Government

Political Term Limits by Country 2025

map placeholder
Country
Term Limits
United States Flag
United States
  • Senator - Unlimited 6-year terms.
  • President - Two 4-year terms (except Vice President or other official who succeeded to the Presidency mid-term and served more than two years, in which case only one subsequent four-year term is permitted). Whether presidents who have served two terms are eligible to then serve as vice-president (and potentially succeed to the presidency again) is unclear.
  • Representatives - Unlimited 2-year terms.
  • Vice President - Unlimited 4-year terms.
Libya Flag
Libya
  • Presidential Council - No set terms (Transitional).
Vietnam Flag
Vietnam
  • President, Vice President, General Secretary, and Prime Minister - Unlimited 5-year terms (in practice two 5-years terms).
Brazil Flag
Brazil
  • President, Vice President - Two consecutive 4-year terms.
Palau Flag
Palau
  • President and Vice President- Two 4-year terms.
Peru Flag
Peru
  • President and Vice President - Unlimited non-consecutive 5-year terms.
Uruguay Flag
Uruguay
  • President and Vice President - Unlimited non-consecutive 5-year terms.
Nicaragua Flag
Nicaragua
  • President and Vice President - Unlimited 5-year terms.
Suriname Flag
Suriname
  • President and Vice President - Unlimited 5-year terms.
Panama Flag
Panama
  • President and Vice President - Two non-consecutive 5-year terms.
Taiwan Flag
Taiwan
  • President and Vice President - Two consecutive 4-year terms, since 1994.
  • Members of Legislative Yuan - Unlimited 4-year terms (since 2008).
  • Local government offices - 4-year terms, either unlimited or capped at two consecutive depending upon position.
Indonesia Flag
Indonesia
  • President and Vice President - Two 5-year terms.
Ecuador Flag
Ecuador
  • President and Vice President - Two 4-year terms.
Dominican Republic Flag
Dominican Republic
  • President and Vice President - Two 4-year terms.
Micronesia Flag
Micronesia
  • President and Vice President - Two 4-year terms.
Kiribati Flag
Kiribati
  • President and Vice President - Three 4-year terms.
Paraguay Flag
Paraguay
  • President and Vice President - One 5-year term.
El Salvador Flag
El Salvador
  • President and Vice President - One 5-year term.
Colombia Flag
Colombia
  • President and Vice President - One 4-year term.
Honduras Flag
Honduras
  • President and Vice President - One 4-year term.
Lebanon Flag
Lebanon
  • President - Unlimited non-consecutive 6-year terms.
  • Prime Minister - No term limit.
Chile Flag
Chile
  • President - Unlimited non-consecutive 4-year terms.
Costa Rica Flag
Costa Rica
  • President - Unlimited non-consecutive 4-year terms.
Italy Flag
Italy
  • President - Unlimited 7-year terms.
  • Prime Minister - No direct term limit, but PM must maintain support of both Houses of Parliament, whose terms are five years.
Azerbaijan Flag
Azerbaijan
  • President - Unlimited 7-year terms.
Central African Republic Flag
Central African Republic
  • President - Unlimited 7-year terms, since 2023 constitutional referendum
Cameroon Flag
Cameroon
  • President - Unlimited 7-year terms, since 2008 constitutional reform.
Singapore Flag
Singapore
  • President - Unlimited 6-year terms.
  • Prime Minister - No term limit.
Venezuela Flag
Venezuela
  • President - Unlimited 6-year terms, since 2009 constitutional referendum.
  • Vice President - No fixed limit.
India Flag
India
  • President - Unlimited 5-year terms.
  • Prime Minister - No direct term limit, but PM must maintain support of the Indian Parliament, whose terms are five years.
Gabon Flag
Gabon
  • President - Unlimited 5-year terms, since 2023 constitutional reform.
Bolivia Flag
Bolivia
  • President - Unlimited 5-year terms, since 2017.
  • Vice President - Unlimited 5-year terms.
Djibouti Flag
Djibouti
  • President - Unlimited 5-year terms, since 2010 constitutional reform.
Uganda Flag
Uganda
  • President - Unlimited 5-year terms, since 2005 constitutional reform.
