List of current monarchies

Non-sovereign monarchies. A non-sovereign monarchy or subnational monarchy is one in which the head of the monarchical polity (whether a geographic territory or an ethnic group), and the polity itself, are subject to a sovereign state. The non-sovereign monarchies of Malaysia, emirates of the United Arab Emirates, the Sultanate of Sulu, and kingdoms of Uganda are examples of these.^[2]

Lines of succession[edit]
Some of the extant sovereign monarchies have lines of succession that go back to the medieval period or antiquity:

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  The kings of Cambodia claim descent from Queen Soma (1st century), although the historiographical record is interrupted in the "Post-Angkor Period" (15th/16th centuries). A real unified kingdom of Cambodia first came to existence in 802. The monarchy in Cambodia was abolished between 1970 and 1993.
  
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  There exist several suggestions on a possible line of succession in the Danish monarchy from the late 7th century and until Gorm the Old, but none of these suggestions have so far won universal acceptance. Most monarchs in Denmark since the 940s have been descendants of Gorm the Old's father Harthacnut and all monarchs in Denmark since 1047 have been descendants of titular Queen Estrid Svendsdatter. A formal law of succession was not adopted in Denmark until 1665.
  
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  Japan, considered a constitutional monarchy under the Imperial House of Japan, is traditionally said to have originated with the mythical Emperor Jimmu. The first verifiable historiographical evidence begins with Emperor Kinmei in the 6th century. It is the oldest continuous hereditary monarchy in the world.^[3]
  
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  The monarchs of Norway by virtue of descent from Harald I Fairhair, who united the realm in 872. Harald as a member of the House of Yngling is given a partly legendary line of succession from earlier petty kings in historiographical tradition. Far from all monarchs of Norway since the 930s have been descendants of Harald Fairhair: at least seven or eight Norwegian kings from the period c. 970 – 1859 were not descendants of Harald Fairhair.
  
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  The kings of Spain by descent from the Catholic Monarchs (via the House of Habsburg), ultimately combining the lines of succession of Castile and León and Aragon, realms established in the 10th to 11th centuries in the course of the Reconquista, via the Kingdom of Asturias claiming descent from the Visigothic Kingdom (which, originally ruled by the Thervingi kings, had become elective in the 6th century). The monarchy of Spain was abolished twice in the 19th and 20th centuries (1873–1874 and 1931–1947) and replaced by republics.
  

The monarchs of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth realms inherit the throne by virtue of descent from Sophia of Hanover, according to the Act of Settlement 1701. Sophia was the granddaughter of James VI and I who inherited and held in union the kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland (Union of the Crowns) in 1603. Succession to the English throne originates with the House of Wessex, established in the 6th century; the Scottish throne with descent from Pictish kings who likewise enter the historical record around the 6th century. When thinking about modern kings and queens, Elizabeth II is the first that comes to mind. But the longest-reigning monarch is hardly the only one out there in the world—in fact, there are 29 modern monarchies, reigning over 40 countries. Some, like King Salam bin Abdulaziz Al Saud rule absolutely, while others, such as King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, serve more as ambassadors for their country's governments.
Others still aren't even kings or queens, but rather princes reigning over principalities, like Albert II of Monaco or grand dukes over dukedoms, like the one in Luxembourg.
Read on for all the current sovereign heads of state, from the King of Bahrain to the Pope.
When we look at history, there was a time when almost the whole world was ruled by a monarch or a king or queen. But there are many countries that still feature some form of monarchy. As of now, there are many countries that have a monarch ruling over them.
The power of monarchs varies, defined by the country’s traditions and language. Most monarchies are constitutional, having largely ceremonial roles. Some, however, have absolute power, while a small number are elective and one is a co-regency – when two or more people share a monarchical position.
Jump To

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  What is a Monarchy?
  
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  1. Bahrain
  
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  2. Belgium
  
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  3. Bhutan
  
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  4. Brunei
  
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  5. Cambodia
  
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  6. Saudi Arabia
  
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  7. Spain
  
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  8. Thailand
  
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  9. Vatican City
  
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  10. Commonwealth Realms
  
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  11. Denmark
  
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  12. Malaysia
  
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  13. The Netherlands