| width="20%"|Tenure | width="25%"|Incumbent | width="15%"|Notes |
| a href="/encyclopedia/1680" title="1680">1680 | colspan="2"|Foundation of the Burundi kingdom |
| olspan="3"|Mwami (Kings) |
| olspan="3"|Baganwa Dynasty |
| small>c.1680 to c.1709 | Ntare III Rushatsi, Mwami | |
| small>c.1709 to c.1739 | Mwezi III Ndagushimiye, Mwami | |
| small>c.1739 to c.1767 | Mutaga III Senyamwiza Mutamo, Mwami | |
| small>c.1767 to c.1796 | Mwambutsa III Syarushambo Butama, Mwami
(Mwambutsa III Mbariza) | |
| small>c.1796 to c.1850 | Ntare IV Rutaganzwa Rugamba, Mwami | |
| small>c.1850 to 1884 | Mwezi IV Gisabo, Mwami | (contd.) |
| olspan="3"|German Suzerainty |
| olspan="3"|Protectorate of Burundi |
| small>1884 to 1 July 1890 | Mwezi IV Gisabo, Mwami | (contd.) |
| olspan="3"|Incorporated into German East Africa |
| small>1 July 1890 to 21 August 1908 | Mwezi IV Gisabo, Mwami | (contd.) |
| small>1908 to 30 November 1915 | Mutaga IV Mbikije, Mwami | |
| small>16 December 1915 to June 1916 | Mwambutsa IV Bangiriceng, Mwami | |
| olspan="3"|Belgian Suzerainty |
| small>June 1916 to 20 July 1922 | Mwambutsa IV Bangiriceng, Mwami | (contd.) |
| olspan="3"|Ruanda-Urundi League of Nations mandated territory |
| small>20 July 1922 to 13 December 1946 | Mwambutsa IV Bangiriceng, King | (contd.) |
| olspan="3"|United Nations Trust Territory under Belgium |
| small>13 December 1946 to January 1961 | Mwambutsa IV Bangiriceng, King | (contd.) |
| olspan="3"|The Kingdom of Burundi Autonomous |
| small>January 1961 to 1 July 1962 | Mwambutsa IV Bangiriceng, King | (contd.) |
| olspan="3"|The Kingdom of Burundi Independence from Belgium |
| small>1 July 1962 to 8 July 1966 | Mwambutsa IV Bangiriceng, King | (contd.); Deposed |
| small>8 July/1 September 1966 to 28 November 1966 | Ntare V Ndizeye, King | Deposed |
| width="18%"|Tenure | width="35%"|Incumbent | width="10%"|Affliation | width="20%"|Notes |
| olspan="4"|The Republic of Burundi ('Republika y’Burundi) (Rpubligue du Burundi') |
| small>28 November 1966 to 1 November 1976 | Michel Micombero, President | Mil/UPRONA | Tutsi |
| small>2 November 1976 to 10 November 1976 | |Jean-Baptiste Bagaza, Chairman of the Supreme Revolutionary Council | Mil/UPRONA | Tutsi |
| small>10 November 1976 to 3 September 1987 | Jean-Baptiste Bagaza, President | Mil/UPRONA | Tutsi |
| small>3 September 1987 to 10 July 1993 | Military Junta:- | | |
| small>3 September 1987 to 9 September 1987 | Pierre Buyoya, Chairman of the Military Committee of National Salvation | Mil/UPRONA | Tutsi; 1st Term |
| small>9 September 1987 to 10 July 1987 | Pierre Buyoya, President | Mil/UPRONA | Tutsi; 1st Term |
| small>10 July to 21 October 1993 | |Melchior Ndadaye, President | Mil/UPRONA | Hutu |
| small>21 October 1993 to 27 October 1993 | Franois Ngeze, Chairman of the Committee of Public Salvation | Mil | Tutsi; in rebellion |
| small>27 October 1993 to 5 February 1994 | Sylvie Kinigi, acting President | UPRONA | ♀; Tutsi |
| small>5 February to 6 April 1994 | Cyprien Ntaryamira, President | FRODEBU | Hutu |
| small>6 April 1994 to 25 July 1996 | Sylvestre Ntibantunganya, President | FRODEBU | Hutu |
| small>25 July 1996 to 30 April 2003 | Pierre Buyoya, President | UPRONA | Tutsi |
| small>30 April 2003 to present | Domitien Ndayizeye, President | FRODEBU | Hutu |