List of heads of state by diplomatic precedence
Protocol holds that a head of state takes precedence over all other officials, and that heads of state rank in the order that they took office. The following list contains the heads of state for all United Nations member states and non-member observer states.
Commonwealth realms, other than the United Kingdom, each have a local governor-general appointed to represent the monarch in the realm's government. Governors-general are frequently accorded the status and privileges of a head of state at diplomatic events when considered as representing their absentee monarch, but not as themselves heads of state. The princes of Andorra each have a representative as well. Hereditary Prince Alois is permanent representative for exercising the sovereign powers due to Liechtenstein Prince Hans-Adam II.[1] They are included in the list and are highlighted in blue.
However, in many cases it is not this neutral principle but national rules of protocol that are acted upon, usually by an international event's host nation, as in many bilateral and even certain multilateral occasions. Various international organisations have a system for internal use. Even in the presence of one or more Heads of State, certain occasions are governed by specific protocol, e.g. military. Thus in many cases precedence is given to monarchs over republican heads of state, mostly in monarchies; in some nations, the Pope (himself a monarchical head of state) ranks above secular heads of state, especially in Roman Catholic countries.
States recognised by the United Nations
[edit]Current
[edit]
States with limited recognition
[edit]Current
[edit]| Title | Name | Assumed office | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| President | Brahim Ghali | 12 July 2016 |  Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
|
| President | Vadim Krasnoselsky | 16 December 2016 |  Transnistria
|
| President | Ersin Tatar | 23 October 2020 |  Northern Cyprus
|
| President | Vjosa Osmani | 4 April 2021 |  Kosovo
|
| President | Alan Gagloyev | 24 May 2022 |  South Ossetia
|
| President | Lai Ching-te | 20 May 2024 |  Republic of China (Taiwan)
|
| Acting President | Badra Gunba | 19 November 2024 |  Abkhazia
|
| President | Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi | 12 December 2024 |  Somaliland
|
Disputed governments
[edit]The following heads of state represent governments that are recognized as legitimate by at least one UN member state.
Current
[edit]| Title | Name | Assumed office | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chairman of the Supreme Political Council | Mahdi al-Mashat | 25 April 2018 |  Yemen
|
| President of the Coordination Council | Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya | 14 August 2020 |  Belarus
|
| President of the Syrian National Coalition | Hadi al-Bahra | 12 September 2023 |  Syria
|
| President of the National Assembly | Dinorah Figuera | 5 January 2023 |  Venezuela
|
See also
[edit]- List of current heads of state and government
- List of current state leaders by date of assumption of office
- Order of precedence
Notes
[edit]- ^ Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo was titled President of the Supreme Military Council until 25 August 1979.
- ^ Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo is the nephew of the previous president, Francisco Macías Nguema.
- ^ Paul Biya was previously Prime Minister between 30 June 1975 – 6 November 1982.
- ^ Hassanal Bolkiah has been Sultan of Brunei since 5 October 1967, but Brunei was a protectorate of the United Kingdom until 1 January 1984.
- ^ Yoweri Museveni was titled Chairman of the National Resistance Council until 29 January 1986
- ^ The country was the Kingdom of Swaziland before 2018.
- ^ Ali Khamenei was previously President of Iran from 2 October 1981 – 4 June 1989.
- ^ In Iran, the Supreme Leader is the head of state and the President is the head of government.
- ^ Hans-Adam II was previously Regent from 26 August 1984 – 13 November 1989.
- ^ a b Hereditary Prince Alois has been Regent for Hans-Adam II since 15 August 2004.
- ^ Harald V was previously Prince-Regent from 1 June 1990 – 17 January 1991.
- ^ Haakon was Prince-Regent from 25 November 2003 – 13 April 2004 and 29 March 2005 – 7 June 2005.
- ^ Isaias Afwerki has been the leader of Eritrea (initially titled Secretary-general of the Provisional Government) from 29 May 1991, but the country only became independent on 24 May 1993.
- ^ Letsie III was previously King of Lesotho between 12 November 1990 – 25 January 1995.
- ^ Denis Sassou Nguesso was previously President of the People's Republic of the Congo (as the country was named then) between 8 February 1979 – 31 August 1992.
- ^ The monarch was titled Emir until 14 February 2002.
- ^ The country was the State of Bahrain before 2002.
- ^ Ismaïl Omar Guelleh is the nephew of the previous president, Hassan Gouled Aptidon.
- ^ Paul Kagame was Acting President until 22 April 2000.
- ^ Henri was previously Regent from 3 March 1998 – 7 October 2000.
- ^ Ilham Aliyev was previously Prime Minister between 4 August 2003 – 4 November 2003.
- ^ Ilham Aliyev is the son of the previous president, Heydar Aliyev.
- ^ Albert II was previously Regent from 31 March 2005 – 6 April 2005.
- ^ Faure Gnassingbé was previously President between 5 February 2005 – 25 February 2005.
- ^ Faure Gnassingbé is the son of the previous president, Gnassingbé Eyadéma.
- ^ Daniel Ortega was previously President between 10 January 1985 – 25 April 1990.
- ^ Alassane Ouattara was previously Prime Minister between 7 November 1990 – 9 December 1993.
- ^ Tupou VI – then titled Prince 'Ulukalala Lavaka Ata – was previously Prime Minister between 3 January 2000 – 11 February 2006.
- ^ Vladimir Putin was previously President between 31 December 1999 – 7 May 2008, and Prime Minister between 9 August 1999 – 7 May 2000 and 8 May 2008 – 7 May 2012.
