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 term, since 2016 Constitutional Reform.
 Angola President Two 5-year terms, since 2010 Constitutional Reform.
 Benin President Two 5-year terms
 Botswana President Two 5-year terms Vice President Two 5-year terms
 Burkina Faso President Two 5-year terms
 Burundi President Two 5-year terms, since 2005 Constitutional Referendum.
 Chad President Unlimited 5-year terms, since 2005 Constitutional Referendum.
 Cameroon President Unlimited 7-year terms, from 2008 Constitutional Reform.
 Cape Verde President Two 5-year terms, additional is term allowed after 5 years. Prime Minister No terms limit
 Central African Republic President Two 5-year terms, since 2015 Constitutional Reform.
 Comoros President Unlimited non-consecutive 5-year terms, since 2009 Constitutional Referendum.
 Côte d’Ivoire President Two 5-year terms, since 2000 Constitutional Referendum.
 Democratic Republic of the Congo President Two 5-year terms, since 2005 Constitutional Referendum.
 Republic of the Congo President Three 5-year terms, from 2015 Constitutional Referendum.
 Egypt President Two 4-year terms, starting from the 2014 presidential election
 Equatorial Guinea President Two 7-year terms, starting from 2011 Constitutional Referendum.
 Ethiopia President Two 6-year terms Prime Minister No term limits
 Gabon President Unlimited 7-year terms, since 1991 Constitutional Reform.
 Ghana President Two 4-year terms, since 1992 Constitutional Referendum. Vice President Two 4-year terms
 Guinea President Two 5-year terms term, since 1996 Constitutional Reform.
 Guinea-Bissau President Two 5-year terms term, since 1991 Constitutional Reform.
 Kenya President Two 5-year terms, since 1991 Constitutional Reform.
 Liberia President Two 6-year terms, since 1986 Constitutional Referendum.
 Madagascar President Two 5-year terms, since 1992 Constitutional Referendum.
 Malawi President Two 5-year terms, since 1995 Constitutional Referendum.
 Mali President Two 5-year terms, since 1992 Constitutional Referendum.
 Mauritania President Two 5-year terms, since 1991 Constitutional Referendum
 Mauritius President Unlimited 5-year terms, since 1991 Constitutional Referendum.
 Mozambique President Two 5-year terms, since 2004 Constitutional Reform.
 Namibia President Two 5-year terms, since 1990 Constitutional Reform.
 Niger President Two 5-year terms, since 2010 Constitutional Referendum.
 Nigeria President Two 4-year terms, since 1999 Constitutional Reform.
 Rwanda President Two 5-year terms, since 2015 Constitutional Reform (from 2024).
 São Tomé and Príncipe President Two 5-year terms Prime Minister No term limits
 Senegal President Two 5-year terms, since 2016 Constitutional Reform.
 Seychelles President Three 5-year terms, since 2010 Constitutional Reform.
 Sierra Leone President Two 5-year terms, since 1991 Constitutional Referendum.
 South Africa President Two 5-year terms, since 1996 Constitutional Referendum.
 South Sudan President No term limits[1]
 Tanzania President Two 5-year terms, since 1977 Constitutional Reform. Vice President Two 5-year terms
 Togo President Unlimited 5-year terms, since 2002 Constitutional Reform.
 Tunisia President Two 5-year terms, since 2014 Constitutional Referendum.
 Uganda President Unlimited 5-year terms, since 2005 Constitutional Referendum. Vice President No term limits
 Zambia President Two 5-year terms, since 2006 Constitutional Reform.
 Zimbabwe President Two 5-year terms, since 2013 Constitutional Referendum.