Gambia Flag
Gambia
  • President - Unlimited 5-year terms, since 1996 constitutional reform.
Mauritius Flag
Mauritius
  • President - Unlimited 5-year terms, since 1991 constitutional reform.
  • Prime Minister - No term limits.
Iceland Flag
Iceland
  • President - Unlimited 4-year terms.
  • Prime Minister - No direct term limit, but PM must maintain support from the Allthing, whose terms are four years.
Georgia Flag
Georgia
  • President - Two terms: 6 years (2018-2024) 5 years (2024-present).
  • Prime Minister - No set term limit.
Haiti Flag
Haiti
  • President - Two non-consecutive 5-year terms.
Iran Flag
Iran
  • President - Two consecutive and on non-consecutive 4-year terms.
  • Supreme Leader - No term limits.
Cyprus Flag
Cyprus
  • President - Two consecutive 5-year terms.
Ireland Flag
Ireland
  • President - Two 7-year terms.
  • Taoiseach (Prime Minister) - No direct term limit, but PM must maintain support from the Dáil, whose terms are five years.
Syria Flag
Syria
  • President - Two 7-year terms.
Uzbekistan Flag
Uzbekistan
  • President - Two 7-year terms, since 2023 constitutional reform.
Burundi Flag
Burundi
  • President - Two 7-year terms, since 2018 constitutional reform.
Equatorial Guinea Flag
Equatorial Guinea
  • President - Two 7-year terms, since 2011 constitutional reform.
Tajikistan Flag
Tajikistan
  • President - Two 7-year terms (Exception for Founder of Peace and National Unity — Leader of the Nation).
Russia Flag
Russia
  • President - Two 6-year terms.
  • Prime Minister - No direct term limit, but PM must maintain support from the President and State Duma, whose terms are six and five years respectively.
  • Note that Russia has changed its constitution in the past to enable current President Vladomir Putin to remain in office, and could do so again.
Finland Flag
Finland
  • President - Two 6-year terms.
  • Prime Minister - No direct term limit, but PM must maintain support from the Finnish Parliament, whose terms are four years.
Egypt Flag
Egypt
  • President - Two 6-year terms, since 2019 constitutional referendum.
  • Prime Minister - No term limits.
Ethiopia Flag
Ethiopia
  • President - Two 6-year terms, since 1987 constitutional reform.
  • Prime Minister - No term limits.
Liberia Flag
Liberia
  • President - Two 6-year terms, since 1986 constitutional referendum.
Portugal Flag
Portugal
  • President - Two 5-year terms. They can be re-elected after five years out of office.
  • Prime Minister - No direct term limit, but PM must maintain support from the Assembly of the Republic, whose terms are less than four years.
Pakistan Flag
Pakistan
  • President - Two 5-year terms.
  • Prime Minister - No direct term limit, but PM must maintain support from the Pakistan Parliament, whose terms are five years.
Trinidad and Tobago Flag
Trinidad and Tobago
  • President - Two 5-year terms.
  • Prime Minister - Unlimited 5-year terms.
Timor-Leste Flag
Timor-Leste
  • President - Two 5-year terms.
  • Prime Minister - No term limits.
Bangladesh Flag
Bangladesh
  • President - Two 5-year terms.
  • Prime Minister - No term limit.
Ukraine Flag
Ukraine
  • President - Two 5-year terms.
  • Prime Minister - No direct term limit, but PM must maintain support from the Verkhovna Rada, whose terms are five years.
Poland Flag
Poland
  • President - Two 5-year terms.
  • Prime Minister - No direct term limit, but PM must maintain support from the Sejm, whose terms are four years.
Lithuania Flag
Lithuania
  • President - Two 5-year terms.
  • Prime Minister - No direct term limit, but PM must maintain support from the Seimas, whose terms are four years.
Croatia Flag
Croatia
  • President - Two 5-year terms.
  • Prime Minister - No direct term limit, but PM must maintain support from the Sabor, whose terms are four years.
Estonia Flag
Estonia
  • President - Two 5-year terms.
  • Prime Minister - No direct term limit, but PM must maintain support from the Riigikogu, whose terms are four years.
