List of political term limits

This is a list of term limits for heads of state, heads of government and other notable public office holders by country.

Africa

Country	Head of state/government		Other
	Title	Maximum number of terms	Office	Maximum number of terms
Algeria	President	Two 5-year terms, since 2016 constitution reform
Angola	President	Two 5-year terms, since 2021 constitution reform
Benin	President	Two 5-year terms, since 1956 constitution reform
Botswana	President	Two 5-year terms, since 1996 constitution reform
Burkina Faso	President	No set terms (transitional)
Burundi	President	Two 7-year terms, since 2018 constitutional reform
Chad	President	No set terms (transitional)
Cameroon	President	Unlimited 7-year terms, since 2008 constitutional reform
Cape Verde	President	Two 5-year terms
Central African Republic	President	Unlimited 7-year terms, since 2023 constitutional referendum
Comoros	President	Two 5-year terms, since 2019 constitutional reform
Côte d’Ivoire	President	Two 5-year terms, since 2016 constitutional reform
Democratic Republic of the Congo	President	Two 5-year terms, since 2005 constitutional referendum
Republic of the Congo	President	Three 5-year terms, since 2015 constitutional referendum
Djibouti	President	Unlimited 5-year terms, since 2010 constitutional reform
Egypt	President	Two 6-year terms, since 2019 constitutional referendum
Equatorial Guinea	President	Two 7-year terms, since 2011 constitutional reform
Eritrea	President	Two 5-year terms, as per unenforced constitution (no set terms in practice)
Eswatini	King	No set terms (hereditary succession)	Prime Minister	Unlimited 5-year terms, since 2005 constitutional reform
Ethiopia	President	Two 6-year terms, since 1987 constitutional reform
Gabon	President	No set terms (transitional)
Ghana	President	Two 4-year terms, since 1992 constitutional referendum
Gambia	President	Unlimited 5-year terms, since 1996 constitutional reform
Guinea	President	No set terms (transitional)
Guinea-Bissau	President	Two 5-year terms, as per the 1996 constitution reform.
Kenya	President	Two 5-year terms, since 2010 Constitutional reforn	Deputy President	Two 5-year terms, since 2010 Constitutional reform
Lesotho	King	No set terms (hereditary succession)	Prime Minister	Unlimited 5-year terms, since 1998 constitutional reform
Liberia	President	Two 6-year terms, since 1986 constitutional referendum
Libya	Presidential Council	No set terms (transitional)
Madagascar	President	Two 5-year terms, since 1992 constitutional referendum
Malawi	President	Two 5-year terms, since 1995 constitutional referendum
Mali	President	No set terms (transitional)
Mauritania	President	Two 5-year terms, since 1991 constitutional referendum
Mauritius	President	Unlimited 5-year terms, since 1991 constitutional reform
Morocco	King	No set terms (hereditary succession)	Prime Minister	Unlimited 5-year terms, since 2011 constitutional reform
Mozambique	President	Two 5-year terms, since 2004 constitutional reform
Namibia	President	Two 5-year terms, since 1999 constitutional reform
Niger	President	No set terms (transitional)
Nigeria	President	Two 4-year terms, since 1999 constitutional reform
Rwanda	President	Two 5-year terms, since 2015 constitutional reform
São Tomé and Príncipe	President	Two 5-year terms, since 2003 constitution reform
Senegal	President	Two 5-year terms, since 2016 constitutional reform
Seychelles	President	Two 5-year terms, since 2016 constitutional reform
Sierra Leone	President	Two 5-year terms, since 1991 constitutional referendum
Somalia	President	Two 4-year terms, since 1991 constitutional referendum
South Africa	President	Two 5-year terms, since 1996 constitutional referendum
South Sudan	President	Unlimited 4-year terms
Sudan	President	No set terms (transitional)
Tanzania	President	Two 5-year terms, since 1977 constitutional reform
Togo	President	Two 5-year terms, since 2019 constitutional reform
Tunisia	President	Two 5-year terms, since 2014 constitutional referendum
Uganda	President	Unlimited 5-year terms, since 2005 constitutional reform
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic	President	No set terms (in exile)
Zambia	President	Two 5-year terms, since 2006 constitutional reform
Zimbabwe	President	Two 5-year terms, since 2013 constitutional referendum

