# List of heads of state of Guyana

This is a list of the heads of state of Guyana, from the independence of Guyana in 1966 to the present day.
From 1966 to 1970 the head of state under the Constitution of 1966 was the queen of Guyana, Elizabeth II, who was also the monarch of the other Commonwealth realms. The monarch was represented in Guyana by a governor-general. Guyana became a republic within the Commonwealth under the Constitution of 1970 and the monarch and governor-general were replaced by a ceremonial president, by that time.

## Monarch (1966–1970)

The succession to the throne was the same as the succession to the British throne.
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Reign | Reign | Reign | Royal House | Prime minister(s) |
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Reign start | Reign end | Duration | Royal House | Prime minister(s) |
| 1 | | Queen Elizabeth II (1926–2022) | 26 May 1966 | 23 February 1970 | 3 years, 273 days | Windsor | Burnham |

### Governor-general

The governor-general was the representative of the monarch in Guyana and exercised most of the powers of the monarch. The governor-general was appointed for an indefinite term, serving at the pleasure of the monarch. Since Guyana was granted independence by the Guyana Independence Act 1966, rather than being first established as a semi-autonomous dominion and later promoted to independence as defined by the Statute of Westminster 1931, the governor-general was to be always appointed solely on the advice of the Cabinet of Guyana without the involvement of the British government, with the sole exception of Richard Luyt, the former colonial governor, who served as governor-general temporarily until he was replaced by David Rose. In the event of a vacancy the Chancellor (the head of the judicial branch, serving directly above the Chief Justice of Guyana) would have served as the officer administering the government.
Following is a list of people who have served as Governor-General of Guyana.

#### Symbols

$^†$ Died in office
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Monarch (Reign) |
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Monarch (Reign) |
| 1 | | Sir Richard Luyt (1915–1994) | 26 May 1966 | 16 December 1966 | 204 days | Elizabeth II (1966–1970) |
| 2 | | Sir David Rose (1923–1969) | 16 December 1966 | 10 November 1969 | 2 years, 329 days | Elizabeth II (1966–1970) |
| – | | Sir Edward Luckhoo (1912–1998) | 10 November 1969 | 23 February 1970 | 105 days | Elizabeth II (1966–1970) |

## Republic (1970–present)

Under the Constitution of 1970, the first constitution of the Republic of Guyana, the president replaced the monarch as ceremonial head of state. The president was elected by the National Assembly for a six-year term. In the event of a vacancy the Chancellor (the head of the judicial branch, serving directly above the Chief Justice of Guyana) served as acting president. In 1980, the powers of the president were increased, with the establishment of the executive presidency.
Currently, the president is both head of state and head of government and, pursuant to article 91 of the Constitution, is directly elected on the basis of the votes cast in the general election. On Nomination Day, each list of contesting parties designate a member of their list as that party's presidential candidate. The presidential candidate whose party's list of candidates receives the most votes is elected president. In the event of a vacancy, the prime minister becomes president.

### Symbols

$^†$ Died in office
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Elected | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Political party (Coalition) | Prime minister(s) |
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Elected | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Political party (Coalition) | Prime minister(s) |
| Ceremonial President |||||||||
| 1 | | Arthur Chung (1918–2008) | 1970 | 17 March 1970 | 6 October 1980 | 10 years, 203 days | Independent | Burnham |
| 1 | | Arthur Chung (1918–2008) | 1976 | 17 March 1970 | 6 October 1980 | 10 years, 203 days | Independent | Burnham |
| Executive President |||||||||
| 2 | | Forbes Burnham (1923–1985) | 1980 | 6 October 1980 | 6 August 1985 | 4 years, 304 days | PNCR | Reid Hoyte |
| 3 | | Desmond Hoyte (1929–2002) | — | 6 August 1985 | 9 October 1992 | 7 years, 64 days | PNCR | Green |
| 3 | | Desmond Hoyte (1929–2002) | 1985 | 6 August 1985 | 9 October 1992 | 7 years, 64 days | PNCR | Green |
| 4 | | Cheddi Jagan (1918–1997) | 1992 | 9 October 1992 | 6 March 1997 | 4 years, 148 days | PPP/C | Hinds |
| 5 | | Sam Hinds (born 1943) | — | 6 March 1997 | 19 December 1997 | 288 days | PPP/C | J. Jagan |
| 6 | | Janet Jagan (1920–2009) | 1997 | 19 December 1997 | 11 August 1999 (Resigned) | 1 year, 235 days | PPP/C | Hinds Jagdeo |
| 7 | | Bharrat Jagdeo (born 1964) | — | 11 August 1999 | 3 December 2011 | 12 years, 114 days | PPP/C | Hinds |
| 7 | | Bharrat Jagdeo (born 1964) | 2001 | 11 August 1999 | 3 December 2011 | 12 years, 114 days | PPP/C | Hinds |
| 7 | | Bharrat Jagdeo (born 1964) | 2006 | 11 August 1999 | 3 December 2011 | 12 years, 114 days | PPP/C | Hinds |
| 8 | | Donald Ramotar (born 1950) | 2011 | 3 December 2011 | 16 May 2015 | 3 years, 164 days | PPP/C | Hinds |
| 9 | | David Granger (born 1945) | 2015 | 16 May 2015 | 2 August 2020 | 5 years, 78 days | PNCR (APNU) | Nagamootoo |
| 10 | | Irfaan Ali (born 1980) | 2020 | 2 August 2020 | Incumbent | 4 years, 168 days | PPP/C | Phillips |

## Standards

* Flag of the governor-general (1966–1970)
* Presidential standard of Guyana under President Arthur Chung
* Presidential standard of Guyana under President Forbes Burnham
* Presidential standard of Guyana under President Desmond Hoyte
* Presidential standard of Guyana under President Cheddi Jagan
* Presidential standard of Guyana under President Janet Jagan
* Presidential Standard of Guyana used by President Bharrat Jagdeo
* Presidential standard of Guyana under President Donald Ramotar
* Presidential standard of Guyana under President David A. Granger
* Current presidential standard of Guyana used by President Irfaan Ali