Slovakia Flag
Slovakia
  • President - Two 5-year terms.
  • Prime Minister - No direct term limit, but PM must maintain support from the National Council, whose terms are four years.
Hungary Flag
Hungary
  • President - Two 5-year terms.
  • Prime Minister - No direct term limit, but PM must maintain support from the National Assembly, whose terms are four years.
Bulgaria Flag
Bulgaria
  • President - Two 5-year terms.
  • Prime Minister - No direct term limit, but PM must maintain support from the National Assembly, whose terms are four years.
Serbia Flag
Serbia
  • President - Two 5-year terms.
  • Prime Minister - No direct term limit, but PM must maintain support from the National Assembly, whose terms are four years.
Slovenia Flag
Slovenia
  • President - Two 5-year terms.
  • Prime Minister - No direct term limit, but PM must maintain support from the National Assembly, whose terms are four years.
Montenegro Flag
Montenegro
  • President - Two 5-year terms.
  • Prime Minister - No direct term limit, but PM must maintain support from the Montenegrin Parliament, whose terms are four years.
Greece Flag
Greece
  • President - Two 5-year terms.
  • Prime Minister - No direct term limit, but PM must maintain support from the Hellenic Parliament, whose terms are four years.
Czechia Flag
Czechia
  • President - Two 5-year terms.
  • Prime Minister - No direct term limit, but PM must maintain support from the Chamber of Deputies, whose terms are four years.
North Macedonia Flag
North Macedonia
  • President - Two 5-year terms.
  • Prime Minister - No direct term limit, but PM must maintain support from the Assembly of North Macedonia, whose terms are four years.
Albania Flag
Albania
  • President - Two 5-year terms.
  • Prime Minister - No direct term limit, but PM must maintain support from the Albanian Parliament, whose terms are four years.
Romania Flag
Romania
  • President - Two 5-year terms.
  • Prime Minister - No direct term limit, but PM must maintain support from both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, whose terms are less than four years.
Belarus Flag
Belarus
  • President - Two 5-year terms.
Guyana Flag
Guyana
  • President - Two 5-year terms.
Cape Verde Flag
Cape Verde
  • President - Two 5-year terms, third term only after 5 years.
  • Prime Minister - No term limits.
Comoros Flag
Comoros
  • President - Two 5-year terms, since 2019 constitutional reform.
Ivory Coast Flag
Ivory Coast
  • President - Two 5-year terms, since 2016 constitutional reform.
Senegal Flag
Senegal
  • President - Two 5-year terms, since 2016 constitutional reform.
Seychelles Flag
Seychelles
  • President - Two 5-year terms, since 2016 constitutional reform.
Rwanda Flag
Rwanda
  • President - Two 5-year terms, since 2015 constitutional reform.
Tunisia Flag
Tunisia
  • President - Two 5-year terms, since 2014 constitutional referendum.
Zimbabwe Flag
Zimbabwe
  • President - Two 5-year terms, since 2013 constitutional referendum.
Kenya Flag
Kenya
  • President - Two 5-year terms, since 2010 Constitution (except after succeeding to the Presidency and serving for more than two and a half years, in which case only one subsequent five-year term is permitted).
  • Deputy President - Same as President.
France Flag
France
  • President - Two 5-year terms, since 2008 constitutional reform.
  • Prime Minister - No direct term limit, but PM must maintain support from the National Assembly, whose terms are five years.
Zambia Flag
Zambia
  • President - Two 5-year terms, since 2006 constitutional reform.
DR Congo Flag
DR Congo
  • President - Two 5-year terms, since 2005 constitutional referendum.
Mozambique Flag
Mozambique
  • President - Two 5-year terms, since 2004 constitutional reform.
Sao Tome and Principe Flag
Sao Tome and Principe
  • President - Two 5-year terms, since 2003 constitution reform
  • Prime Minister - No term limits.
Namibia Flag
Namibia
  • President - Two 5-year terms, since 1999 constitutional reform.
Maldives Flag
Maldives
  • President - Two 5-year terms, since 1998.
South Africa Flag
South Africa
  • President - Two 5-year terms, since 1996 constitutional referendum.
