| Tenure |
Incumbent |
Portrait |
Notes |
| 1680 |
Foundation of the Burundi Kingdom |
| Mwami (Kings) |
| Baganwa Dynasty |
| c.1680 to c.1709 |
Ntare III Rushatsi, Mwami |
|
|
| c.1709 to c.1739 |
Mwezi III Ndagushimiye, Mwami |
|
|
| c.1739 to c.1767 |
Mutaga III Senyamwiza Mutamo, Mwami |
|
|
| c.1767 to c.1796 |
Mwambutsa III Syarushambo Butama, Mwami
(Mwambutsa III Mbariza) |
|
|
| c.1796 to c.1850 |
Ntare IV Rutaganzwa Rugamba, Mwami |
|
|
| c.1850 to 1884 |
Mwezi IV Gisabo, Mwami |
|
|
German Suzerainty
Protectorate of Burundi
|
| 1884 to 1 July 1890 |
| Incorporated into German East Africa |
| 1 July 1890 to 21 August 1908 |
| 1908 to 30 November 1915 |
Mutaga IV Mbikije, Mwami |
|
| 16 December 1915 to June 1916 |
Mwambutsa IV Bangiriceng, Mwami |
 |
Deposed |
| Belgian Suzerainty |
| June 1916 to 20 July 1922 |
Ruanda-Urundi League of Nations
mandated territory |
| 20 July 1922 to 13 December 1946 |
Mwambutsa IV Bangiriceng, King |
United Nations Trust Territory
under Belgium |
| 13 December 1946 to January 1961 |
The Kingdom of Burundi
Autonomous |
| January 1961 to 1 July 1962 |
The Kingdom of Burundi
Independence from Belgium |
| 1 July 1962 to 8 July 1966 |
| 8 July/1 September 1966 to 28 November 1966 |
Ntare V Ndizeye, King |
 |
Deposed |
| Tenure |
Incumbent |
Portrait |
Affiliation |
Notes |
| The Republic of Burundi (Republika y’Burundi) (Républigue du Burundi) |
| 28 November 1966 to 1 November 1976 |
Michel Micombero, President |
|
Mil/UPRONA |
Tutsi |
| 2 November 1976 to 10 November 1976 |
Jean-Baptiste Bagaza, Chairman of the Supreme Revolutionary Council |
rowspan="2" |
rowspan="2"|Mil/UPRONA |
Tutsi |
| 10 November 1976 to 3 September 1987 |
Jean-Baptiste Bagaza, President |
Tutsi |
| 3 September 1987 to 10 July 1993 |
Military Junta:- |
| 3 September 1987 to 9 September 1987 |
Pierre Buyoya, Chairman of the Military Committee of National Salvation |
rowspan="2" |
rowspan="2"|Mil/UPRONA |
Tutsi; 1st Term |
| 9 September 1987 to 10 July 1993 |
Pierre Buyoya, President |
| 10 July 1993 to 21 October 1993 |
Melchior Ndadaye, President |
 |
FRODEBU |
Hutu |
| 21 October 1993 to 27 October 1993 |
François Ngeze, Chairman of the Committee of Public Salvation |
|
Mil |
Hutu; in rebellion |
| 27 October 1993 to 5 February 1994 |
Sylvie Kinigi, acting President |
|
UPRONA |
♀; Tutsi |
| 5 February 1994 to 6 April 1994 |
Cyprien Ntaryamira, President |
 |
FRODEBU |
Hutu |
| 6 April 1994 to 25 July 1996 |
Sylvestre Ntibantunganya, President |
 |
FRODEBU |
Hutu |
| 25 July 1996 to 30 April 2003 |
Pierre Buyoya, President |
|
UPRONA |
Tutsi |
| 30 April 2003 to 26 August 2005 |
Domitien Ndayizeye, President |
|
FRODEBU |
Hutu |
| 26 August 2005 to present |
Pierre Nkurunziza, President |
|
CNDD-FDD |
Hutu |