"World leaders" redirects here. For the CIA directory, see World Leaders.
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.
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.
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.
12The President of France and the French Co-Prince of Andorra are positions held by the same person.
123456789101112131415Charles 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.
↑The high representative is an international civilian overseer of the Dayton Agreement with authority to dismiss elected and non-elected officials and enact legislation.
↑The three-member Bosnian presidency is the head of state collectively.
123456789While the position of prime minister formally exists as head of government, the president serves as de facto head of government.
↑Constitutionally the President of China is only the state representative and not head of state but the two roles are functionally the same.
↑Former First Secretary and President Raúl Castro is also considered to be the de facto leader by some sources.
↑Acting Head of the Executive Branch except in matters directly related to the Supreme Leader.
↑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.
↑Secretary of State for Foreign and Political Affairs is often considered de facto head of government but this is not constitutionally defined.
↑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.
↑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.
↑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.
↑"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.[In this context [cohabitation], the dyarchic (two-headed) nature of the executive branch becomes fully apparent, as the head of state—elected by direct universal suffrage—loses their role as leader of the executive to the Prime Minister, accountable to the National Assembly.]
↑"Vucic odlazi da bi se vratio"[Vučić is leaving in order to return.]. www.dw.com. DW News. Retrieved 29 September 2026. Nebitno je to što Aleksandar Vučić više zvanično nije predsjednik Srbije, ocjenjuje štampa na njemačkom jeziku. On i dalje vuče sve konce, a pred izbore nije isključeno ni novo nasilje.[The fact that Aleksandar Vučić is no longer officially the President of Serbia is irrelevant, according to the German-language press. He continues to pull all the strings, and further violence cannot be ruled out ahead of the elections.]
↑"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.
↑Pager, Tyler; Kurmanaev, Anatoly (11 July 2026). "How Marco Rubio Is Running Venezuela From Afar". The New York Times. ISSN0362-4331. Retrieved 12 July 2026. The secretary of state effectively controls Venezuela's finances, the distribution of its natural resources and its government. His grip on the country is a vivid manifestation of American power in the Trump era.
Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: Charles III
Oceania
Australia, Cook Islands, New Zealand, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu: Charles III
1 Partially or entirely in Asia, depending on the definition of the Europe–Asia border.
2 Partially or entirely in Asia, depending on the definition of the Africa–Asia border.
