Heads of State of Yugoslavia

This is a List of Heads of State of Yugoslavia from the first creation of a Yugoslav state in 1918 until the end of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro in 2006.


Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (1945-1991)
After the the German invasion and fragmentation of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, partisans formed the Anti-Fascist Council of National Liberation of Yugoslavia in 1942. In late 1943 a AVNOJ conference proclaimed the Democratic Federal Yugoslavia, while negotiations with the royal government in exile continued. After the liberation of Belgrad, the Communist-led government on November 29, 1945 declared King Peter II deposed and proclaimed the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia. In 1963, the state was renamed Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

President Term Political affiliation Notes
Ivan Ribar 29 December 1945 - 14 January 1953 League of Communists
Josip Broz Tito 14 January 1953 - 16 May 1974 League of Communists President for life after 1974

Since 1974, Yugoslavia was headed by a collective presidency, consisting of representatives of the six republics, the two autonomous provinces within Serbia and (until 1988) the President of the League of Communists. The collective was first chaired by Tito, who was President for life. After his death in 1980, one member was annually elected Chairman of the Presidency and acted as head of state.

Chairman of the Presidency Term Political affiliation Representing Declared nationality
Josip Broz Tito 16 May 1974 - 4 May 1980 League of Communists Yugoslavia Yugoslav
Lazar Koliševski 4 May 1980 - 15 May 1980 League of Communists Macedonia Macedonian
Cvijetin Mijatović 15 May 1980 - 15 May 1981 League of Communists Bosnia-Herzegovina Serb
Sergej Kraigher 15 May 1981 - 15 May 1982 League of Communists Slovenia Slovene
Petar Stambolić 15 May 1982 - 15 May 1983 League of Communists Serbia Serb
Mika Špiljak 15 May 1983 - 15 May 1984 League of Communists Croatia Croat
Veselin Đuranović 15 May 1984 - 15 May 1985 League of Communists Montenegro Montenegrin
Radovan Vlajković 15 May 1985 - 15 May 1986 League of Communists Vojvodina Serb
Sinan Hasani 15 May 1986 - 15 May 1987 League of Communists Kosovo Albanian
Lazar Mojsov 15 May 1987 - 15 May 1988 League of Communists Macedonia Macedonian
Raif Dizdarević 15 May 1988 - 15 May 1989 League of Communists Bosnia-Herzegovina Bosnian Muslim
Janez Drnovšek 15 May 1989 - 15 May 1990 League of Communists Slovenia Slovene
Borisav Jović 15 May 1990 - 15 May 1991 League of Communists Serbia Serb
vacant 15 May - 30 June 1991
Stjepan Mesić 30 June 1991 - 3 October 1991
(formally resigned 5 December) Croatian Democratic Union Croatia Croat
Branko Kostić (acting) 3 October 1991 - 15 June 1992 Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro none Montenegrin

For other leading officials of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, see List of leaders of communist Yugoslavia.


Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (1991-2003)
The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was formed by the republics of Serbia and Montenegro after the other four republics had left the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia amid rising ethnic tensions.

President Term Political affiliation Declared nationality
Dobrica Ćosić 15 June 1992 - 1 June 1993 none Serb
Miloš Radulović (acting) 1 June 1993 - 25 June 1993 Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro Montenegrin
Zoran Lilić 25 June 1993 - 25 June 1997 Socialist Party of Serbia Serb
Srđa Božović (acting) 25 June 1997 - 23 July 1997 Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro Montenegrin
Slobodan Milošević 23 July 1997 - 7 October 2000 Socialist Party of Serbia Serb
Vojislav Koštunica 7 October 2000 - 7 March 2003 Democratic Party of Serbia Serb


State Union of Serbia and Montenegro (2003-2006)
In 2003, Yugoslavia was reconstituted as a State Union of Serbia and Montenegro, which was dissolved three years later, in 2006.

President Term Political affiliation Declared nationality
Svetozar Marović 7 March 2003 - 3 June 2006 Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro Montenegrin