The 5 Longest-Serving World Leaders
Russian President Vladimir Putin has led the former Soviet Union since the turn of the century, when U.S. President Bill Clinton was preparing to hand over power to George W. Bush. Putin, expected to win a fourth term that would end in 2024, was term-limited in 2008 and spent four years as prime minister before returning to the presidency in 2012.
Putin may become the longest-serving Russian leadersince dictator Joseph Stalin, but there are world leaders who have been in power far longer, although most retain control through what are widely considered sham elections.
These are five countries where non-royal heads of state have been in power longest.
