What countries still have monarchies?

While not as popular as they used to be, monarchies still exist in many countries across the globe with varying power.

The most well-known monarchies are in Europe, but Africa, Asia and the Middle East have many countries with monarchs as heads of state. So, which countries in the world are still run by monarchies? We take a look.

Africa:

Eswatini: Formerly known as Swaziland, the country is an absolute monarchy. The heir is traditionally one of the sons of the monarch who is chosen based on the virtue of the mother. King Mswati leads Africa’s last absolute monarch.

Lesotho: Lesotho is a constitutional monarchy, and the current head of state is King Letsie III. His heir is his son, Prince Lerotholi Seeiso.

King Letsie III and Queen Masenate Mohato Seeiso. By IAEA Imagebank – https://www.flickr.com/photos/iaea_imagebank/8680655840, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Morocco: As the only Muslim monarchy in Africa, Morocco is led by King Mohammed VI. Like other Islamic monarchies in the world, the country abides by agnatic primogeniture, meaning women cannot be in the line of succession.

Asia: 

Bhutan: The small Asian kingdom is a semi-constitutional monarchy with the reigning monarch dubbed the “Dragon King.” Bhutan’s current monarch is Jigme Khesar. He will be succeeded by his eldest child and son, Jigme Namgyel.

Brunei: Brunei is led by a sultan and is an absolute monarchy. The current monarch is Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. As with most Islamic monarchies, only men can inherit the throne.

The Sultan of Brunei. Photo: Royal Hashemite Court

Cambodia: Cambodia is a constitutional monarchy. The monarch is elected; the change came in 1993 when the monarchy was re-established in the country. Norodom Sihamoni is the current monarch.

Japan: Home to the oldest hereditary monarchy in the world, Japan has an Emperor as its constitutional monarch. Only men are eligible to ascend the throne, and there are only three people in its line of succession. The current ruler is Emperor Naruhito.

Malaysia: Malaysia’s constitutional monarchy stands out as the monarch is an elected position from a group of royal families, leading the Malay states. The Conference of Rulers elects a monarch for a five-year term. The reigning Yang di-Pertuan Agong is Johor’s Ibrahim Iskandar. He has been on the throne since January 2024.

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia. By United States Embassy Kuala Lumpur – Ambassador Kamala Lakhdhir visit Johor, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons.

Thailand: The Thai monarch is a constitutional monarch, but he is considered semi-divine by many in the country. Thailand also has strict lèse-majesté laws that criminalise defamation, threats and insults. Criticising the monarchy is not allowed, and the laws are considered the harshest lèse-majesté laws in the world. The current monarch is Vajiralongkorn. He has not yet named an heir to the throne.

Europe:

Andorra: The President of France and the Bishop of Urgell are co-princes of Andorra. Currently, the princes are Josep-Lluís Serrano Pentinat and Emmanuel Macron.

Belgium: Belgium has a parliamentary constitutional monarchy. The monarch is succeeded by their eldest child. The current King of the Belgians is Philippe.

Princess Elisabeth, King Albert and King Philippe. Bas Bogaerts/Belgian Royal Palace

Denmark: The Kingdom of Denmark includes Denmark, the Faroe Islands and Greenland. It is a constitutional monarchy currently led by King Frederik X. The line of succession abides by absolute primogeniture – meaning the eldest child, regardless of gender, will inherit the throne.

Liechtenstein: The small country of Liechtenstein is the only European monarchy that bars women from the throne. Prince Hans-Adam II is the Sovereign Prince of this semi-constitutional monarchy.

Luxembourg: Led by a Grand Duke, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is a constitutional monarchy. The line of succession in Luxembourg abides by absolute primogeniture, and Grand Duke Henri is the current monarch. He is set to abdicate in October 2025 in favour of his eldest child, Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume.

