List of heads of state by diplomatic precedence
 | It has been suggested that List of state leaders by date be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since May 2009. |
International 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 each have a Governor-General to represent the Queen. Governors-General are not Heads of State, but are frequently accorded the status and privileges of a Head of State at diplomatic events when considered to represent the monarch in Right of the Realm. The princes of Andorra each have a representative as well. 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
Current
Future
| Title | Name | Assuming office | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| President-elect | Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj | 11 June 2009 |  Mongolia
|
| President-elect | Ricardo Martinelli | 1 July 2009 |  Panama
|
| President-elect | Dalia Grybauskaitė | 12 July 2009 |  Lithuania
|
States recognised by United Nations members
| Title | Name | Assumed office | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| President | Mohamed Abdelaziz | 30 August 1976 |  Western Sahara
|
| President | Eduard Kokoity | 18 December 2001 |  South Ossetia
|
| President | Sergei Bagapsh | 12 February 2005 |  Abkhazia
|
| President | Mehmet Ali Talat | 20 April 2005 |  Northern Cyprus
|
| President | Fatmir Sejdiu | 17 February 2008 |  Kosovo
|
| President | Ma Ying-jeou | 20 May 2008 |  Taiwan
|
See also
References
- ^ a b The Secretary General of the General People's Congress and Guide of the Revolution of Libya share head of state powers.
- ^ Ali Khamenei was previously President of Iran from 2 October 1981 – 4 June 1989.
- ^ a b The President and Supreme Leader of Iran share head of state powers.
- ^ Hans-Adam II was previously Prince-Regent from 26 August 1984 – 13 November 1989.
- ^ a b Alois has been Prince-Regent for Hans-Adam II since 15 August 2004.
- ^ Ali Abdullah Saleh was previously President of North Yemen from 18 July 1978 – 22 May 1990.
- ^ Harald V was previously Prince-Regent from 1 June 1990 – 17 January 1991, while Haakon was Prince-Regent from 25 November 2003 – 13 April 2004 and 29 March 2005 – 7 June 2005.
- ^ a b The Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly and Chairman of the National Defence Commission of North Korea share head of state powers while Kim Il-sung (deceased) is recognised in the constitution as the Eternal President.
- ^ Pedro Carmona was Acting President from 12 April 2002 – 13 April 2002 and Diosdado Cabello was Acting President from 13 April 2002 – 14 April 2002.
- ^ Frank Bainimarama was Acting President from 5 December 2006 – 4 January 2007.
- ^ Henri was previously Prince-Regent from 3 March 1998 – 7 October 2000.
- ^ Fernando Pereira was Chairman of the Military Junta of National Salvation from 16 July 2003 – 23 July 2003.
- ^ Karzai was the Acting President until 7 December 2004.
- ^ Nicolae Vacaroiu was Acting President from 20 April 2007 – 23 May 2007.
- ^ Albert II was previously Prince-Regent from 31 March 2005 – 6 April 2005.
- ^ The three-member Presidency Council of Iraq is the head of state collectively.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Vicente Guterres was Acting President from 11 February 2008 – 13 February 2008 and Fernando de Araújo was Acting President from 13 February 2008 – 17 April 2008.
- ^ Raúl Castro was previously Acting President from 31 July 2006 – 24 February 2008.
- ^ Rupiah Banda was Acting President for Levy Mwanawasa from 29 June 2008 – 19 August 2008 and after his demise continued in an acting capacity until 2 November 2008.
- ^ The three-member Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina is the head of state collectively, with the chairmanship rotating every eight months.
- ^ The seven-member Swiss Federal Council is the head of state collectively, with the presidency rotating every year.