Asia

Country Head of state/government Other
Title Maximum number of terms Office Maximum number of terms
 Afghanistan President Two 5-year terms
 Bangladesh President Two 5-year terms
 Cambodia Prime Minister No term limits
 Vietnam President (Head of state) Three 5-year terms Prime Minister (Head of government) Two 5-year terms
 China President (Head of state) Two 5-year terms[2] (Two terms of National People's Congress session) Premier (Head of government) Two 5-year terms[2] (Two terms of National People's Congress session)
 Hong Kong Chief Executive Two 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
 Iran President Two consecutive and one non-consecutive 4-year terms
 Iraq President Two 4-year terms
 Israel President One 7-year term Prime Minister Between 1948 and 1996, and from 2001 onwards: No directly set terms, however they must maintain the support of the Knesset which has an undefined term not exceeding four years.
Between 1996 and 2001 (when the Prime Minister was directly elected): Unlimited undefined terms. Should these terms exceed seven years, the Prime Minister will not be eligible for immediate re-election.
 Japan Prime Minister No term limits
 Kazakhstan President Two consecutive 5-year terms (Exception for first President)
 Kyrgyzstan President One 6-year term
 Lebanon President Unlimited non-consecutive 6-year terms
 Macau Chief Executive Two 5-year terms
 Malaysia Yang di-Pertuan Agong Unlimited 5-Year Terms, but because the 9 Sultans of the Malayan provinces rotate each time between themselves, the unlimited 5-Year Terms are de facto unlimited non-consecutive 5-year terms. Prime Minister No term limits
 Maldives President Two 5-year terms (starting 1998)
 Mongolia President Two 5-year terms
 Pakistan President Two 5-year terms
 Philippines President One 6-year term Vice President Two 6-year terms
Senators Three 6-year terms
Representatives of the House Three 3-year terms
All other local government officials Three 3-year terms
 South Korea President One 5-year term
 Singapore President Six years; renewable
Prime Minister No term limits
 Sri Lanka President Two 5-year terms since 2015 Prime Minister Unlimited 5-year terms since 2015
 Taiwan President Two consecutive 4-year terms since 1994[3][4] Vice President Same as the president
Members of the Legislative Yuan Unlimited 4-year terms[5]
County, city and township councilors, and village chiefs Unlimited 4-year terms[6]
County magistrates, and city and township mayors Two consecutive 4-year terms[7]
 Tajikistan President Two 7-year terms[8]
 Thailand Prime Minister Two 4-year terms
 Timor-Leste President Two 5-year terms
 Uzbekistan President Two 7-year terms

Europe

Country Head of state Head of government (if effectively supreme to a separate head of state) Other
Title Maximum number of terms Title Maximum number of terms Office 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 Two 5-year terms
 Austria President Two 6-year terms. When the current President loses their re-election, they can never again be elected to the Office of Federal President of Austria. Chancellor No directly set terms, however they must maintain the support of the National Council which has a term of four years
 Azerbaijan President Unlimited non-consecutive 5-year terms
 Belarus President Unlimited consecutive 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 four years
 Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidency members Two consecutive 4-year terms
 Bulgaria President Two consecutive 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 Vice President Two 5-year terms
 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
 European Union President of the European Council Two two-and-a-half year terms President of the European Commission No directly set terms, however they must maintain the support of the European Parliament which has a term of five years (and also the European Council) President of the European Central Bank One 8-year term
 Finland President Two 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 Prime minister No directly defined terms, however they must maintain the support of the National Assembly which has a term of five years
 Georgia President Two 5-year terms
 Germany President Two 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 the Chamber of Deputies which has a term of five years Unlimited 5-year terms
 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
 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
 Luxemburg 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 four years
 Macedonia President Two 5-year terms Prime Minister No directly set terms, however they must maintain the support of the Assembly of Macedonia which has a term of four years
 Malta President Two 5-year terms 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 No directly set terms, however they must maintain the support of the House of Representatives which has a term of less than five 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. A former President of Portugal, however, if they have already served two consecutive terms, can also be re-elected to another unlimited non-consecutive 5-year term, after a minimum of five years out of office since the end of their last term in office. Presidents of local authorities (concelho and freguesia) Three consecutive 4-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 five years
 Romania 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 less than four years
 Russia President Unlimited Two consecutive 6-year terms. Prime Minister No directly set terms, however they must maintain 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 into this office.
 Serbia President Unlimited 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 Federal Council Unlimited 4-year terms President of the Confederation Unlimited non-consecutive 1-year terms
 Turkey President Two 5-year terms[9] Prime Minister No directly set terms, however they must maintain the support of the Grand National Assembly which has a term of four years
 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 Lord Speaker Two 5-year terms.[10]
 Ukraine President Two consecutive 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 Governor-General No term limits Prime Minister No term limits
 Federated States of Micronesia President Two 4-year terms Vice President Two 4-year terms
 Fiji President Two 5-year terms Vice President Two 5-year terms
 Kiribati President Three 4-year terms Vice President Three 4-year terms
 Marshall Islands President Two 4-year terms
 New Zealand Governor-General No term limits, but traditionally serve for one 5-year term. Prime Minister No term limits, 3-year election cycle.
 Nauru President Two 3-year terms
 Palau President Two 4-year terms Vice President Two 4-year terms
 Samoa Chief of State Two 5-year terms since 2007. Before 2007, the Chief of State of Samoa was elected for life.
 Solomon Islands Governor-General Two 5-year terms
 Vanuatu President One 5-year term

