List of Presidents of Estonia: Past and Present

Last updated November 2026

This page lists the presidents and heads of state of Estonia from 1992 to the present, with the years each leader was in office and a short summary of their time in power. Use it to find the current president of Estonia, former leaders, and key dates in the country's political history.

Current president of Estonia: Ülle Madise (in office since 2026).

Presidents of Estonia in order, with years in office

Lennart Meri

Served: 1992–2001

Writer and filmmaker who was the first president of restored Estonia and served two terms.

Arnold Rüütel

Served: 2001–2006

Former Soviet-era head of state who won the 2001 election.

Toomas Hendrik Ilves

Served: 2006–2016

Former foreign minister who served two terms.

Kersti Kaljulaid

Served: 2016–2021

First woman president of Estonia.

Alar Karis

Served: 2021–2026

Former auditor general who served one term and did not stand again, announcing his decision in June 2026.

Ülle Madise

Served: 2026–present

Chancellor of Justice who was elected unopposed by parliament on 2 September 2026 with 71 votes and sworn in on 12 October 2026; the second woman president.

Frequently asked questions about the presidents of Estonia

Who is the current president of Estonia?

The current president of Estonia is Ülle Madise, in office since 2026.

Who were the previous presidents of Estonia?

The presidents and heads of state of Estonia listed on this page, in order, are: Lennart Meri, Arnold Rüütel, Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Kersti Kaljulaid, Alar Karis, Ülle Madise.

Who was the first president of Estonia?

Lennart Meri was the first president of Estonia, in office 1992–2001.

Sources: Wikipedia, List of presidents of Estonia, 2026 Estonian presidential election and Alar Karis; ERR News, Reuters, Intellinews and Anadolu reports on Ülle Madise's election and swearing-in (checked Nov 2026). Presidents since independence was restored in 1992; interwar heads of state are not listed.. Last reviewed November 2026.

Presidents of other Europe countries