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 :
↑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).
↑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 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).
↑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 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.
↑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 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.
↑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.
↑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.