The Americas

Country Head of state/government Other
Title Maximum number of terms Office Maximum number of terms
 Argentina President Two consecutive 4-year terms. Every former President, if they have already served two consecutive terms in a row, has to wait one complete 4-year term, until they can be re-elected into two consecutive 4-year terms as President of Argentina again. Vice President Two consecutive 4-year terms. Every former Vice President, if they have already served two consecutive terms in a row, has to wait one complete 4-year term, until they can be re-elected into two consecutive 4-year terms as Vice President of Argentina again.
 Bolivia President Two 5-year terms Vice President Two 5-year terms
 Brazil President Two consecutive 4-year terms. Every former President, if they have already served two consecutive terms in a row, has to wait one complete 4-year term, until they can be re-elected into two consecutive 4-year terms as President of Brazil again. Vice President Two consecutive 4-year terms. Every former Vice President, if they have already served two consecutive terms in a row, has to wait one complete 4-year term, until they can be re-elected into two consecutive 4-year terms as Vice President of Brazil again.
 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 has a maximum term of five years.
Premier No directly set terms, but Premiers must maintain the support of their respective provincial or territorial legislative assemblies which have a maximum term of five years.
 Chile President Unlimited non-consecutive 4-year terms
 Colombia President Two 4-year terms Vice President Two 4-year terms
 Costa Rica President Unlimited non-consecutive 4-year terms
 Cuba 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 One 5-year term Vice President One 5-year term
 Guatemala President One 4-year term Vice President Unlimited non-consecutive 4-year terms
 Guyana President Two 5-year terms
 Haiti President Two non-consecutive 5-year terms
 Honduras President One 4-year term Vice President One 4-year term
 Mexico President One 6-year term (sexenio)
 Nicaragua President Unlimited 5-year terms [11] Vice President Unlimited 5-year terms
 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
 Trinidad and Tobago President Two 5-year terms
 United States President Two 4-year terms (except after succeeding to the Presidency and serving for more than two years, in which case only one subsequent four-year term is permitted).
Vice President No term limits. Eligibility of former term limited presidents is unclear (see article on Twenty-Second Amendment).
Senators and Representatives No term limits
 Uruguay President Unlimited non-consecutive 5-year terms Vice President Unlimited non-consecutive 5-year terms
 Venezuela President Unlimited 6-year terms

See also

References

  1. ↑ "South Sudan to adopt new constitution, claims Abyei". af.reuters.com. Retrieved 2015-08-31.
  2. 1 2 "Constitution of the People's Republic of China". English.people.com.cn.
  3. ↑ Section 6 of Article 2 of the Additional Articles of the Constitution of the Republic of China
  4. ↑ Two consecutive six-year terms from 1947 to 1994 under Article 47 of the Constitution of the Republic of China, but unlimited six-year terms from 1960 to 1991 as superseded by the Temporary Provisions Effective During the Period of Communist Rebellion.
  5. ↑ Article 4 of the Additional Articles of the Constitution of the Republic of China
  6. ↑ Articles 33 and 59 of the Local Government Act
  7. ↑ Articles 55, 56, and 57 of the Local Government Act
  8. ↑ France-Presse, Agence (2016-01-22). "Tajikistan parliament paves way for president to rule for life". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2016-09-07.
  9. ↑ "Turks back direct president poll". BBC NEWS. October 21, 2007.
  10. ↑ "Lord Speaker". BBC NEWS. October 1, 2008.
  11. ↑ "Nicaragua backs unlimited presidential terms". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 November 2014.

Sources

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