Monaco: The Principality of Monaco is led by the Sovereign Prince. The reigning semi-constitutional monarch is Prince Albert II. Monaco’s line of succession follows male-preference primogeniture, meaning a younger brother can surpass his older sister in the line of succession. As such, Hereditary Prince Jacques is first in line to the throne, instead of his older twin sister, Princess Gabriella.

King Willem-Alexander and the Princess of Orange. Photo: RVD

The Netherlands: The Kingdom of the Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy which abides by absolute primogeniture. King Willem-Alexander is the current monarch, and his daughter, Amalia, is the heir to the throne.

Norway: King Harald leads the Norwegian monarchy. Like most in Europe, its line of succession follows absolute primogeniture. As the new laws of succession did not go into effect until 1990, the heir to the throne is Crown Prince Haakon instead of his older sister, Princess Märtha Louise. Haakon’s eldest child, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, is second in line to the throne.

Spain: Following male preference primogeniture, Spain’s constitutional monarchy allows men to overtake their younger sisters in the line of succession. The current monarch is King Felipe, and as he only has two daughters, his eldest, Leonor, is the heir to the throne.

Sweden: The Scandinavian country is a constitutional monarchy led by the Bernadotte family. King Carl XVI Gustaf is the reigning monarch. Sweden was the first country in Europe to change the line of succession to allow women and men to have the same succession rights. The King’s son, Carl Philip, was the heir to the throne at birth, but when the Swedish Constitution changed in January 1980, he was replaced as heir to the throne by his older sister, Victoria.

The Prince of Wales and his son, Prince George. Credit: AELTC/Ryan Jenkinson.

United Kingdom: The UK is the most well-known monarchy in the world, with King Charles III as monarch. The constitutional monarchy changed its laws of succession to allow for absolute primogeniture with the Succession to the Crown Act 2013. The current heir to the throne is William, the Prince of Wales. William is followed in the line of succession by his three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

Vatican City: It may surprise some, but the Vatican City is an absolute monarchy with the Pope as monarch. He is an absolute monarch through Divine Law and is elected by the College of Cardinals. The American Pope Leo XIV has been the Pontiff since the death of Pope Francis in April 2025.

Middle East:

Bahrain: It is a semi-constitutional monarchy in the Middle East that is led by a King, currently Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa. His eldest son will one day succeed him.

Jordan: A semi-constitutional monarchy, Jordan only allows men to be in the line of succession. The Hashemites are direct descendants of the Prophet Muhammad, and Abdullah II is the current monarch. His eldest child, Crown Prince Hussein, is first in line to the throne.

Queen Rania and King Abdullah of Jordan. Copyright 2024, Royal Hashemite Court

Kuwait: Kuwait is another semi-constitutional monarchy in the Middle East. Instead of a king, Kuwait is led by an Emir, the current being Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

Oman: An absolute monarchy, Oman is ruled by a sultan. Haitham bin Tariq Al Said sits on the throne, and his eldest son, Theyazin bin Haitham, is the heir apparent. 

Qatar: Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani is the reigning Emir of Qatar. The monarch appoints an heir to the throne for this constitutional monarchy.

Saudi Arabia: Another absolute monarchy in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia’s monarch is King Salman. The current heir is his son, Crown Prince Mohammed. The Allegiance Council selects the heir to the throne, and the King issues a Royal Decree naming the Crown Prince.

UAE: The United Arab Emirates is broken into seven emirates (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ajman, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain, and Fujairah) with an absolute monarch leading each one. The ruler of Abu Dhabi is also the President of the UAE, while the Vice President is the Ruler of Dubai. Only men can be in the lines of succession.

Oceania: 

Tonga: Tupou VI is the King of Tonga. The island country is a constitutional monarchy where men get precedence over women in the line of succession. This means a younger brother can overtake an older sister in the line of succession.

King Tupou and Queen Nanasipauʻu of Tonga at Buckingham Palace with the Princess of Wales. Photo by Ian Jones

Commonwealth:

In addition to the United Kingdom, several members of the Commonwealth count King Charles III as their head of state and their monarch. Those countries part of the Commonwealth Realm are Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu.