43 Countries That Still Have a Monarchy in 2024

If you think monarchies are obsolete, you may be surprised to learn otherwise. Of the 195 independent countries in the world, 43 still have monarchies today. In some cases, like the United Kingdom, the monarch is a figurehead with wealth and influence but little political power. Nevertheless, it is surprising that nearly one in four countries still recognize a royal leader. Below is a list of those countries with a brief description of what kind of monarchy they have and who the current monarch is.

1. Andorra

Andorra is a landlocked European country located in the Pyrenees Mountains between Spain and France. It is a parliamentary monarchy ruled by co-princes: Joan-Enric Vives and Emmanuel Macron. One is a Spanish bishop and the other is the leader of France.

2. Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda is a two-island country in the Caribbean Sea. As a former British colony and a member of the British Commonwealth, its ruler is King Charles III of the United Kingdom. This makes the country a parliamentary democracy.

3. Australia

Australia is an independent country but remains a member of the British Commonwealth. Therefore, its form of government is officially a parliamentary democracy, and its king is King Charles III of the United Kingdom.

4. The Bahamas

The Bahamas is a country made up of an island chain off the southeastern coast of Florida. It is a parliamentary democracy that recognizes King Charles III of the United Kingdom as its royal head of state.

5. Bahrain

Bahrain is an island country in the Persian Gulf ruled by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in a semi-constitutional monarchy. Like other countries in the region, it is rich in oil resources and well-modernized.

6. Belgium

Belgium is a parliamentary monarchy located between the Netherlands, France, and Luxembourg. The current head of state is King Philippe.

7. Belize

Belize is a country on the Caribbean Coast of Central America. It is famed for its rainforests and coral reefs. A former British colony, its king is Charles III of the United Kingdom.

8. Bhutan

Bhutan is a mysterious, reclusive Buddhist kingdom in the Himalayas between China and India. It is a semi-constitutional monarchy ruled by King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.

9. Brunei

Brunei is an oil-rich country on the island of Borneo, surrounded on three sides by Malaysia. It is an absolute monarchy ruled by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, one of the richest people in the world.

10. Cambodia

Cambodia, a Southeast Asian country bordering Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam, is a parliamentary monarchy. Its king is Norodom Sihamoni.

11. Canada

Canada is the second-largest country in the world by land area. Today it is a parliamentary democracy recognizing the British monarchy as its head of state. The current king is Charles III.

12. Denmark

Located on a peninsula north of Germany, Denmark is a Scandinavian country ruled as a parliamentary democracy by Queen Margrethe II.

13. Eswatini

You might know Eswatini by its previous name, Swaziland. The country changed its name in 2018 to reflect the name commonly used in the local language. It is one of the smallest African countries. Completely landlocked, it shares borders with Mozambique and South Africa. It is an absolute monarchy ruled by King Mswati III.

14. Grenada

Grenada is a Caribbean Island nation that recognizes the British King Charles III as its head of state. This makes its government a parliamentary monarchy, like that of Great Britain.

15. Jamaica

Like many other Caribbean Island nations, Jamaica is a former British colony that recognizes King Charles III as head of state. Recently, Jamaicans have discussed removing the king and declaring themselves a republic.

16. Japan

Japan, one of the major powers of East Asia, has a parliamentary monarchy. It is ruled by Emperor Naruhito. Interestingly, when Japan was occupied by the United States at the end of World War II, some Americans called for the monarchy to be abolished. However, a decision was made to keep it as a stabilizing influence on Japanese society.

17. Jordan

Jordan is a country in the Middle East sharing borders with Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Israel. It also has a small coastline on the Gulf of Aqaba. Jordan is a semi-constitutional monarchy currently ruled by King Abdullah II.

18. Kuwait

Kuwait is an oil-rich semi-constitutional monarchy at the head of the Persian Gulf, bordering Iraq and Saudi Arabia. It is well-known to Americans as the country invaded by Iraq in 1990, leading to an international war. The current monarch of Kuwait is Emir Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

19. Lesotho

Lesotho is a landlocked kingdom in the mountain highlands of Southern Africa. Its territory is completely surrounded by South Africa. A parliamentary monarchy, its current ruler is King Letsie III.

20. Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein is a semi-constitutional monarchy wedged between Austria and Switzerland in the scenic Alps. The ruler is Prince Hans-Adam II.

21. Luxembourg

Luxembourg, like many other European countries, is a parliamentary monarchy. It is located in Northwestern Europe, bordering Belgium, France, and Germany. Its ruler is Grand Duke Henri.

22. Malaysia

Malaysia is a Southeast Asian country split into two major parts between the Malay Peninsula and the island of Borneo. It shares land borders with Thailand, Brunei, and Indonesia. Malaysia is a parliamentary and federal monarchy ruled by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Abdullah.

23. Monaco

Monaco is one of the smallest and wealthiest countries in the world. It’s located on the Riviera, a region stretching along the Mediterranean coast of France and Italy that is a playground for the rich and famous. Monaco is ruled by Prince Albert II. His mother, Princess Grace, was an American actress named Grace Kelly before she married into the royal family.

