If Vladimir Putin wins a fourth term in Sunday鈥檚 Russian presidential election, that would take him to nearly quarter a century in power. Image: AFP/Alexey Nikolsky
Vladimir Putin is widely expected to win Russia鈥檚 presidential election on Sunday, giving him a fourth term that would take him to nearly a quarter-century as the head of state or government.
Here are some of the world leaders who have held power the longest聽鈥� excluding monarchs enthroned for life.
More than four decades
Topping the list with 49 years in power is Cuba鈥檚 revolutionary hero Fidel Castro, who handed the presidency over to his brother Raul in 2008 when he was in his early 80s.
Taiwan鈥檚 first president Chiang Kai-shek was in charge on the island and in mainland China for a total of 47 years until his death in 1975.
North Korean founder Kim Il Sung ran the reclusive state for 46 years before dying in office in 1994. He is still revered as the 鈥渆ternal leader.鈥�
Albania鈥檚 communist dictator Enver Hoxha was in power for 40 years until his death in 1985.
Moamer Kadhafi ruled Libya with an iron fist for almost 42 years before being ousted and then slaughtered in 2011 by rebels.
Omar Bongo Ondimba governed oil-rich Gabon for more than 41 years until his death in 2009.
Still counting
Currently the world鈥檚 longest serving president is Equatorial Guinea鈥檚 Teodoro Obiang Nguema, with 38 years under his belt since he toppled his uncle in 1979.
Others that are still counting their years in power:
Cameroon鈥檚 President Paul Biya: 35 years.
Congo President Denis Sassou: 34 years, excluding a five-year pause.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen: 33 years.
Uganda鈥檚 President Yoweri Museveni: 32 years.
Iran鈥檚 Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei: 29 years.
Sudan鈥檚 President Omar al-Bashir: 28 years.
Chad鈥檚 President Idriss Deby: 27 years.
Kazakhstan鈥檚 President Nursultan Nazarbayev: 28 years.
Tajikistan鈥檚 President Emomali Rakhmon: 25 years.
Eritrea鈥檚 President Isaias Afwerki: 24 years. CC
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