Malawi Flag
Malawi
  • President - Two 5-year terms, since 1995 constitutional referendum.
Eritrea Flag
Eritrea
  • President - Two 5-Year terms, since 1993 constitutional reform.
Madagascar Flag
Madagascar
  • President - Two 5-year terms, since 1992 constitutional referendum.
Mali Flag
Mali
  • President - Two 5-year terms, since 1992 constitutional referendum.
Somalia Flag
Somalia
  • President - Two 5-year terms, since 1991 constitutional referendum.
Sierra Leone Flag
Sierra Leone
  • President - Two 5-year terms, since 1991 constitutional referendum.
Mauritania Flag
Mauritania
  • President - Two 5-year terms, since 1991 constitutional referendum.
Tanzania Flag
Tanzania
  • President - Two 5-year terms, since 1977 constitutional reform.
Angola Flag
Angola
  • President - Two 5-year terms, as per the 2021 constitution reform.
Algeria Flag
Algeria
  • President - Two 5-year terms, as per the 2016 constitution reform.
Guinea-Bissau Flag
Guinea-Bissau
  • President - Two 5-year terms, as per the 1996 constitution reform.
  • Prime Minister - No term limits.
Botswana Flag
Botswana
  • President - Two 5-year terms, as per the 1996 constitution reform.
Benin Flag
Benin
  • President - Two 5-year terms, as per the 1956 constitution reform.
Chad Flag
Chad
  • President - Two 5-year terms since 2023 constitutional reform.
Sri Lanka Flag
Sri Lanka
  • President - Two 5-year terms since 2015.
  • Prime Minister - No term limit.
Kyrgyzstan Flag
Kyrgyzstan
  • President - Two 5-year term.
Iraq Flag
Iraq
  • President - Two 4-year terms.
  • Prime Minister - Unlimited 4-year terms.
Latvia Flag
Latvia
  • President - Two 4-year terms.
  • Prime Minister - No direct term limit, but PM must maintain support from the Saeima, whose terms are four years.
Moldova Flag
Moldova
  • President - Two 4-year terms.
  • Prime Minister - No direct term limit, but PM must maintain support from the Moldovian Parliament, whose terms are four years.
Barbados Flag
Barbados
  • President - Two 4-year terms.
  • Prime Minister - No direct term limit, but PM must maintain support from the House of Assembly, whose terms are five years.
Marshall Islands Flag
Marshall Islands
  • President - Two 4-year terms.
Togo Flag
Togo
  • President - Two 4-year terms, since 2024 constitutional reform.
Nigeria Flag
Nigeria
  • President - Two 4-year terms, since 1999 constitutional reform.
Ghana Flag
Ghana
  • President - Two 4-year terms, since 1992 constitutional referendum.
Fiji Flag
Fiji
  • President - Two 3-year terms.
Nauru Flag
Nauru
  • President - Two 3-year terms.
Republic of the Congo Flag
Republic of the Congo
  • President - Three 5-year terms, since 2015 constitutional referendum.
Malta Flag
Malta
  • President - President - One 5-year term.
  • Prime Minister - No direct term limit, but PM must maintain support from the Maltese Parliament, whose terms are five years.
Israel Flag
Israel
  • President - One 7-year term.
  • Prime Minister - Unlimited undefined terms. However, if terms exceed seven years, PM must sit out a term to become eligible for re-election. (Rules established 2001).
Armenia Flag
Armenia
  • President - One 7-year term.
  • Prime Minister - No direct term limit, but PM must maintain support from the National Assembly, whose terms are five years.
Kazakhstan Flag
Kazakhstan
  • President - One 7-year term (2022–present).Two 5-year terms (Exception for the first President) (1991-2022).
Philippines Flag
Philippines
  • President - One 6-year term.
  • Representatives of the House - Three consecutive 3-year terms.
  • Senators - Two consecutive 6-year terms.
  • Vice President - Two consecutive 6-year terms.
  • Other local govt. officials - Three consecutive 3-year terms.
Mongolia Flag
Mongolia
  • President - One 6-year term (Two 4-year terms until 2021).