24. Morocco

Morocco is a Northwest African country located across the Strait of Gibraltar from Spain. It has a unique culture blending North African, Arabic, and European influences. Morocco is a semi-constitutional monarchy. Its ruler is King Mohammed VI.

25. Netherlands

The Netherlands, also known as Holland, is a country bordering Germany and Belgium. Much of it is below sea level and protected by a series of dikes that hold back the ocean. Its government is a parliamentary monarchy under the leadership of King Willem-Alexander.

26. New Zealand

New Zealand is one of the most isolated countries in the world, located to the southeast of Australia. It has strong cultural influences from the indigenous Maori tribe. As a former British colony, New Zealand is a parliamentary monarchy that recognizes Charles III of the United Kingdom as its King.

27. Norway

Norway, a Scandinavian country on the North Sea and the Arctic Ocean, is famous for its scenic mountains and fjords. It is a parliamentary monarchy under the leadership of King Harald V.

28. Oman

Oman is a country of the Arabian Peninsula bordering Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and the United Arab Emirates. Its government is an absolute monarchy. The current ruler is Sultan Haitham bin Tarik.

29. Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea shares the island of New Guinea with Indonesia. A parliamentary monarchy formerly ruled by the British Empire, Papua New Guinea recognizes the British monarch Charles III as their King.

30. Qatar

Qatar is located on a peninsula in the Persian Gulf. It shares a short border with Saudi Arabia. Oil-rich like its neighbors, Qatar is a semi-constitutional monarchy under the leadership of Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

31. Saint Kitts and Nevis

Saint Kitts and Nevis are two islands that make up one country in the Caribbean Sea. As a member of the British Commonwealth, it is a parliamentary monarchy headed by King Charles III of the United Kingdom.

32. Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia is a former British colony in the Caribbean that is now an independent country. Nevertheless, it still recognizes King Charles III of the United Kingdom as its monarch. Its government is a parliamentary monarchy.

33. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a Caribbean Island nation. As a parliamentary monarchy, its head of state is King Charles III of the United Kingdom.

34. Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is one of the major countries in the Middle East. It occupies most of the Arabian Peninsula and is a major supplier of oil to the world. It is an absolute monarchy under the rule of King Salman.

35. Solomon Islands

The Solomon Islands are located off the southeastern tip of Papua New Guinea in the South Pacific. The country is a parliamentary monarchy under King Charles III of England.

36. Spain

Spain is one of the major European countries that has retained the tradition of a government by monarchy. Today it is a parliamentary monarchy under the rule of King Felipe VI.

37. Sweden

Sweden is a Scandinavian country bordering Norway and Finland. It has recently been in the news due to its decision to join NATO after perceived threats from Russia. A parliamentary monarchy, Sweden’s King is Carl XVI Gustaf.

38. Thailand

Thailand, in Southeast Asia, is one of the few countries in the region never to have been colonized by a European power. A parliamentary monarchy, its King is Rama X.

39. Tonga

Tonga is a nation of the South Pacific consisting of about 170 islands. Its King is Tupou VI, who rules under a semi-constitutional monarchy.

40. Tuvalu

Tuvalu, a nation of islands in the South Pacific, is a parliamentary monarchy that recognizes the British King Charles III as its head of state.

41. United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates, or UAE, is a wealthy country in the Persian Gulf. It has used its oil wealth to diversify its economy and become a major tourist destination. The tallest building in the world, Burj Khalifa, is located there. It is a semi-constitutional and federal monarchy ruled by Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

42. United Kingdom

The United Kingdom consists of four kingdoms: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It was formerly one of the largest empires in the world. Dozens of its former colonies remain associated with it in the British Commonwealth and recognize the British monarch as their own, although they are independent and run their own affairs. The current monarch of the United Kingdom is Charles III.

43. Vatican City

Vatican City is a tiny independent country located entirely within the city of Rome. It is the administrative and spiritual center of the Roman Catholic Church. It may seem strange to think of it as a monarchy, but it is actually an absolute monarchy that follows the decrees of the Pope. The country’s leader is Pope Francis.

Will Monarchies Survive?

Though the idea of a monarchy may seem archaic, many countries with this form of government have survived into the 21st century. However, in the vast majority of cases, the monarchy is only symbolic, so why keep it?

First of all, it is a longstanding tradition that gives people a sense of stability and consistency during the ups and downs of changing culture and politics. Secondly, in many countries, the monarchy is a source of national pride. People feel proud of their monarchs in the way that other countries feel proud of their institutions, such as their constitutions. Finally, a country with a monarchy can have a special appeal to tourists. European countries with monarchs and royal palaces have a “fairytale” quality that enchants visitors and creates plenty of opportunities for them to spend money. It’s a safe bet that many of the world’s monarchies will continue well into the future.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/coward_lion