Americas

Country	Head of state/government		Other
	Title	Maximum number of terms	Office	Maximum number of terms
Argentina	President	Two consecutive 4-year terms	Vice President	Two consecutive 4-year terms
			Senators	Unlimited 6-year terms
			Deputies	Unlimited 4-year terms
Barbados	President	Two 4-year terms	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the House of Assembly, which has a term of five years
Belize	Monarch	No set terms (hereditary succession)	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the House of Representatives, which has a term of five years
	Governor-General	Unlimited 7-year terms
Bolivia	President	Two 5-year terms	Vice President	Two 5-year terms
Brazil	President	Two consecutive 4-year terms	Vice President	Two consecutive 4-year terms
Canada	Monarch	No set terms (hereditary succession)	Prime Minister	No directly set terms, but the Prime Minister must maintain the support of the House of Commons, which by statute has a term of four years
	Governor General	No set terms; appointed by monarch on the advice of the Prime Minister. Traditionally serves for one 5-year term alternating between Anglophone and Francophone appointees.
Chile	President	Unlimited non-consecutive 4-year terms
Colombia	President	One 4-year term	Vice President	One 4-year term
Costa Rica	President	Unlimited non-consecutive 4-year terms
Cuba	First Secretary	Two 5-year terms	Prime Minister	Two 5-year terms
	President
Dominica	President	Two 5-year terms
Dominican Republic	President	Two 4-year terms	Vice President	Two 4-year terms
Ecuador	President	Two 4-year terms	Vice President	Two 4-year terms
El Salvador	President	Two 5-year terms (Bukele's political reforms)	Vice President	One 5-year term
Guatemala	President	One 4-year term	Vice President	One 4-year term
Guyana	President	Two 5-year terms
Haiti	President	(Transitional)
Honduras	President	Two 4-year terms	Vice President	Two 4-year terms
Jamaica	Monarch	No set terms (hereditary succession)	Prime Minister	Unlimited 5-year terms
	Governor-General	No set terms; appointed by monarch on the advice of the Prime Minister.
Mexico	President	One 6-year term (sexenio)	Senate	Two 6-year terms (since 2018)
Nicaragua	President	Unlimited 5-year terms	Vice President	Unlimited 5-year terms (Ortega's political reforms)
Panama	President	Two non-consecutive 5-year terms	Vice President	Two non-consecutive 5-year terms
Paraguay	President	One 5-year term	Vice President	One 5-year term
Peru	President	Unlimited non-consecutive 5-year terms	Vice President	Unlimited non-consecutive 5-year terms
Suriname	President	Unlimited 5-year terms	Vice President	Unlimited 5-year terms
Trinidad and Tobago	President	Two 5-year terms	Prime Minister	Unlimited 5-year terms
United States	President	Two 4-year terms, except after succeeding to the Presidency and serving more than two years, in which case only one subsequent four-year term is permitted. Eligibility of former term-limited presidents is unclear (see Twenty-second Amendment).	Vice President	Unlimited 4-year terms
			Senators	Unlimited 6-year terms
			Representatives	Unlimited 2-year terms
Uruguay	President	Unlimited non-consecutive 5-year terms	Vice President	Unlimited non-consecutive 5-year terms
Venezuela	President	Unlimited 6-year terms, since 2009 constitutional referendum	Vice President	No fixed terms