  • Prime Minister - One 4-year term.
Mexico Flag
Mexico
  • President - One 6-year term (sexenio).
  • Senate - Two 6-year terms (since 2018).
South Korea Flag
South Korea
  • President - One 5-year term.
  • Prime Minister - No term limit.
Vanuatu Flag
Vanuatu
  • President - One 5-year term.
Guatemala Flag
Guatemala
  • President - One 4-year term.
  • Vice President - Unlimited non-consecutive 4-year terms.
Sudan Flag
Sudan
  • President - No set terms (Transitional).
Niger Flag
Niger
  • President - No set terms (Transitional).
Burkina Faso Flag
Burkina Faso
  • President - No set terms (Transitional).
South Sudan Flag
South Sudan
  • President - No set terms (Transitional).
Guinea Flag
Guinea
  • President - No set terms (Transitional)
  • Prime Minister - No term limits.
Western Sahara Flag
Western Sahara
  • President - No set terms (in exile).
Vatican City Flag
Vatican City
  • Pope - Lifetime term.
  • Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church - No set term. Holds office until pope who appointed him either dismisses him or leaves office.
  • Cardinal Secretary of State - Same as Camerlengo.
  • College of Cardinals - Lifetime term, though members older than 80 do not vote.
  • Dean of College of Cardinals - Two 5-year terms unless retiring or dismissed by pope.
  • Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State - Same as Camerlengo.
Malaysia Flag
Malaysia
  • Monarch - Unlimited 5-year terms, but because the 9 Sultans of the Malayan states (from which the Monarch is chosen) rotate each term, the unlimited 5-year terms are de facto unlimited non-consecutive 5-year terms.
  • Prime Minister - No term limit.
Jamaica Flag
Jamaica
  • Monarch - No set terms (hereditary succession).
  • Prime Minister - Unlimited 5-year terms.
Netherlands Flag
Netherlands
  • Monarch - No set terms (hereditary succession).
  • Prime Minister - Unlimited 4-year terms, but PM must maintain support from the House of Representatives, whose terms are four years.
Thailand Flag
Thailand
  • Monarch - No set terms (hereditary succession).
  • Prime Minister - Two 4-year terms.
Norway Flag
Norway
  • Monarch - No set terms (hereditary succession).
  • Prime Minister - No direct term limit, but PM must maintain support from the Storting, whose terms are four years.
Sweden Flag
Sweden
  • Monarch - No set terms (hereditary succession).
  • Prime Minister - No direct term limit, but PM must maintain support from the Riksdag, whose terms are four years.
Liechtenstein Flag
Liechtenstein
  • Monarch - No set terms (hereditary succession).
  • Prime Minister - No direct term limit, but PM must maintain support from the Landtag, whose terms are four years.
United Kingdom Flag
United Kingdom
  • Monarch - No set terms (hereditary succession).
  • Prime Minister - No direct term limit, but PM must maintain support from the House of Commons, whose terms are five years.
Belize Flag
Belize
  • Monarch - No set terms (hereditary succession).
  • Prime Minister - No direct term limit, but PM must maintain support from the House of Assembly, whose terms last five years.
Denmark Flag
Denmark
  • Monarch - No set terms (hereditary succession).
  • Prime Minister - No direct term limit, but PM must maintain support from the Folketing, whose terms are four years.
Spain Flag
Spain
  • Monarch - No set terms (hereditary succession).
  • Prime Minister - No direct term limit, but PM must maintain support from the College of Deputies, whose terms are four years.
Luxembourg Flag
Luxembourg
  • Monarch - No set terms (hereditary succession).
  • Prime Minister - No direct term limit, but PM must maintain support from the Chamber of Deputies, whose terms are five years.
Belgium Flag
Belgium
  • Monarch - No set terms (hereditary succession).
  • Prime Minister - No direct term limit, but PM must maintain support from the Chamber of Representatives, whose terms are five years.
Tonga Flag
Tonga
  • Monarch - No set terms (hereditary succession).
Lesotho Flag
Lesotho
  • King - No set terms (hereditary succession).
  • Prime Minister - Unlimited 5-year terms.
Morocco Flag
Morocco
  • King - No set terms (hereditary succession).
