Laos has had a president since the Lao People’s Democratic Republic was established on 2 December 1975. The country has had 10 presidents through 2026, counting acting president Bounnhang Vorachith’s short tenure in 2021; the office has always been held by senior figures in the ruling Lao People’s Revolutionary Party.
Laos’s presidents in order
The following list gives each president’s period in office. Dates reflect the formal transfer or assumption of the presidency; some transitions coincided with party congresses and state appointments.
- Souphanouvong (1975–1991): The first president, known as the “Red Prince,” served until he stepped down because of ill health.
- Kaysone Phomvihane (1991–1992): The longtime party leader became president in 1991 and held the office until his death in 1992.
- Nouhak Phoumsavanh (1992–1998): A senior revolutionary and party official, he served one presidential term.
- Khamtai Siphandone (1998–2006): He held the presidency while also leading the ruling party for much of this period.
- Choummaly Sayasone (2006–2016): He became president in 2006 and was succeeded after two terms.
- Bounnhang Vorachith (2016–2021): He served as president and party general secretary until the leadership transition in 2021.
- Thongloun Sisoulith (2021–2026): Elected by the National Assembly in March 2021, he also became general secretary of the ruling party that year.
- Thongloun Sisoulith (2026–present): He was re-elected president by the National Assembly in March 2026.
The list distinguishes political succession from changes in a president’s term. Thongloun’s re-election in 2026 began a new term, not a new presidency-holder; he is therefore counted once among the people who have served, though his separate periods in office are shown.
How the presidency began
Before 1975, Laos was a kingdom. The Pathet Lao, a communist movement, took control at the end of the civil war, and the monarchy was abolished when the Lao People’s Democratic Republic was proclaimed on 2 December 1975. Souphanouvong, a prominent Pathet Lao leader, became the new state’s first president.
The constitutional system changed after the republic’s founding. The 1991 constitution established the contemporary framework of state institutions, including the presidency and the National Assembly. The president is head of state, while the prime minister heads the government and manages its day-to-day work. This division of formal roles does not mean the president is politically independent of the ruling party.
What the president does
Under Laos’s constitutional system, the president represents the state and performs duties including promulgating laws adopted by the National Assembly, appointing the prime minister and other senior officials in accordance with constitutional procedures, and serving as commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The president’s authority operates within a political system in which the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party holds a leading role.
The National Assembly elects the president. In practice, the party’s congresses help determine the senior leadership and political direction, and the assembly then carries out the formal election. This is not a presidential election by popular vote: citizens do not choose among competing presidential candidates in a nationwide contest.
Why party leadership matters
For understanding who holds power in Laos, it helps to distinguish the president from the general secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party. The general secretary is the party’s leading official, while the president holds the country’s formal head-of-state office. The two positions have frequently been held by the same person, especially in recent decades, but they are distinct offices.
The prime minister is another important figure, responsible for leading the government. For example, when Thongloun Sisoulith became president in 2021, Phankham Viphavanh became prime minister. Looking only at a list of presidents can therefore leave out important changes in the party and government leadership.
Changes in office and succession
Presidential transitions have generally followed party and National Assembly decisions rather than popular elections. The changes also reflect leadership generations within the ruling party. Souphanouvong gave way to Kaysone Phomvihane in 1991; Kaysone’s death the following year led to Nouhak Phoumsavanh’s succession. Later transitions occurred at intervals associated with the party’s leadership cycle.
In 2021, Bounnhang Vorachith left the presidency and Thongloun Sisoulith was elected by the National Assembly. Bounnhang briefly served as acting president during the handover, which explains why some accounts include him as an interim officeholder while summaries of the regular presidential succession focus on the elected presidents. Thongloun was re-elected in 2026.
There is a related date issue: accounts may differ slightly over the start or end of a term because they refer to different events, such as a party congress, an assembly vote, or the formal assumption of office. For a simple chronological list, the years above identify the periods in which each person held the presidency.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the first president of Laos?
Souphanouvong was the first president of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. He took office when the republic was established in 1975.
Who is the president of Laos now?
Thongloun Sisoulith is president as of 2026. The National Assembly re-elected him in March 2026.
How many presidents has Laos had?
There have been 10 presidents through 2026 when acting president Bounnhang Vorachith is included. Thongloun Sisoulith is counted once as a person, despite beginning a second term in 2026.
Do people in Laos elect the president directly?
No. The National Assembly elects the president. The ruling party’s leadership decisions shape the selection process, rather than a nationwide direct presidential vote.
Is the president of Laos the most powerful political leader?
The president is head of state, but political authority also rests with the ruling party’s general secretary and the government led by the prime minister. The president and party leader have often been the same person, but the offices are not identical.
Reading the list in context
The succession of Lao presidents is best understood as part of a one-party political system established when the monarchy ended in 1975. The presidency provides formal continuity as head of state, while party leadership and the prime minister’s government are essential to understanding how political decisions are organized. For a concise answer, Laos has had a president since 1975, and Thongloun Sisoulith has held the office since 2021, with re-election in 2026.
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