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Charted: All U.S., Russian, and Chinese Leaders Since 1975

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Charted: All U.S., Russian, and Chinese Leaders Since 1975

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This graphic tracks America’s, Russia’s, and China’s government leaders since 1975 using data from Britannica.

Only one of these countries is a functioning democracy—though all three hold some form of elections. Thus, this graphic is not a comparison but serves as a look back through history.

Regime Changes in America, Russia, And China

Since 1975, the U.S. has had eight different presidents. In that same time, Russia has had six leaders, and China four.

Year🇺🇸 U.S.🇷🇺 Russia / Societ Union Pre-1991🇨🇳 China
2025Donald TrumpVladimir PutinXi Jinping
2024Joe BidenVladimir PutinXi Jinping
2023Joe BidenVladimir PutinXi Jinping
2022Joe BidenVladimir PutinXi Jinping
2021Joe BidenVladimir PutinXi Jinping
2020Donald TrumpVladimir PutinXi Jinping
2019Donald TrumpVladimir PutinXi Jinping
2018Donald TrumpVladimir PutinXi Jinping
2017Donald TrumpVladimir PutinXi Jinping
2016Barack ObamaVladimir PutinXi Jinping
2015Barack ObamaVladimir PutinXi Jinping
2014Barack ObamaVladimir PutinXi Jinping
2013Barack ObamaVladimir PutinXi Jinping
2012Barack ObamaVladimir PutinXi Jinping
2011Barack ObamaDmitry MedvedevHu Jintao
2010Barack ObamaDmitry MedvedevHu Jintao
2009Barack ObamaDmitry MedvedevHu Jintao
2008George W. BushDmitry MedvedevHu Jintao
2007George W. BushVladimir PutinHu Jintao
2006George W. BushVladimir PutinHu Jintao
2005George W. BushVladimir PutinHu Jintao
2004George W. BushVladimir PutinHu Jintao
2003George W. BushVladimir PutinHu Jintao
2002George W. BushVladimir PutinHu Jintao
2001George W. BushVladimir PutinJiang Zemin
2000Bill ClintonVladimir PutinJiang Zemin
1999Bill ClintonVladimir PutinJiang Zemin
1998Bill ClintonBoris YeltsinJiang Zemin
1997Bill ClintonBoris YeltsinJiang Zemin
1996Bill ClintonBoris YeltsinJiang Zemin
1995Bill ClintonBoris YeltsinJiang Zemin
1994Bill ClintonBoris YeltsinJiang Zemin
1993Bill ClintonBoris YeltsinJiang Zemin
1992George H. W. BushBoris YeltsinJiang Zemin
1991George H. W. BushBoris YeltsinJiang Zemin
1990George H. W. BushMikhail GorbachevJiang Zemin
1989George H. W. BushMikhail GorbachevJiang Zemin
1988Ronald ReaganMikhail GorbachevDeng Xiaoping
1987Ronald ReaganMikhail GorbachevDeng Xiaoping
1986Ronald ReaganMikhail GorbachevDeng Xiaoping
1985Ronald ReaganMikhail GorbachevDeng Xiaoping
1984Ronald ReaganKonstantin ChernenkoDeng Xiaoping
1983Ronald ReaganYuri AndropovDeng Xiaoping
1982Ronald ReaganYuri AndropovDeng Xiaoping
1981Ronald ReaganLeonid BrezhnevDeng Xiaoping
1980Jimmy CarterLeonid BrezhnevDeng Xiaoping
1979Jimmy CarterLeonid BrezhnevDeng Xiaoping
1978Jimmy CarterLeonid BrezhnevDeng Xiaoping
1977Jimmy CarterLeonid BrezhnevHua Guofeng
1976Gerald FordLeonid BrezhnevHua Guofeng
1975Gerald FordLeonid BrezhnevMao Zedong

From this graphic, we can see that POTUS has regularly shifted back and forth between the Democrat and Republican parties. For reference, U.S. presidents cannot serve for more than two elected terms.

After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the highest office became the president of Russia. The Russian president is elected by popular vote to a six-year term, with a term limit of two consecutive terms.

Amendments made in 2020 have exempted Vladimir Putin from being term-limited by excluding his previous terms.

Meanwhile, in China, the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has functioned as the nation’s most powerful position since the late 1980s. Chosen through internal party processes, the General Secretary serves a five-year term with no limit on reelection. The individual holding this office also becomes China’s president (the head of state), a role once considered more ceremonial.

China’s current president is Xi Jinping who has held the position since 2013. He is serving his third term after constitutional changes in 2018 removed presidential term limits. Under his presidency, China has strengthened its global influence, economy, and centralized governance within the country.

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