This page lists the national rulers in the world, i.e. heads of state and heads of government (and, in certain cases, de facto leaders not occupying either of those formal positions or prime ministers who are not heads of government...) of the 194 states usually recognized like that (192 UN members + Vatican City + Taiwan), of 10 other national entities (quasi and unrecognized states), and of 7 in exile and/or alternative governments (only in exile governments that exercised power or succeeded governments that exercised power).
For local rulers, i.e. rulers of dependencies and of the main administrative divisions (autonomous regions, insular or peninsular regions, successors of historical regions or regions with strong identity, regions in the news, etc.) see :
States - D-F
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States - G-H
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States - I-K
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States - N-R
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States - U-Z
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Quasi states
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De facto independent states
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Govenments in exile/alternative governments
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- ↑ Chairman of the Interim Administration to 19 Jun 2002.
- ↑ Previously president from 9 Apr 1992 to 24 Jul 1997.
- ↑ Acting to 21 Sep 1979.
- ↑ Acting to 9 Apr 1998.
- ↑ In Azeri, "İlham Əliyev".
- ↑ In Azeri, "Artur Rasizadə". Acting for Aliyev to 4 Nov 2003. Previously prime minister from 20 Jul 1996 to 4 Aug 2003 (acting to 26 Nov 1996)
- ↑ Previously from 21 Aug 1992 to 3 May 2002.
- ↑ Emir from 6 Mar 1999 to 14 Feb 2002.
- ↑ President of the State Council to 16 Aug 1971.
- ↑ Acting to 19 Dec 2003.
- ↑ Previously from 14 Aug 2002 to 30 Aug 2003.
- ↑ The presidency is tripartite : the members are Željko Komšić (Croatian, since 6 Nov 2006), Nebojša Radmanović (Serb, since 6 Nov 2006), Haris Silajdžić (Bosniak, since 6 Nov 2006).
- ↑ President of Popular Front (from 31 Oct 1987 also Head of State) to 24 Dec 1991.
- ↑ Chairmen of the State Law and Order Restoration Council to 15 Nov 1997.
- ↑ Acting to 24 Oct 2007 (for Soe Win to 12 Oct 2007).
- ↑ Prime minister to 2 Jul 1993, coequal prime minister from 2 Jul 1993 to 21 Sep 1993, second prime minister from 21 Sep 1993 to 30 Nov 1998.
- ↑ From 26 Jan 2006, Idriss Déby Itno. President of Patriotic Salvation Movement 2-4 Dec 1990, Head of State 4 Dec 1990 - 4 Mar 1991).
- ↑ Previously from 6 Nov 1993 to 8 Apr 1995.
- ↑ De facto in control from 15 Oct 1997. Previously member of the Military Committee of the Congolese Labour Party (18 Mar - 3 Apr 1977) and president from 8 Feb 1979 to 31 Aug 1992 (Head of State to 14 Aug 1979).
- ↑ Interim to 26 Jan 2001.
- ↑ Previously president from 31 Mar 1961 to 5 Aug 1961 (Head of State, in rebellion, at Stanleyville) and prime minister from 13 Dec 1960 to 5 Aug 1961 (in rebellion, at Stanleyville).
- ↑ Previously from 8 May 1986 to 8 May 1990.
- ↑ Previously prime minister from 30 May to 24 Aug 1990. Also president of the Collective Presidency of Yugoslavia (1 Jul - 3 Oct 1991).
- ↑ Communist Party of Cuba = to 26 Mar 1962, Integrated Revolutionary Organizations (ORI); 26 Mar 1962 - 3 Oct 1965, United Party of the Cuban Socialist Revolution (PUSC).
- ↑ Premier from 16 Feb 1959 to 2 Dec 1976.
- ↑ Previously acting president (1 Jan - 2 Feb 1993).
- ↑ Previously from 16 Aug 1996 to 16 Aug 2000.
- ↑ Previously prime minister from 26 Jun 2006 to 19 May 2007 (acting to 10 Jul 2006).
- ↑ Previously president from 20 May 2002 to 20 May 2007.
- ↑ Chairman Revolutionary Military Council to 25 Aug 1979, chairman Supreme Military Council 25 Aug 1979 - 12 Oct 1982.
- ↑ Secretary-general of the Provisional Government to 24 May 1993.
- ↑ Previously president (interim) from 28 May 1991 to 22 Aug 1995.
- ↑ Interim to 15 Mar 2001. From 5 Dec 2006 to 4 Jan 2007, Voreqe Bainimarama is acting president for suspended Iloilo.
