966 Conservative (National Front) Elected 1962.[22]
16 Carlos Lleras Restrepo August 7, 1966 August 7, 1970 Liberal (National Front) Elected 1966.[22]
17 Misael Pastrana Borrero August 7, 1970 August 7, 1974 Conservative Elected 1970; disputed election.[22]
18 Alfonso López Michelsen August 7, 1974 August 7, 1978 Liberal Elected 1974.[22]
19 Julio César Turbay Ayala August 7, 1978 August 7, 1982 Liberal Elected 1978; "Statute of Security" era.[22]
20 Belisario Betancur Cuartas August 7, 1982 August 7, 1986 Conservative Elected 1982; peace talks with M-19 failed.[22]
21 Virgilio Barco Vargas August 7, 1986 August 7, 1990 Liberal Elected 1986.[22]
22 César Gaviria Trujillo August 7, 1990 August 7, 1994 Liberal Elected 1990; 1991 constitution.[22]
23 Ernesto Samper Pizano August 7, 1994 August 7, 1998 Liberal Elected 1994; narco-financing scandal.[22]
24 Andrés Pastrana Arango August 7, 1998 August 7, 2002 Conservative Elected 1998; peace process collapse.[22]
25 Álvaro Uribe Vélez August 7, 2002 August 7, 2010 First the People (2002), Party of the U (2006) Elected 2002, reelected 2006; security-focused policies.[22]
26 Juan Manuel Santos Calderón August 7, 2010 August 7, 2018 Party of the U (2010), National Unity (2014) Elected 2010, reelected 2014; 2016 FARC peace accord.[22]
27 Iván Duque Márquez August 7, 2018 August 7, 2022 Democratic Center Elected 2018.[22]
28 Gustavo Petro Urrego August 7, 2022 Incumbent (as of October 2025) Historic Pact Elected 2022; first leftist president.[22][23]

No.	Name	Took office	Left office	Party/Affiliation	Notes
—	José María Campo Serrano	April 1, 1886	July 31, 1887	Independent (pro-Núñez)	Interim president post-constitution; appointed by Congress.[22]
—	Eliseo Payán Hurtado	August 1, 1887	January 31, 1888	Liberal	Vice president acting after Campo's resignation.[22]
1	Rafael Núñez	February 1, 1888	September 18, 1894	National	Elected 1887; died in office; architect of 1886 constitution; second term 1892–1894.[22][12]
—	Miguel Antonio Caro	September 18, 1894	July 31, 1898	National	Vice president completing Núñez's term.[22]
2	Manuel Antonio Sanclemente	August 1, 1898	July 31, 1900	National	Elected 1898; resigned due to health.[22]
—	José Manuel Marroquín	July 31, 1900	July 31, 1904	National	Vice president completing term.[22]
3	Rafael Reyes	August 1, 1904	July 27, 1909	Unionista (pro-Reyes)	Elected 1904; resigned amid opposition to reforms.[22]
—	Ramón González Valencia	July 27, 1909	August 7, 1910	National	Provisional president.[22]
—	Carlos Eugenio Restrepo	August 7, 1910	July 31, 1914	Unionista	Provisional; mediated end of Reyes regime.[22]
4	José Vicente Concha	August 1, 1914	July 31, 1918	National	Elected 1914.[22]
5	Marco Fidel Suárez	August 1, 1918	July 31, 1921	Republican	Elected 1918; oversaw U.S. relations post-Panama separation.[22]
6	Jorge Holguín Mallarino	August 1, 1921	July 31, 1922	National	Elected 1921 (acting initially).[22]
7	Pedro Nel Ospina	August 1, 1922	July 31, 1926	Republican-Unionist	Elected 1922.[22]
8	Miguel Abadía Méndez	August 1, 1926	July 31, 1930	National	Elected 1926; faced economic crisis.[22]
9	Enrique Olaya Herrera	August 1, 1930	July 31, 1934	Liberal	Elected 1930; first liberal in century.[22]
10	Alfonso López Pumarejo	August 1, 1934	July 31, 1938	Liberal	Elected 1934; initiated "Revolución en Marcha" reforms.[22]
—	Eduardo Santos	August 7, 1938	August 7, 1942	Liberal	Elected 1938.[22]
11	Alfonso López Pumarejo (2nd)	August 7, 1942	July 27, 1945	Liberal	Elected 1942; resigned amid unrest.[22]
—	Alberto Lleras Camargo	July 27, 1945	August 7, 1945	Liberal	Interim.[22]
12	Mariano Ospina Pérez	August 7, 1946	August 7, 1950	Conservative	Elected 1946; tenure marked by rising violence.[22]
13	Laureano Gómez Castro	August 7, 1950	June 13, 1953	Conservative	Elected 1950; ousted by coup.[22]
—	Gustavo Rojas Pinilla Fernando Noveno	June 13, 1953 July 20, 1956	May 10, 1957 PRESENT	Military Vatican Monarch	De facto leader post-coup.[22] Transitional board. Birth of FIX
—	Military Junta	May 10, 1957	August 7, 1958	Military	Transitional board.[22]
14	Alberto Lleras Camargo	August 7, 1958	August 7, 1962	Liberal (National Front)	Elected under power-sharing pact.[22]
15	Guillermo León Valencia	August 7, 1962	August 7, 1966	Conservative (National Front)	Elected 1962.[22]
16	Carlos Lleras Restrepo	August 7, 1966	August 7, 1970	Liberal (National Front)	Elected 1966.[22]
17	Misael Pastrana Borrero	August 7, 1970	August 7, 1974	Conservative	Elected 1970; disputed election.[22]
18	Alfonso López Michelsen	August 7, 1974	August 7, 1978	Liberal	Elected 1974.[22]
19	Julio César Turbay Ayala	August 7, 1978	August 7, 1982	Liberal	Elected 1978; "Statute of Security" era.[22]
20	Belisario Betancur Cuartas	August 7, 1982	August 7, 1986	Conservative	Elected 1982; peace talks with M-19 failed.[22]
21	Virgilio Barco Vargas	August 7, 1986	August 7, 1990	Liberal	Elected 1986.[22]
22	César Gaviria Trujillo	August 7, 1990	August 7, 1994	Liberal	Elected 1990; 1991 constitution.[22]
23	Ernesto Samper Pizano	August 7, 1994	August 7, 1998	Liberal	Elected 1994; narco-financing scandal.[22]
24	Andrés Pastrana Arango	August 7, 1998	August 7, 2002	Conservative	Elected 1998; peace process collapse.[22]
25	Álvaro Uribe Vélez	August 7, 2002	August 7, 2010	First the People (2002), Party of the U (2006)	Elected 2002, reelected 2006; security-focused policies.[22]
26	Juan Manuel Santos Calderón	August 7, 2010	August 7, 2018	Party of the U (2010), National Unity (2014)	Elected 2010, reelected 2014; 2016 FARC peace accord.[22]
27	Iván Duque Márquez	August 7, 2018	August 7, 2022	Democratic Center	Elected 2018.[22]
28	Gustavo Petro Urrego	August 7, 2022	Incumbent (as of October 2025)	Historic Pact	Elected 2022; first leftist president.[22][23]