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Mahmoud Abbas - Abbas was briefly the prime minister of Palestine in 2003, before becoming president in 2005. He has held this position for over 14 years.

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Roosevelt Skerrit - After the death of Pierre Charles, Skerrit stepped in to become the prime minister of Dominica in 2004. It's been over 15 years since he took the position.

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Sheikh Hasina - She was the prime minister of Bangladesh from 1996 to 2001, and again from 2009 to the present day, totaling over 15 years.

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Ilham Aliyev - Ilham Aliyev is the president of Azerbaijan, a position he's held since 2003.

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Dési Bouterse - In 1980, Dési Bouterse became the de facto head of Suriname. He has been president since 2010.

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Ralph Gonsalves - Gonsalves has been the prime minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines since 2001. "Comrade Ralph" has ruled the country for 17 years.

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Bashar al-Assad - Syria's polarizing president has ruled the country since 2000. Of course, he's a part of the Al-Assad family.

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Hage Geingob - Hage Geingob has had two long terms as the political leader of Namibia. He was prime minister from 1990 to 2002, and has served as president since 2012.

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Paul Kagame - Since 2000, Paul Kagame has been the president of Rwanda. He's been called the "most impressive and among the most repressive" African leaders.

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Keith Mitchell - Keith Mitchell has been the prime minister of Grenada for a total of over 19 years. His first term was from 1995 to 2008, and he resumed office in 2013.

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Vladimir Putin - For many Russians, Putin is all they've ever known. He has run Russia for over 19 years, flip-flopping between being prime minister and president since 1999.

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Ismaïl Omar Guelleh - He's been the president of Djibouti since 1999, when he was elected as the handpicked successor of his uncle, Hassan Gouled Aptidon.

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Abdelaziz Bouteflika - Abdelaziz Bouteflika has been the president of Algeria since 1999.

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Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi - The prime minister of Samoa has held the office since 1998.

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Kim Yong-nam - Kim Yong-nam has a long title as North Korea's Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly. He has held the position since 1998.

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Daniel Ortega - Daniel Ortega was Nicaragua's Acting Head of State from 1981 to 1990, and has been president of the country since 2007.

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Alexander Lukashenko - Belarus' president is a polarizing figure, but he's held this position for over 24 years straight, beginning in 1994.

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Isaias Afwerki - Isaias Afwerki is the first president of Eritrea, holding the position since the country's independence in 1993.

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Emomali Rahmon - He's been the president of Tajikistan for over 26 years, taking on the role in 1992. Emomali Rahmon has employed his two children as senior officials in his administration.

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Idriss Déby - Idriss Déby has been Chad's president for over 28 years, beginning in 1990. He took power after rebelling against President Hissène Habré.

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Omar al-Bashir - Coming into power as a brigadier, Omar al-Bashir has been the president of Sudan since 1989.

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Yoweri Museveni - Yoweri Museveni has been the president of Uganda for over 33 years, assuming office in 1986.

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Hun Sen - Hun Sen has been Cambodia's prime minister for over 34 years, taking office in 1985.

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Recep Tayyip Erdoğan -

Erdoğan served as the prime minister of Turkey from 2003 to 2014, this before taking office as president later in 2014.

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Denis Sassou Nguesso - Denis Sassou Nguesso has been the president of the Republic of the Congo for a total of over 34 years. His first term was from 1979 to 1992, and he started his second in 1997.

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Ali Khamenei - Ali Khamenei is the President-turned-Supreme Leader of Iran. Serving as president from 1981 to 1989, he's been the Supreme Leader since 1989.

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Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo - He's only the second president of Equatorial Guinea, but he's held the position since 1979.

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Mahathir Mohamad - Mahathir Mohamad has been the prime minister of Malaysia for over 22 years in total. He first held the position from 1981 to 2003. He assumed office again in 2018.

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Shavkat Mirziyoyev - Shavkat Mirziyoyev was the prime minister of Uzbekistan from 2003 to 2016, before becoming president later in 2016.

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Paul Biya -

The longest-ruling world leader currently in office is Paul Biya. Serving as prime minister of Cameroon from 1975 to 1982, he took the office of president later in 1982.

See also: Women leaders around the world.

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