Longest-serving head of state, non-royal (current)
- Who
- Paul Biya
- What
- 49 years 141 days year(s):day(s)
- Where
- Cameroon (Yaoundé)
- When
- 30 June 1975
The longest-serving world leader is Paul Biya (b. Paul Barthélemy Biya'a bi Mvondo, 13 February 1933) who held the position of Prime Minister of Cameroon between 30 June 1975 and 6 November 1982, before succeeding Ahmadou Ahidjo as President on 6 November 1982. As of 18 November 2024, he had been in power for a total of 49 years 141 days.
At 91 years 279 days old, Biya is also the world's oldest-serving world leader.
The longest-ever serving head of state was Fidel Castro of Cuba, who was in power for 52 years from 1959 to 2011, as Prime Minister (1959–76), President (1976–2008) and First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (1965–2011).