- ^ Maduro was Acting President until 19 April 2013.
- ^ It is the Holy See and not the Vatican City state that maintains diplomatic relations with states and participates in international organisations. The Holy See and the Vatican City state are two separate and distinct entities. Foreign embassies are accredited to the Holy See, not to the Vatican City state, and it is the Holy See that establishes treaties and concordats with other sovereign entities. Also it is the Holy See that has United Nations Observer status not the Vatican City state.
- ^ Chinese President is a ceremonial figurehead, while General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party holds the highest authority of Paramount leader. The presidency has been held simultaneously by the General Secretary since 1993.
- ^ Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was previously Prime Minister between 14 March 2003 – 28 August 2014.
- ^ Faustin-Archange Touadéra was previously Prime Minister between 22 January 2008 – 17 January 2013.
- ^ Azali Assoumani was previously President between 26 May 2001 – 26 May 2006.
- ^ Shavkat Mirziyoyevwas Interim President until 14 December 2016 and was previously Prime Minister between 12 December 2003 – 14 December 2016.
- ^ Prem Tinsulanonda was Regent of Thailand from 13 October 2016 – 1 December 2016.
- ^ Nana Akufo-Addo is the son of a former president, Edward Akufo-Addo.
- ^ Aleksandar Vučić was previously Prime Minister between 27 April 2014 – 30 May 2017.
- ^ The country was the People's Republic of Angola before 1992.
- ^ Julis Maada Bio was Head of State of Sierra Leone (as Leader of the Supreme Council of State) from 16 January 1996 – 29 March 1996.
- ^ Félix Tshisekedi is the son of former Prime Minister Étienne Tshisekedi
- ^ Though Kim has held this office since 2016, the President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly was the head of state until the 14th State Affairs Commission was formed.
- ^ Abdelmadjid Tebboune was Prime Minister of Algeria from 25 May 2017 – 15 August 2017.
- ^ Haitham bin Tariq is the cousin of the former Sultan Qaboos bin Said.
- ^ Zoran Milanović was Prime Minister of Croatia from 23 December 2011 – 22 January 2016.
- ^ Umaro Sissoco Embaló was Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau from 18 November 2016 – 30 January 2018.
- ^ Luis Lacalle Pou is the son of former President Luis Alberto Lacalle.
- ^ Sadyr Japarov was Acting Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan from 6 October 2020 – 10 October 2020, Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan from 10 October 2020 – 21 January 2021; and Acting President of Kyrgyzstan from 15 October 2020 – 14 November 2020. Japarov took a leave of absence from the office of Prime Minister from 14 November 2020 – 11 January 2021 to compete in the 2021 Kyrgyz presidential election; Artem Novikov acted for Japarov.
- ^ Thongloun Sisoulith was previously Prime Minister between 20 April 2016 – 22 March 2021 and is General Secretary of the People's Revolutionary Party since 15 January 2021.
- ^ As President of the Transitional Military Council until 10 October 2022, and thereafter as Transitional President until 10 May 2024
- ^ Assimi Goïta was Head of State of Mali (as Chairman of the National Committee for the Salvation of the People of Mali) 19 August 2020 – 27 August 2021 and Acting Head of State of Mali 27 August 2021 – 25 September 2020.
- ^ Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh was Prime Minister of Mongolia 4 October 2017 – 27 January 2021.
- ^ Isaac Herzog is the son of President Chaim Herzog.
- ^ As Chairman of the National Committee of Reconciliation and Development until 1 October 2021
- ^ José Maria Neves was Prime Minister of Cape Verde 1 February 2001 – 22 April 2016.
- ^ Sandra Mason was Acting Governor-General of Barbados 30 May 2012 – 1 June 2012.
- ^ Sandra Mason was Governor-General of Barbados 8 January 2018 – 30 November 2021.
- ^ Powers and duties suspended since 14 December 2024.
- ^ Mohamed bin Zayed is the brother of the previous President, Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
- ^ José Ramos-Horta was Acting Prime Minister of East Timor 26 June 2006 – 10 July 2006, Prime Minister of East Timor 10 July 2006 – 19 May 2007, and President of East Timor 20 May 2007 – 11 February 2008 and 17 April 2008 – 20 May 2012.
- ^ Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was President of Somalia 16 September 2012 – 16 February 2017.
- ^ Bongbong Marcos is the son of former President and Prime Minister Ferdinand Marcos.
- ^ As President of the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration until 6 October 2022
- ^ Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was President of Brazil 1 January 2003 – 31 December 2010.
- ^ Andry Rajoelina was Head of State of Madagascar (as President of the High Transitional Authority) 17 March 2009 – 25 January 2014, then the elected President 19 January 2019 – 9 September 2023.
- ^ Hilda Heine was President of the Marshall Islands 28 January 2016 – 13 January 2020.
- ^ Nangolo Mbumba was Acting President until 4 February 2024.
- ^ Asif Ali Zardari was President of Pakistan 9 September 2008 – 9 September 2013.
- ^ Peter Pellegrini was Prime Minister of Slovakia from 22 March 2018 – 21 March 2020.
- ^ Dalibor Riccardi is the son of former Captain Regent Marino Riccardi
- ^ Željka Cvijanović was previously Chairwoman of the Presidency between 16 November 2022 – 16 July 2023.
References
[edit]- ^ Hereditary Prince Alois Archived 21 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Sudan's Constitution of 2019" (PDF). Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Sudan army chief names new governing Sovereign Council". Al Jazeera. 11 November 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2023.