List of current heads of state and government

This is a list of current heads of state and heads of government. In some cases, mainly in presidential systems, one leader is head of state and head of government. In other cases, mainly in semi-presidential and parliamentary systems, the head of state and the head of government are different people. In semi-presidential and parliamentary systems, the head of government (i.e. executive) role is fulfilled by the listed head of government and the head of state.

In one-party states, the ruling party's leader (e.g. the general secretary) is usually the de facto top leader of the state, though sometimes this leader also holds the presidency or premiership. In Afghanistan, Andorra, Iran, and Vatican City (Holy See), a clergy member also acts as the head of state. In Afghanistan, this is the supreme leader; in Andorra, this is the bishop of Urgell, Co-Prince of Andorra; and in the Vatican City, this is the pope.

The list includes the names of recently elected or appointed heads of state and government who will take office on an appointed date, as presidents-elect and prime ministers–designate, and those leading a government-in-exile if internationally recognised.

Member and observer states of the United Nations

Colour key
  Green cells indicate leaders whose offices constitutionally administer the executive of their respective state/government.
  Blue cells indicate de facto executive leaders whose offices lack de jure constitutional power.
Note: Names in small font generally denote acting, interim, transitional, temporary leaders, or representatives and Italics represents designated and incoming leaders yet to assume power. Other notes and exceptions are provided at § Notes.

Other states

The following states are in free association with a UN member state.

The following states control at least part of their territory and are recognised by at least one UN member state.

The following state controls its territory, but is not recognised by any UN member states.

State Also claimed by Head of state Head of government
Transnistria Moldova President – Vadim Krasnoselsky Prime Minister – Aleksander Rozenberg

Alternative governments

This alternative government controls part of its territory and is recognised as legitimate by at least one UN member state.

Government State Head of state Head of government
Houthi-controlled Yemen Yemen Leader of the Houthis – Abdul-Malik al-Houthi[22]
Chairman of the Supreme Political Council – Mahdi al-Mashat Acting Prime Minister – Muhammad Ahmed Miftah[23]

These alternative governments control part of their territory, but are not recognized as legitimate by any UN member states.

This alternative government does not control its territory but is recognized as legitimate by at least one UN member state.

Government State Head of state Head of government
 Coordination Council Belarus President and Head of the Cabinet – Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya

Sui generis entities

See also

  • List of countries by system of government
  • List of current state leaders by date of assumption of office
  • List of current monarchs of sovereign states
  • List of current vice presidents and designated acting presidents
  • List of current interior ministers
  • List of current foreign ministers
  • List of current finance ministers
  • List of current defence ministers
  • List of current legislatures
  • List of current presidents of legislatures
  • List of elected and appointed female heads of state and government
  • Colonial governors by century
  • List of longest-living state leaders
  • List of oldest living state leaders
  • List of national governments
  • Lists of state leaders
  • President of the Republic
  • List of heads of the executive by approval rating

Notes

  1. 1 2 The President of France and the French Co-Prince of Andorra are positions held by the same person.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Charles III is separately and equally monarch of 15 sovereign states known collectively as the Commonwealth realms. In each of these states (with the exception of the United Kingdom, where he resides), he is represented at the national level by a governor-general.
  3. ↑ The high representative is an international civilian overseer of the Dayton Agreement with authority to dismiss elected and non-elected officials and enact legislation.
  4. ↑ The three-member Bosnian presidency is the head of state collectively.
  5. 1 2 3 While the position of Prime minister formally exists as head of government, it is not a very powerful position and the president serves as de facto head of government.
  6. ↑ Constitutionally the President of China is only the state representative and not head of state but the two roles are functionally the same.
  7. ↑ Former First Secretary and President Raúl Castro is also considered to be the de facto leader by some sources.[26]
  8. ↑ Duties temporarily exercised by the Council of Ministers.
  9. ↑ Head of Executive and de facto head of state.[6][7][8][9][10]
  10. ↑ Acting Head of the Executive Branch except in matters directly related to the Supreme Leader,[6] head of state and head of government.[11][12]
  11. ↑ The constitution of Japan does not define a formal head of state, but the Emperor by unwritten constitutional convention fulfills the functions and duties of this role.
  12. 1 2 The Governor-General of New Zealand also serves as the representative of the King in relation to Niue.
  13. ↑ The presidency has been disputed since 15 May 2026, with Mohamud asserting that the constitutional amendments passed on 30 March 2024 extended his term as president until 15 May 2027. The opposition dispute the constitutional amendments as being invalid, stating that the constitutional term of Mohamud expired on 15 May 2026 in accordance with the provisional constitution of Somalia.
  14. ↑ The Transitional Sovereignty Council is the collective head of state of Sudan per the 2019 Draft Constitutional Declaration. While the council was intended to be a unity government incorporating civilian and military elements that used consensus decision making, Chairman Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who is also Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces, has monopolized power.
  15. ↑ The seven-member Swiss Federal Council is collectively head of state and government. As a party to the Council, the President serves solely in a primus inter pares capacity for one year.
  16. ↑ Maduro was captured by the United States on 3 January 2026 and extracted from Venezuela. Since then, Rodríguez has been the acting president.
  17. 1 2 Charles III is head of state of the Cook Islands and Niue in his capacity as King in Right of New Zealand.
  18. ↑ Al-Menfi is also considered head of state by the internationally-recognized Government of National Unity. Hamada is disputing the premiership of Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, with the backing of the House of Representatives and the Libyan National Army.
  19. ↑ Internationally-recognized president also recognized by Hamas since the Third Hamdallah Government