Asia

Country	Head of state		Head of government/other
	Title	Maximum number of terms	Office	Maximum number of terms
Armenia	President	One 7-year term	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the National Assembly, which has a term of five years
Azerbaijan	President	Unlimited 7-year terms
Bangladesh	President	Two 5-year terms	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the Bangla President, who has a term of five years, as well as the support of the Bangla Parliament, which has a term of five years
Bhutan	King	No set terms (hereditary succession)	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; hoever, they must maintain the support of the Bhutanese Parliament, which has undefined terms not exceeding six years
Cambodia	King	No set terms (hereditary succession)	Prime Minister	No term limits
China	General Secretary	Unlimited 5-year terms	Vice President	Unlimited 5-year terms, since 2018 constitutional reform
	President	Unlimited 5-year terms, since 2018 constitutional reform	Premier	Two consecutive 5-year terms (Two consecutive terms of National People's Congress session)
East Timor	President	Two 5 year terms	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the Timorese Parliament, which has a term of five years
Georgia	President	Two terms: 6 years (current), 5 years (from 2024)	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the Georgian Parliament, which has a term of four years
Hong Kong	Chief Executive	Two consecutive 5-year terms
India	President	Unlimited 5-year terms	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the Indian Parliament, which has a term of five years
Indonesia	President	Two 5-year terms	Vice President	Two 5-year terms
Japan	Emperor	No set terms (hereditary succession)	Prime Minister	Unlimited 4-year terms
			Member of the House of Councillors	Unlimited 6-year terms
			Member of the House of Representatives	Unlimited 4-year terms
Kazakhstan	President	One 7-year term
Kyrgyzstan	President	Two 5-year terms
Laos	General Secretary	Unlimited 5-year terms	Prime Minister	Two 5-year terms
	President	Two 5-year terms
Macau	Chief Executive	Two consecutive 5-year terms	Legislative Assembly	Unlimited 4-year terms
Malaysia	Monarch	Unlimited non-consecutive 5-year terms	Prime Minister	Unlimited 5-year terms
Maldives	President	Two 5-year terms, since 1998
Mongolia	President	One 6-year term (Two 4-year terms until 2021)	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the State Great Khural, which has a term of four years.
Myanmar	President	Two 5-year terms
Nepal	President	Two 5-year terms
North Korea	General Secretary	Unlimited 5-year terms	Premier	Unlimited 5-year terms
	President of State Affairs	Unlimited 5-year terms
Pakistan	President	Two 5-year terms	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the Pakistan Parliament, which has a term of five years
Philippines	President	One 6-year term	Vice President	Two consecutive 6-year terms
			Senators	Two consecutive 6-year terms
			Representatives of the House	Three consecutive 3-year terms
			All other local government officials	Three consecutive 3-year terms
Russia	President	Two 6-year terms	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the Russian President, who has a term of six years, as well as the support of the State Duma, which has a term of five years
South Korea	President	One 5-year term	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the Korean President, who has a term of five years, as well as the support of the National Assembly of South Korea, which has a term of four years
Singapore	President	Unlimited 6-year terms	Prime Minister	Unlimited 5-year terms
Sri Lanka	President	Two 5-year terms	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the Sri Lankan President, who has a term of five years, as well as the Sri Lankan Parliament, which has a term of five years
Republic of China	President	Two consecutive 4-year terms, since 1994	Vice President	Same as the president
			Members of the Legislative Yuan	Unlimited 4-year terms since 2008
			County, city and township councilors, and village chiefs	Unlimited 4-year terms
			County magistrates, and city and township mayors	Two consecutive 4-year terms
Tajikistan	President	Two 7-year terms
Thailand	Monarch	No set terms (hereditary succession)	Prime Minister	Two 4-year terms
Timor-Leste	President	Two 5-year terms	Prime Minister	No term limits
Turkmenistan	President	Unlimited 7-year terms
Uzbekistan	President	Two 7-year terms, since 2023 constitutional reform
Vietnam	General Secretary	Unlimited 5-year terms (in practice two 5-years terms)	Vice President	Unlimited 5-year terms (in practice two 5-years terms)
	President	Unlimited 5-year terms (in practice two 5-years terms)	Prime Minister	Unlimited 5-year terms (in practice two 5-years terms)

West Asia

Country	Head of state		Head of government/other
	Title	Maximum number of terms	Office	Maximum number of terms
Cyprus	President	Two consecutive 5-year terms
Iran	President	Two consecutive 4-year terms
Iraq	President	Two 4-year terms	Prime Minister	Unlimited 4-year terms
Jordan	King	No set terms (hereditary succession)	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the Jordanian Parliament, which has a term of four years
Israel	President	One 7-year term	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the Knesset, which has undefined terms not exceeding four years
Lebanon	President	Unlimited non-consecutive 6-year terms	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the Lebanese President, who has a term of six years, as well as the support of the Lebanese Parliament which has undefined terms not exceeding four years
Syria	President	Two 7-year terms	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the Syrian Parliament, which has a term of four years
Turkey	President	Two 5-year terms	Grand National Assembly of Turkey	Unlimited 5-year terms

