Here’s a complete list of all past Presidents of Brazil, from the Proclamation of the Republic in 1889 to the present day (2025). The list is divided into Brazil’s main political eras: First Republic, Vargas Era, Military Rule, and Democratic Era.
Presidents of Brazil (1889 – Present)
I. First Republic (Old Republic) – 1889 to 1930
#
Name
Term
Notes
1
Deodoro da Fonseca
1889–1891
Led the military coup against the monarchy
2
Floriano Peixoto
1891–1894
Known as the “Consolidator of the Republic”
3
Prudente de Morais
1894–1898
First civilian president
4
Campos Sales
1898–1902
Implemented economic stabilization policies
5
Rodrigues Alves
1902–1906
Modernized Rio de Janeiro
6
Afonso Pena
1906–1909
Died in office
7
Nilo Peçanha
1909–1910
First Afro-Brazilian president (acting)
8
Hermes da Fonseca
1910–1914
Military influence resurged
9
Venceslau Brás
1914–1918
President during WWI
10
Delfim Moreira
1918–1919
Interim president after Rodrigues Alves died before taking office
11
Epitácio Pessoa
1919–1922
Elected while abroad
12
Artur Bernardes
1922–1926
Faced many rebellions
13
Washington Luís
1926–1930
Overthrown in 1930 revolution
II. Vargas Era & Estado Novo – 1930 to 1945
#
Name
Term
Notes
14
Getúlio Vargas
1930–1945
Dictator, centralized power, Estado Novo regime
III. Second Republic (Democratic Interlude) – 1946 to 1964
#
Name
Term
Notes
15
José Linhares
1945–1946
Interim after Vargas’ fall
16
Eurico Gaspar Dutra
1946–1951
Returned Brazil to democratic rule
17
Getúlio Vargas (again)
1951–1954
Elected, committed suicide in office
18
Café Filho
1954–1955
Vice president who took over
19
Carlos Luz
1955 (brief)
Interim; removed by military
20
Nereu Ramos
1955–1956
Interim until new elections
21
Juscelino Kubitschek
1956–1961
Built Brasília, promoted development
22
Jânio Quadros
1961
Resigned abruptly
23
João Goulart
1961–1964
Deposed by military coup
IV. Military Dictatorship – 1964 to 1985
#
Name
Term
Notes
24
Castelo Branco
1964–1967
First military ruler
25
Artur da Costa e Silva
1967–1969
Hardliner; rule ended due to illness
26
Military Junta
1969
Interim government
27
Emílio Garrastazu Médici
1969–1974
Repression & economic boom
28
Ernesto Geisel
1974–1979
Began political opening
29
João Figueiredo
1979–1985
Transitioned to civilian rule
V. New Republic (Democratic Era) – 1985 to Present
#
Name
Term
Notes
30
Tancredo Neves
1985 (elected)
Died before taking office
31
José Sarney
1985–1990
First civilian president after dictatorship
32
Fernando Collor de Mello
1990–1992
Impeached
33
Itamar Franco
1992–1995
Stabilized economy (Plano Real)
34
Fernando Henrique Cardoso
1995–2003
Two terms, major economic reforms
35
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Lula)
2003–2011
Popular leftist, major poverty reduction
36
Dilma Rousseff
2011–2016
First female president, impeached
37
Michel Temer
2016–2019
Took over after Dilma’s impeachment
38
Jair Bolsonaro
2019–2023
Far-right, controversial presidency
39
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (again)
2023–Present
Returned for 3rd term
Summary:
Longest-serving: Getúlio Vargas (18 years total)
First woman: Dilma Rousseff
Only president to return after a long break: Lula da Silva (2003–2011, 2023– )