  • Prime Minister - Unlimited 5-year terms since 2011 constitutional reform.
Eswatini Flag
Eswatini
  • King - No set terms (hereditary succession).
  • Prime Minister - Unlimited 5-year terms since 2005 constitutional reform.
Cambodia Flag
Cambodia
  • King - No set terms (hereditary succession).
  • Prime Minister - No term limit.
Turkey Flag
Turkey
  • Grand National Assembly of Turkey - Unlimited 5-year terms.
  • President - Two 5-year terms.
Solomon Islands Flag
Solomon Islands
  • Governor-General - Two 5-year terms.
Australia Flag
Australia
  • Governor-General - No term limits, but traditionally serve for one 5-year term.
  • Prime Minister - No direct term limit, but PM must maintain support from the House of Representatives, whose terms are three years.
New Zealand Flag
New Zealand
  • Governor-General - No term limits, but traditionally serve for one 5-year term.
  • Prime Minister - No direct term limit, but PM must maintain support from the House of Representatives, whose terms are three years.
Canada Flag
Canada
  • Governor General - No set terms; appointed by monarch on the advice of the Prime Minister. Traditionally serves for one 5-year term alternating between anglophone and francophone appointees.
  • Premier - No direct term limit, but PM must maintain support of provincial or territorial assemblies, whose terms last five years.
  • Prime Minister - No direct term limit, but PM must maintain support from the House of Commons, whose terms last four years.
China Flag
China
  • General Secretary - Unlimited 5-year terms.
  • President and Vice President - Unlimited 5-year terms, since 2018 constitutional reform.
  • Premier - Two consecutive 5-year terms (Two consecutive terms of National People's Congress session).
Laos Flag
Laos
  • General Secretary - Unlimited 5-year terms.
  • President - Two 5-year terms.
  • Prime Minister - Two 5-year terms.
North Korea Flag
North Korea
  • General Secretary - No set limit.
  • Premier - Unlimited 5-year terms.
  • President of State Affairs - Unlimited 5-year terms.
Cuba Flag
Cuba
  • First Secretary - Two 5-year terms.
  • President - Two 5-year terms.
  • Prime Minister - Two 5-year terms.
Switzerland Flag
Switzerland
  • Federal Council - Unlimited 4-year terms.
  • President of the Confederation - Unlimited non-consecutive 1-year terms.
Japan Flag
Japan
  • Emperor - No terms (hereditary succession).
  • Member of the House of Councillors - Unlimited 6-year terms.
  • Member of the House of Representatives - Unlimited maximum 4-year terms.
  • Prime Minister - Unlimited 4-year terms.
Argentina Flag
Argentina
  • Deputies - Unlimited 4-year terms.
  • President - Two consecutive 4-year terms. Every former president who has already served two consecutive terms has to wait one complete 4-year term, after which they can be re-elected for two more consecutive 4-year terms.
  • Senators - Unlimited 6-year terms.
  • Vice-President - Same as President.
Samoa Flag
Samoa
  • Chief of State - Two 5-year terms since 2019.
  • Prime Minister - No direct term limit.
Macau Flag
Macau
  • Chief Executive - Two consecutive 5-year terms.
  • Legislative Assembly - Unlimited 4-year terms.
Hong Kong Flag
Hong Kong
  • Chief Executive - Two consecutive 5-year terms.
Afghanistan Flag
Afghanistan
  • Chief Executive - 5 years ad hoc.
  • President - Two 5-year terms.
Germany Flag
Germany
  • Chancellor - No direct term limit, but must maintain support of the Bundestag, whose terms are four years.
  • President - Two 5-year terms.
Austria Flag
Austria
  • Chancellor - No direct term limit, but must maintain support from the National Council, whose terms are five years.
  • President - Two 6-year terms. If the incumbent president loses their re-election, they become ineligible to be re-elected in future contests.
Bosnia and Herzegovina Flag
Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Chairman of the Council of Ministers - No direct term limit, but PM must maintain support from the House of Representatives, whose terms are four years.
  • Presidency members - Two 4-year terms, reeligible after four years.
San Marino Flag
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.