Europe

Country	Head of state		Head of government (if effectively supreme to a separate head of state) and other offices
	Title	Maximum number of terms	Title	Maximum number of terms
Albania	President	Two 5-year terms	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the Albanian Parliament, which has a term of four years
Armenia	President	One 7-year term	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the National Assembly, which has a term of five years
Austria	President	Two consecutive 6-year terms	Chancellor	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the National Council, which has a term of five years
Azerbaijan	President	Unlimited 7-year terms
Belarus	President	Unlimited 5-year terms
Belgium	Monarch	No set terms (hereditary succession)	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the Chamber of Representatives, which has a term of five years
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Presidency members	Two 4-year terms, reeligible after four years	Chairman of the Council of Ministers (equivalent of Prime Minister)	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the House of Representatives, which has a term of four years
Bulgaria	President	Two 5-year terms	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the National Assembly, which has a term of four years
Croatia	President	Two 5-year terms	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the Sabor, which has a term of four years
Cyprus	President	Two 5-year terms
Czech Republic	President	Two 5-year terms	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the Chamber of Deputies, which has a term of four years
Denmark	Monarch	No set terms (hereditary succession)	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the Folketing, which has a term of four years
Estonia	President	Two 5-year terms	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the Riigikogu, which has a term of four years
Finland	President	Two consecutive 6-year terms	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the Finnish Parliament, which has a term of four years
France	President	Two consecutive 5-year terms since 2008 constitutional reform	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the National Assembly, which has a term of five years
Georgia	President	Two terms: 6 years (current), 5 years (from 2024)	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the Georgian Parliament, which has a term of four years
Germany	President	Two consecutive 5-year terms	Chancellor	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the Bundestag, which has a term of four years
Greece	President	Two 5-year terms	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the Hellenic Parliament, which has a term of four years
Hungary	President	Two 5-year terms	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the National Assembly, which has a term of four years
Iceland	President	Unlimited 4-year terms	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the Althing, which has a term of four years
Ireland	President	Two 7-year terms	Taoiseach (equivalent of Prime Minister)	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the Dáil, which has a term of five years
Italy	President	Unlimited 7-year terms	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of both Houses of the Parliament, which have a term of five years
Kazakhstan	President	One 7-year term
Kosovo	President	Two 5-year terms	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the Assembly, which has a term of four years
Latvia	President	Two 4-year terms	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the Saeima, which has a term of four years
Liechtenstein	Monarch	No set terms (hereditary succession)	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the Landtag, which has a term of four years
Lithuania	President	Two 5-year terms	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the Seimas, which has a term of four years
Luxembourg	Monarch	No set terms (hereditary succession)	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the Chamber of Deputies, which has a term of five years
Malta	President	One 5-year term	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the Maltese Parliament, which has a term of five years
Moldova	President	Two 4-year terms	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the Moldovan Parliament, which has a term of four years
Montenegro	President	Two 5-year terms	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the Montenegrin Parliament, which has a term of four years
Netherlands	Monarch	No set terms (hereditary succession)	Prime Minister	Unlimited 4-year terms
North Macedonia	President	Two 5-year terms	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the Assembly of North Macedonia, which has a term of four years
Norway	Monarch	No set terms (hereditary succession)	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the Storting, which has a term of four years
Poland	President	Two 5-year terms	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the Sejm, which has a term of four years
Portugal	President	Two consecutive 5-year terms	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the Assembly of the Republic, which has a term of less than four years
Romania	President	Two 5-year terms	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the Chamber of Deputies, as well as the support of the Senate, both of which have a term of less than four years
Russia	President	Two 6-year terms	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the President, who has a term of six years, as well as the support of the State Duma, which has a term of five years
San Marino	Captain-Regent	Unlimited non-consecutive 6-month terms, but an outgoing Captain Regent of San Marino must wait for a minimum of three years until they can be elected again
Serbia	President	Two 5-year terms	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the National Assembly, which has a term of four years
Slovakia	President	Two 5-year terms	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the National Council, which has a term of four years
Slovenia	President	Two 5-year terms	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the National Assembly, which has a term of four years
Spain	Monarch	No set terms (hereditary succession)	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the Congress of Deputies, which has a term of four years
Sweden	Monarch	No set terms (hereditary succession)	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the Riksdag, which has a term of four years
Switzerland	President of the Confederation	Unlimited non-consecutive 1-year terms	Federal Council	Unlimited 4-year terms
Turkey	President	Two 5-year terms	Grand National Assembly of Turkey	Unlimited 5-year terms
United Kingdom	Monarch	No set terms (hereditary succession)	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the House of Commons, which has a term of five years
Ukraine	President	Two 5-year terms	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the Verkhovna Rada, which has a term of five years

Oceania

Country	Head of state		Other
	Title	Maximum number of terms	Office	Maximum number of terms
Australia	Monarch	No set terms (hereditary succession)	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the House of Representatives, which has a term of three years
	Governor-General	No term limits, but traditionally serve for one 5-year term
Federated States of Micronesia	President	Two 4-year terms	Vice President	Two 4-year terms
Fiji	President	Two 3-year terms	Prime Minister	Unlimited 4-year terms
Kiribati	President	Three 4-year terms	Vice President	Three 4-year terms
Marshall Islands	President	Two 4-year terms
New Zealand	Monarch	No set terms (hereditary succession)	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the House of Representatives, which has a term of three years
	Governor-General	No term limits, but traditionally serve for one 5-year term
Nauru	President	Two 3-year terms
Palau	President	Two 4-year terms	Vice President	Two 4-year terms
Papua New Guinea	Monarch	No set terms (hereditary succession)	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the National Parliament, which has a term of five years
	Governor-General	Two 6-year terms
Samoa	Chief of State	Two 5-year terms	Prime Minister	Unlimited 5-year terms
Solomon Islands	Monarch	No set terms (hereditary succession)	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the National Parliament, which has a term of four years
	Governor-General	Two 5-year terms
Tonga	Monarch	No set terms (hereditary succession)	Prime Minister	No directly set terms
Tuvalu	Monarch	No set terms (hereditary succession)	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the Tuvaluan Parliament, which has a term of four years
	Governor-General	No term limits
Vanuatu	President	One 5-year term	Prime Minister	No directly set terms; however, they must maintain the support of the ni-Vanuatu Parliament, which has a term of four years

See also

• Term limit
• Reelection

Sources

• CIA World Factbook