(Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office)
| Term | Incumbent | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Spanish Sahara | ||
| 3 November 1884 to 10 July 1885 | Emilio Bonelli Hernando, Commander | |
| 10 July 1885 to 6 April 1887 | Emilio Bonelli Hernando, Royal Commissioner | |
| Subordinated to Governors of Canary Islands from 1887 until 1901 | ||
| 6 April 1887 to c.1900 | Emilio Bonelli Hernando, Subgovernor | |
| c.1900 to 7 November 1901 | Ángel Villalobos, Subgovernor | |
| 7 November 1901 to 1 December 1903 | Ángel Villalobos, Governor | |
| 1 December 1903 to 7 November 1925 | Francisco Bens Argandoña, Governor | |
| 7 November 1925 to 19 June 1932 | Guillermo de la Peña Cusi, Governor | |
| 19 June 1932 to 30 August 1933 | Eduardo Canizares Navarro, Governor | |
| 30 August 1933 to 1 July 1934 | José González Deleito, Governor | |
| Subordinated to High Commissioners of Spanish Morocco from 1934 until 1956 | ||
| 1 July 1934 to 4 May 1936 | Benigno Martínez Portillo, Governor | |
| 4 May 1936 to 7 August 1936 | Carlos Pedemonte Sabin, Governor | |
| 7 August 1936 to 12 March 1937 | Rafael Gallego Sainz, Governor | |
| 12 March 1937 to 31 May 1940 | Antonio de Oro Pulido, Governor | |
| 31 May 1940 to 26 July 1946 | José Bermejo López, Governor | |
| Also Governors-General of Spanish West Africa from 1946 until 1958 | ||
| 26 July 1946 to 17 August 1949 | José Bermejo López, Governor | |
| 17 August 1949 to 29 March 1952 | Francisco Rosaleny Burguet, Governor | |
| 29 March 1952 to 26 February 1954 | Venancio Tutor Gil, Governor | |
| 26 February 1954 to 23 May 1957 | Ramón Pardo de Santallana Suárez, Governor | |
| 23 May 1957 to 10 January 1958 | Mariano Gómez Zamalloa y Guirce, Governor | |
| 10 January 1958 to 22 July 1958 | José Héctor Vázquez, Governor-General | |
| 27 July 1958 to 6 October 1961 | Mariano Alonso Alonso, Governor-General | |
| 13 October 1961 to 21 February 1964 | Pedro Latorre Alcubierre, Governor-General | |
| 6 March 1964 to 5 November 1965 | Joaquín Agulla y Jiménez-Coronado, Governor-General | |
| 5 November 1965 to 26 November 1965 | Adolfo Artalejo Campos, Governor-General | |
| 5 December 1965 to 2 February 1967 | Ángel Enríquez Larrondo, Governor-General | |
| 18 February 1967 to 4 March 1971 | José María Pérez de Lema y Tejero, Governor-General | |
| 4 March 1971 to 6 June 1974 | Fernando de Santiago y Díaz de Mendívil, Governor-General | |
| 6 June 1974 to 6 February 1976 | Federico Gómez de Salazar y Nieto, Governor-General | |
| 14 February 1976 | Spain announces it has transferred sovereignty to Morocco | |
| 26 February 1976 | Spain terminates its administration | |
| 27 February 1976 | Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic proclaimed by the Polisario Front | |
| 14 April 1976 | Spanish Sahara is partitioned by Morocco and Mauritania | |
| 11 August 1979 | Mauritanian part of the territory annexed by Morocco | |