- ↑ Interim. Previously acting president from 5 Dec 2006 to 4 Jan 2007.
- ↑ Chairman Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council to 28 Sep 1996; Head of State to 18 Oct 1996.
- ↑ Previously from 25 Jan 2004 to 25 Nov 2007.
- ↑ Chairman Military Committee of National Restoration to 5 Apr 1984.
- ↑ Acting.
- ↑ Previously prime minister from 9 Aug 1999 to 11 Aug 1999.
- ↑ Previously president from 6 Mar 1997 to 19 Dec 1997, and prime minister from 9 Oct 1992 to 17 Mar 1997 and from 22 Dec 1997 to 9 Aug 1999.
- ↑ Previously prime minister from 13 Feb 1991 to 11 Oct 1991 and president from 7 Feb 1996 to 7 Feb 2001.
- ↑ Previously prime minister from 22 Apr 1977 to 21 Jun 1977 (acting), from 14 Sep 1984 to 20 Oct 1986, and from 4 Nov 1995 to 18 Jun 1996 (acting to 22 Nov 1995).
- ↑ Previously prime minister, 18 June 1996 – 6 July 1999
- ↑ Previously from 18 May 1996 to 21 Oct 1998.
- ↑ Previously first secretary of the Communist Party of the Kazakh S.S.R. (22 Jun 1989 - 28 Aug 1991), Chairman of the Supreme Soviet (22 Feb 1990 - 24 Apr 1990), chairman of the Council of Ministers (27 Jul 1989 - 14 Oct 1991).
- ↑ Declared "the highest post of the state" 5 Sep 1998.
- ↑ From 12 Mar 2004 to 14 May 2004, Goh Kun is acting president for suspended Roh. On 19 Dec 2007, Lee Myung Bak is elected president.
- ↑ Previously acting prime minister from 14 Mar 2006 to 19 Apr 2006.
- ↑ Prime minister from 13 Jul 2003 to 7 Feb 2006.
- ↑ Acting to 14 Aug 2005.
- ↑ On Dec 5 hands in his resignation. On Dec 14 Ivars Godmanis is asked to form a new cabinet.
- ↑ A presidential election is scheduled on 11 Feb 2008.
- ↑ Previously from 12 Nov 1990 to 25 Jan 1995.
- ↑ Regent from 26 Aug 1984 to 13 Nov 1989.
- ↑ Previously from 26 Feb 1998 to 25 Feb 2003.
- ↑ Regent from 3 Mar 1998 to 7 Oct 2000.
- ↑ Previously from 21 Nov 2001 to 13 Dec 2001 (acting).
- ↑ Previously from 26 Mar 1991 to 8 Jun 1992 (chairman National Reconciliation Council to 31 Mar 1991, then chairman Transitional Committee for the Salvation of the People).
- ↑ Previously prime minister from 16 Jun 1982 to 22 Dec 1995 and from 17 Sep 2000 to 30 Sep 2003.
- ↑ Previously from 22 Dec 1995 - 17 Sep 2000.
- ↑ Regent from 31 Mar 2005 to 6 Apr 2005.
- ↑ Previously prime minister (5 Feb 1998 - 8 Jan 2003) and acting president (25 Nov 2002 - 19 May 2003).
- ↑ Previously member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of FRELIMO acting as president (19 Oct 1986 - 6 Nov 1986).
- ↑ Regent for Dipendra (2-4 Jun 2001); suspended from 15 Jan 2007. Previously king from 7 Nov 1950 to 7 Jan 1951.
- ↑ Previously from 26 May 1991 to 30 Nov 1994, from 15 Apr 1998 to 31 May 1999, and from 22 Mar 2000 to 26 Jul 2001.
- ↑ Previously member of the Government Junta of National Reconstruction (18 Jul 1979 - 10 Jan 1985 ; coordinator from 4 Mar 1981) and president from 10 Jan 1985 to 25 Apr 1990.
- ↑ Crown Prince Haakon regent from 25 Nov 2003 to 13 Apr 2004 and from 29 Mar 2005 to 7 Jun 2005.
- ↑ Previously from 17 Mar 2000 to 19 Oct 2001.
- ↑ Previously prime minister ("chief executive") from 14 Oct 1999 to 23 Nov 2002.
- ↑ Previously prime minister from 27 Apr 1972 to 11 Mar 1980 (chief minister to 16 sep 1975) and from 2 Aug 1982 to 21 Nov 1985.
- ↑ Previously from 28 Jul 1985 to 28 Jul 1990.
