# List of heads of state of Libya

This article lists the heads of state of Libya since the country's independence in 1951.
Libya has been in a tumultuous state since the start of the Arab Spring-related Libyan crisis in 2011; the crisis resulted in the collapse of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya and the killing of Muammar Gaddafi, amidst the First Civil War and the foreign military intervention. The crisis was deepened by the factional violence in the aftermath of the First Civil War, resulting in the outbreak of the Second Civil War in 2014. The control over the country is currently split between the Government of National Stability (GNS)—supported by the House of Representatives (HoR)—in Tobruk and the Government of National Unity (GNU) in Tripoli and their respective supporters, as well as various jihadist groups and tribal elements controlling parts of the country.

## Heads of state of Libya (1951–present)

Kingdom of Libya (1951–1969) :
| No. | No. | Name | Portrait | Lifespan | Reign | Reign | Reign | Dynasty |
| No. | No. | Name | Portrait | Lifespan | Reign start | Reign end | Duration | Dynasty |
| 1 | 1 | Idris I | | 1889–1983 | 24 December 1951 | 1 September 1969 | 17 years, 251 days | Senussi |
| The first and only King of Libya. Deposed in the 1969 revolution. ||||
| Libya under Gaddafi (1969–2011) Libyan Arab Republic (1969–1977) |||||||||
| No. | No. | Name | Portrait | Lifespan | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Political affiliation |
| No. | No. | Name | Portrait | Lifespan | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Political affiliation |
| | 2 | Muammar Gaddafi | | 1942–2011 | 1 September 1969 | 2 March 1977 | 7 years, 182 days | Military / Arab Socialist Union |
| Chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council (RCC). Gaddafi dissolved the RCC on 2 March 1977, after the General People's Congress (GPC) adopted the Declaration on the Establishment of the Authority of the People. ||||
| Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (1977–2011) |||||||||
| | (2) | Muammar Gaddafi | | 1942–2011 | 2 March 1977 | 2 March 1979 | 2 years | Military / Independent (Islamic socialist) |
| Secretary-General of the GPC. Gaddafi renounced all government functions on 2 March 1979. However, as leader of the revolution (officially "Brotherly Leader and Guide of the Revolution"), he retained ultimate control over Libya until he was deposed and killed during the First Civil War in 2011. ||||
| | 3 | Abdul Ati al-Obeidi | | 1939–2023 | 2 March 1979 | 7 January 1981 | 1 year, 311 days | Independent (Islamic socialist) |
| Secretary-General of the GPC. Previously served as Secretary-General of the General People's Committee (Prime Minister), from 1977 to 1979. ||||
| | 4 | Muhammad az-Zaruq Rajab | | born 1940 | 7 January 1981 | 15 February 1984 | 3 years, 39 days | Independent (Islamic socialist) |
| Secretary-General of the GPC. Afterwards served as Secretary-General of the General People's Committee (Prime Minister), from 1984 to 1986. ||||
| | 5 | Mifta al-Usta Umar | | 1935–2010 | 15 February 1984 | 7 October 1990 | 6 years, 234 days | Independent (Islamic socialist) |
| Secretary-General of the GPC. Served at the time of the 1986 United States bombing (Operation El Dorado Canyon). ||||
| | 6 | Abdul Razzaq as-Sawsa | | 1933–2016 | 7 October 1990 | 18 January 1992 | 1 year, 103 days | Independent (Islamic socialist) |
| Secretary-General of the GPC. ||||
| | 7 | Muhammad az-Zanati | | born 1937 | 18 January 1992 | 3 March 2008 | 16 years, 45 days | Independent (Islamic socialist) |
| Secretary-General of the GPC. ||||
| | 8 | Miftah Muhammed K'eba | | born 1947 | 3 March 2008 | 5 March 2009 | 1 year, 2 days | Independent (Islamic socialist) |
| Secretary-General of the GPC. ||||
| | 9 | Imbarek Shamekh | | born 1952 | 5 March 2009 | 26 January 2010 | 327 days | Independent (Islamic socialist) |
| Secretary-General of the GPC. Previously served as Secretary-General of the General People's Committee (Prime Minister), from 2000 to 2003. ||||
| | 10 | Mohamed Abu al-Qasim al-Zwai | | born 1952 | 26 January 2010 | 23 August 2011 | 1 year, 209 days | Independent (Islamic socialist) |
| Secretary-General of the GPC. Served at the time of the First Civil War and the concurrent foreign military intervention. Deposed during the Battle of Tripoli. ||||
| Transitional period (2011–present) |||||||||
| | 11 | Mustafa Abdul Jalil | | born 1952 | 5 March 2011 | 8 August 2012 | 1 year, 156 days | Independent |
| Chairman of the National Transitional Council (NTC). In rebellion to 23 August 2011, based in Benghazi during this period. ||||
| | — | Mohammed Ali Salim | | 1935–2022 | 8 August 2012 | 9 August 2012 | 1 day | Independent |
| Acting President of the General National Congress (GNC). Symbolic head of state for the handover of power from the NTC. ||||
| | 12 | Mohammed Magariaf | | born 1940 | 9 August 2012 | 28 May 2013 | 292 days | National Front Party |
| President of the GNC. Resigned to comply with the Political Isolation Law passed by the GNC on 14 May 2013. ||||
| | — | Giuma Ahmed Atigha | | born 1950 | 28 May 2013 | 25 June 2013 | 28 days | Independent |
| Acting President of the GNC. ||||
| | 13 | Nouri Abusahmain | | born 1956 | 25 June 2013 | 5 April 2016 | 2 years, 285 days | Independent |
| President of the GNC. In rebellion, based in Tripoli. Internationally recognized until 4 August 2014. ||||
| Following the 2014 parliamentary election, the government was split between the newly-elected House of Representatives (HoR) and the outgoing GNC, resulting in the Second Civil War. The 2014 elections were declared invalid by the Supreme Court in November 2014. |||||||||
| | — | Abu Bakr Baira | | born 1941 | 4 August 2014 | 5 August 2014 | 1 day | Independent |
| Acting President of the House of Representatives (HoR). Symbolic head of state for the handover of power from the GNC. ||||
| | 14 | Aguila Saleh Issa | | born 1944 | 5 August 2014 | 15 March 2021 | 6 years, 222 days | Independent |
| President of the HoR. In rebellion, based in Tobruk. Internationally recognized until 12 March 2016. ||||
| Following the inauguration of the Presidential Council and the Government of National Accord (GNA), the government remained split between the HoR and the National Salvation Government (NSG), recreated after the 2016 coup attempt. Afterwards, the High Council of the Revolution was created as well. However, the High Council of State (HCS), based in Tripoli, recognized the GNA. |||||||||
| | 15 | Fayez al-Sarraj | | born 1960 | 30 March 2016 | 15 March 2021 | 4 years, 350 days | Independent |
| Chairman of the Presidential Council. Simultaneously served as Prime Minister of the Government of National Accord (GNA). Internationally recognized, based in Tripoli. ||||
| | 16 | Mohamed al-Menfi | | born 1976 | 15 March 2021 | Incumbent | 3 years, 349 days | Independent |
| Chairman of the Presidential Council. Internationally recognized, based in Tripoli. ||||