| width="25%"|Tenure | width="40%"|Incumbent | width="10%"|Affliation | width="20%"|Notes |
| olspan="4"|Central African Republic |
| olspan="4"|('Rpublique Centrafricaine') |
| small>13 August 1960 to 14 August 1960 | Paul Camille Bordier | | |
| small>14 August 1960 to 12 November 1960 | David Dacko, acting President | rowspan="2"|MESAN | rowspan="2"|1st Term |
| small>12 November 1960 to 31 December 1965 | David Dacko, President |
| small>1 January 1966 to 18 October 1976 | Jean-Bdel Bokassa, President | rowspan="2"|Mil/MESAN | Changed name to Salah Eddine Ahmed Bokassa |
| small>18 October 1976 to 4 December 1976 | Salah Eddine Ahmed Bokassa, President | Previously named Jean-Bdel Bokassa |
| olspan="4"|Central African Empire |
| small>4 December 1976 to 20 September 1979 | Bokassa I, Empereur de Centrafrique par la volont du peuple Centrafricain, uni au sein du parti politique national, le MESAN
Emperor of Central Africa by the will of the Central African people, united within the national political party, the MESAN | MESAN | Hitherto President Salah Eddine Ahmed Bokassa |
| olspan="4"|Central African Republic |
| olspan="4"|('Rpublique Centrafricaine) (Kdr t B-Afrka') |
| small>20 September 1979 to 1 September 1981 | David Dacko, President | MESAN/UDC | 2nd Term |
| small>1 September 1981 to 21 September 1985 | Andr Kolingba, Chairman of the Military Committee of National Recovery | Mil | |
| small>21 September 1985 to 29 November 1986 | Andr Kolingba, Head of State | rowspan="2"|RDC | |
| small>29 November 1986 to 22 October 1993 | Andr Kolingba, President | |
| small>22 October 1993 to 15 March 2003 | Ange-Flix Patass, President | MLPC | |
| small>15 March 2003 to present | Franois Boziz, President | Mil | |