- ↑ From 20 Apr to 23 May 2007, Nicolae Vacaroiu is acting for suspended Basescu.
- ↑ Acting to 7 May 2000.
- ↑ Acting to 22 Apr 2000.
- ↑ Acting to 9 Sep 2007.
- ↑ Previously member of the council of deputies acting as head of state (11 May - 20 Jun 2007).
- ↑ Previously from 3 Sep 2001 to 16 Jul 2003.
- ↑ Previously regent (1 Jan - 21 Feb 1996).
- ↑ In Nairobi exile to 13 Jun 2005, from 26 Jul 2005 in Jowhar, from 26 Feb 2006 in Baidoa, from 8 Jan 2007 in Mogadishu.
- ↑ Previously acting head of state (19 Jul - 2 Sep 1974 and 30 Oct - 20 Nov 1975).
- ↑ Previously prime minister from 6 Apr 2004 to 21 Nov 2005.
- ↑ Previously from 10 Aug 2000 to 9 Dec 2001.
- ↑ President of Revolutionary Command Council for National Salvation to 16 Oct 1993.
- ↑ Previously from 16 Sep 1991 to 15 Sep 1996.
- ↑ Chairing the Council of Ministers ex officio.
- ↑ The presidency (Federal Council) is collegial, the president of the Swiss Confederation serves solely in a primus inter pares capacity for one year. The members of the Federal Council are Moritz Leuenberger (since 1 Nov 1995), Pascal Couchepin (since 1 Apr 1999), Samuel Schmid (since 1 Jan 2001), Micheline Calmy-Rey (since 1 Jan 2003), Hans-Rudolf Merz (since 1 Jan 2004, vice-president of the Confederation for 2008), Doris Leuthard (since 1 Aug 2006), Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf (since 1 Jan 2008).
- ↑ Previously from 6 Oct 2000 to 1 Feb 2002.
- ↑ Acting to 27 Nov 1992; chairman Supreme Council 27 Nov 1992 - 16 Nov 1994.
- ↑ Previously from 5 to 25 Feb 2005 (acting to 21)
- ↑ Acting to 30 Mar 2006.
- ↑ Previously from 17 Dec 1991 to 9 Nov 1995.
- ↑ Acting to 14 Feb 2007.
- ↑ Commander National Resistance Army to 29 Jan 1986.
- ↑ Previously from 24 Jan 2005 to 8 Sep 2005.
- ↑ Previously first secretary of the Communist Party of the Uzbek S.S.R. (23 Jun 1989 - 3 Nov 1991).
- ↑ Previously from 2 Feb 1999 to 12 Apr 2002.
- ↑ Chairman Presidential Council to 1 Oct 1994. Previously president of North Yemen (18 Jul 1978 - 22 May 1990).
- ↑ Previously prime minister (18 Apr 1980 - 31 Dec 1987).
- ↑ Head of United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo.
- ↑ Though without a territory since 1798, the Sovereign Military Order of Malta still regards itself, and is regarded by several states that give it diplomatic recognition, as a sovereign state.
- ↑ Acting to 16 Apr 2005.
- ↑ Palestinian Authority created to administer most of Gaza Strip and parts of West Bank (Jericho area handed over 13 May 1994, Gaza Strip 18 May 1994, Jenin 13 Nov 1995, Tulkarem 10 Dec 1995, Nablus 11 Dec 1995, Qalqilya 16 Dec 1995, Bethlehem 21 Dec 1995, Ramallah 27 Dec 1995, 80% of Hebron 17 Jan 1997).
- ↑ Ismail Haniya, prime minister from 29 Mar 2006 to 14 Jun 2007, continues in rebellion in Gaza.
- ↑ The Saharan Arab Democratic Republic is currently recognized by about 60 countries. Morocco retains de facto control..
- ↑ Chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council to 16 Oct 1982).
- ↑ From 2 Sep 1990 to 1 Dec 1991, chairman of the (to 29 Nov 1990, Provisional) Supreme Soviet; from Dec 1990 chairman of the republic.
- ↑ Previously prime minister from 13 Jan 2004 to 26 Apr 2005.
- ↑ Pro-Georgian government (in Tbilisi).
- ↑ Previously acting prime minister from 15 Sep 1992 to 28 Nov 2003.
- ↑ Previously president from 17 Jun 2006 to 7 Oct 2007.
- ↑ In Netherlands exile.
- ↑ Alternative government.
- ↑ 14th Dalai Lama. From 31 Mar 1959 in exile (from 1 May 1960 in Dharamsala, India).