References

  1. ↑ Rudenka, Arsien (16 April 2024). "У Беларусі фармуецца УНС. Топ-7 простых пытанняў пра новы дзяржаўны орган" [The ABPA is being formed in Belarus: Top 7 simple questions about the new state organ]. Belsat TV (in Belarusian). Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  2. ↑ Cai, Derek; Head, Jonathan (7 August 2023). "Cambodia: PM's son Hun Manet appointed next ruler in royal formality". Singapore: BBC News. Retrieved 7 August 2023. Hun Sen will however retain leadership of the ruling Cambodian People's Party - a position political analysts say still gives him ultimate control. • Murphy, Matt (6 August 2023). "Hun Sen: Cambodia election result confirms expected win for PM". BBC News. Retrieved 7 August 2023. [Hun Sen] is expected to become president of the Senate early next year and will serve as acting head of state when King Norodom Sihamoni is abroad.
  3. ↑ "Les cohabitations". vie-publique.fr (in French). 7 July 2018. Dans ce cadre [cohabitation], le caractère dyarchique (à deux têtes) de l'exécutif apparaît pleinement, puisque le chef de l'État, élu au suffrage universel direct, perd sa fonction de direction de l'exécutif au profit du Premier ministre, responsable devant l'Assemblée nationale.
  4. ↑ Sauer, Pjotr; Walker, Shaun (16 May 2024). "Bidzina Ivanishvili: Georgia's billionaire 'puppet master' betting the house on Moscow". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  5. ↑ "Are we witnessing revolution in Georgia? Pro-EU protests sweep the nation". Web.archive.org. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
  6. 1 2 Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Chapter IX, Article 113
  7. ↑ Sir Arthur Watts & Joanne Foakes (July 2023). "Head of State". Oxford Public International Law. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  8. ↑ "Articles 125 & 128, Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran". The Constitute Project. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  9. ↑ "Terror and Tehran:The Structure of Power in Iran". Frontline PBS. 2 May 2002. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  10. ↑ Suzanne Maloney (February 2026). "After Khamenei: Planning for Iran's Leadership Transition". Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  11. ↑ "Heads of State, Heads of Government, and Ministers for Foreign Affairs" (PDF). United Nations. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  12. ↑ "Background: Role of the Supreme Leader". Unitedagainstnucleariran.com. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
  13. 1 2 "CONSTITUTION OF NIUE AND ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2019" (PDF). www.gov.nu. Government of Niue. 2020. The Constitution of Niue, section 1. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
  14. ↑ Mamane, Dalatou (26 March 2025). "Niger's junta leader cements his grip on power as he is sworn in as president". Associated Press. Niamey. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
  15. ↑ "Somalia's Political Talks Collapse in Deadlock as Constitutional and Election Dispute Deepens". Wardheer News. 15 May 2026. Retrieved 15 May 2026. The opposition, however, rejected that position outright, arguing that as of May 15, 2026, President Hassan Sheikh should be regarded as a former president whose term has officially come to an end.
  16. ↑ "Sudan's Constitution of 2019" (PDF). Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  17. ↑ "Sudan's reinstated PM Hamdok promises a path to democracy". Al Jazeera. 22 November 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2023. The 14-point deal between Hamdok and the military, signed in the presidential palace in Khartoum on Sunday, also provides for the release of all political prisoners detained during the coup and stipulates that a 2019 constitutional declaration be the basis for a political transition, according to details read out on state television.
  18. ↑ Olewe, Dickens (20 February 2023). "Mohamed 'Hemeti' Dagalo: Top Sudan military figure says coup was a mistake". BBC News. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  19. ↑ "Sudan coup leader restores restructured Sovereignty Council". Radio Dabanga. Khartoum. 11 November 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  20. ↑ "Sudan's Burhan dismisses Hemedti of his position". Al Bawaba. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  21. ↑ "Turkmenistan's president expands his father's power". Associated Press. Ashgabat. 22 January 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  22. ↑ Nasser, Afrah (18 December 2022). "'Republic of fear': A return to Yemen after 11 years". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  23. ↑ Clayton, Freddie (30 August 2025). "Yemen's Houthis say Israeli airstrike killed prime minister of rebel-controlled government". NBC News. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  24. ↑ "Libya parliament suspends rival eastern-based PM Bashagha". Al Jazeera. 16 May 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  25. ↑ "Von der Leyen elected EU Commission head after MEPs vote". BBC News. 16 July 2019. Archived from the original on 1 September 2022.
  26. Livesay, Brandon; Hadfield, Charlotte, eds. (20 May 2026). "Cuba's Raúl Castro indicted in US over 1996 fatal downing of two planes". BBC News. With Will Grant reporting from Havana, Cuba. Retrieved 21 May 2026. The veteran leader is still considered the de-facto leader of Cuba, despite Miguel Diaz-Canel being the current president.
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