| Post: | President |
| Body: | the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen |
| Insignia: | Coat of arms of South Yemen (1970-1990).svg |
| Insigniacaption: | Emblem of Democratic Yemen |
| First: | Qahtan Muhammad al-Shaabi (as President) |
| Last: | Haidar Abu Bakr al-Attas (as President) |
| Formation: | 30 November 1967 |
| Abolished: | 22 May 1990 |
| Appointer: | General Command, Politburo, Central Committee or any party apparatus |
| Seat: | Crater, Aden Governorate |
| Residence: | Al-Maashiq Palace |
| Flag: | Presidential standard of South Yemen 1967-1990.svg |
| Flagsize: | 150px |
| Flagcaption: | Presidential standard of South Yemen |
| Native Name: | Arabic: رئيس جمهورية اليمن الديمقراطية الشعبية |
The People's Democratic Republic of Yemen, commonly referred to as South Yemen, became independent as the People's Republic of South Yemen in 30 November,1967. The President of the Republic served as head of state, appointing a Prime Minister to serve as head of government.
In 22 June 1969, the left wing of National Liberation Front (NLF) took power in the country, reorganizing the government. The Chairman of the Presidential Council became the head of state. This was followed closely in 1970 by the renaming of the country to the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen. Another reorganization in 1978 after Yemen Socialist Party foundation in October made the head of state's title Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Council. This lasted until unification with the Yemen Arab Republic in 22 May 1990, when the then-Chairman became the Prime Minister of the united Yemen.
| Portrait | Name | Term of office | Party | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||||
| President of the People's Republic of South Yemen | |||||||
| 1 | Qahtan Muhammad al-ShaabiArabic: قحطان محمد الشعبي | 30 November 1967 | 22 June 1969[2] | National Liberation Front[3] | |||
| Portrait | Name | Term of office | Party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||||
| Chairmen of the Presidential Council | ||||||
| 2 | Salim Rubai Ali Arabic: سالم ربيع علي "سالمين[4] | 23 June 1969 | 26 June 1978 | National Liberation Front | ||
| 3 | Ali Nasir Muhammad Arabic: علي ناصر محمد الحسني[5] | 26 June 1978 | 21 December 1978 | National Liberation Front | ||
| 21 December 1978 | 27 December 1978 | Yemeni Socialist Party [6] | ||||
| Portrait | Name | Term of office | Party | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||||
| Chairmen of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Council | |||||||
| 4 | Abdul Fattah Ismail Arabic: عبد الفتاح إسماعيل علي الجوفي[7] | 27 December 1978 | 21 April 1980 | Yemeni Socialist Party | |||
| Ali Nasir Muhammad Arabic: علي ناصر محمد الحسني[8] | 21 April 1980 | 24 January 1986 | Yemeni Socialist Party | ||||
| 5 | Haidar Abu Bakr al-Attas Arabic: حيدر أبو بكر العطاس | 24 January 1986 | 22 May 1990 | Yemeni Socialist Party | |||
For Presidents after unification in 1990, see: List of Presidents of Yemen
South Yemen also rebelled as the Democratic Republic of Yemen for a period of weeks in 1994.
| Name | Took Office | Left Office | Leading Party | ||
| 1 | Ali Salim al-Baidh | 21 May 1994 | 7 July 1994 | Yemeni Socialist Party |