If you’re sitting in a trivia night or helping a kid with a history project, you probably think this is a "Google-it-and-done" kind of question. It’s not. Ask someone how many United States presidents has there been and they’ll likely give you a number that is technically right but factually misleading.
The current answer is 47.
But here is the kicker: only 45 people have actually held the job.
If that sounds like some weird "new math" or a glitch in the Matrix, don’t worry. It’s actually just a quirk of American history that involves some stubborn politicians and a very specific way of counting terms. Honestly, the deeper you look into the list of commanders-in-chief, the weirder the math gets. You’ve got guys who died within a month of taking the oath, a guy who was never even elected, and two men who left the White House only to come back and reclaim their seat years later.
The Grover Cleveland and Donald Trump Math Problem
Basically, the reason our "Presidential Number" is higher than the number of actual human beings is because of non-consecutive terms.
For the longest time, Grover Cleveland was the lone "problem child" for historians. He was the 22nd president. He lost his re-election bid to Benjamin Harrison, went home for four years, and then came back to defeat Harrison in the next round. Because his terms weren't back-to-back, the government decided to count him twice. He is officially the 22nd and the 24th president of the United States.
We just repeated history.
Donald Trump served as the 45th president, lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden (the 46th), and then won the 2024 election. Since he was inaugurated again on January 20, 2025, he is now officially the 47th president.
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So, let's break that down:
- Total Presidencies: 47
- Total People: 45
It’s a bit silly, right? If you quit your job at a coffee shop, move away, and then get rehired three years later, you aren't the "1st and 3rd" employee. You’re just Dave. But in the world of U.S. politics, the number stays with the term, not the person.
Why the Number Almost Changed More Often
You'd think after over 230 years, we'd have a higher number of people. But the U.S. has a habit of keeping people around. Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) is the big reason the number isn't way higher. He won four elections. He stayed in power for over 12 years. If he had been limited to two terms like everyone after him, we would likely be looking at a much higher "person count" today.
After FDR died in office, the country decided that maybe twelve years was a bit much. They passed the 22nd Amendment, which basically says, "Two terms and you're out."
The "Accidental" Presidents
A huge chunk of the list comes from Vice Presidents who had to step up when things went south. We call these "accidental presidents," though that feels a bit disrespectful to the work they did. Nine VPs have taken over because a president died or resigned.
- John Tyler was the first. People literally called him "His Accidency." They weren't even sure if he was really the president or just an "Acting President." He settled the debate by simply moving into the White House and doing the job.
- Millard Fillmore, Andrew Johnson, and Chester A. Arthur all took over after deaths (either natural or assassinations).
- Theodore Roosevelt is probably the most famous "backup." He took over after William McKinley was shot and ended up becoming one of the most iconic figures in history.
- Lyndon B. Johnson took the oath on an airplane after the JFK tragedy.
- Gerald Ford is the ultimate outlier. He’s the only guy on the list who wasn’t even elected as Vice President. Nixon’s first VP, Spiro Agnew, resigned. Nixon appointed Ford. Then Nixon resigned. Suddenly, Ford was the leader of the free world without a single person voting for him on a national ticket.
The Shortest and Longest Stays
When you're looking at how many United States presidents has there been, you have to look at the "blips" on the radar.
William Henry Harrison is the gold standard for "unlucky." He gave a massive, two-hour-long inauguration speech in the freezing rain without a coat. He caught a cold, it turned into pneumonia, and he died 31 days later. He is the 9th president, but he barely had time to move the furniture in.
On the flip side, you have the "Virginia Dynasty." Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe—these guys all did two full terms. They set the pace for what the job was supposed to look like. If everyone had died a month in, we’d be on President #400 by now.
Does the Number Actually Matter?
Kinda. It’s mostly for record-keeping and historical prestige. Being "The 47th" sounds a lot cooler than saying "The 45th person to do this."
It also tells a story about the stability of the country. Despite wars, depressions, and some seriously heated elections, the line of succession has never actually broken. Whether you count 45 or 47, the number represents a continuous chain of power that started with a guy in a powdered wig and led to the high-tech, 24-hour news cycle era we live in now.
Facts to Remember for Your Next Debate
- The 46th President was Joe Biden.
- The 47th (and current) President is Donald Trump.
- The total count of individuals remains 45 because of the "Cleveland/Trump double-count."
- No president has ever been a woman, though many have tried.
- Virginia has produced more presidents (8) than any other state, though Ohio is a close second with 7.
Moving Forward with the Numbers
If you want to stay accurate, always distinguish between the "number of the presidency" and the "number of the person." If someone asks you how many United States presidents has there been, the smartest answer is: "We are on the 47th presidency, but Donald Trump is only the 45th person to hold the office."
For anyone tracking this for school or personal interest, the best way to keep these straight is to look at the inaugural dates. Every January 20th (following an election year), the clock either ticks over to a new number or stays the same if the incumbent wins.
To keep your history straight, try memorizing the "transition" presidents—the ones who took over mid-term—as they are usually where the numbering gets most interesting for historians. You can find the full chronological list on the official White House website or the National Archives to see exactly how the dates overlap.
Actionable Insight: To get a real feel for the scale of this history, visit the Smithsonian’s "The American Presidency" exhibit online. It visualizes the timeline in a way that makes the 45 vs. 47 distinction much clearer through artifacts and personal letters from each era.