Countries Having Monarchy: All 43 Monarchies by Region and Type
Countries having monarchy today: all 43 sovereign monarchies listed by region, with the monarch's title and the type of monarchy, plus the realms that share the British King and the monarchies that ended since 2000.
Last updated September 2026
Contents11
- Countries having monarchy: Europe (12)
- Middle East (7) and Africa (3)
- Asia (6)
- The Americas (9) and Oceania (6)
- One King, fifteen crowns
- The oldest and newest royal lines
- Heirs to watch
- Monarchies that changed since 2000
- Monarchies by type, counted
- How the monarchies compare
- Verdict: countries having monarchy today
Countries having monarchy today are found on every lived-in continent. There are about 43 of them. They range from large states such as Japan and Canada to tiny ones such as Monaco and Vatican City. This page lists every one by region, with the monarch's title and type. It also explains why the total is not quite fixed.
TL;DR: About 43 sovereign states are monarchies. Europe has 12 and the Middle East 7. Africa has 3 and Asia 6. The Americas have 9 and Oceania 6. Fifteen shared Charles III as King when he came to the throne in 2022. Most are constitutional. Saudi Arabia, Oman, Brunei, Eswatini and Vatican City are generally classed as absolute.
Countries having monarchy: Europe (12)
| Country | Monarch's title | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Andorra | Co-Princes (Bishop of Urgell and President of France) | Parliamentary co-principality |
| Belgium | King | Parliamentary |
| Denmark | King | Parliamentary |
| Liechtenstein | Prince | Constitutional, strong royal powers |
| Luxembourg | Grand Duke | Parliamentary |
| Monaco | Prince | Constitutional, strong royal powers |
| Netherlands | King | Parliamentary |
| Norway | King | Parliamentary |
| Spain | King | Parliamentary |
| Sweden | King | Parliamentary |
| United Kingdom | King | Parliamentary |
| Vatican City | Pope | Elective absolute |
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Middle East (7) and Africa (3)
| Country | Monarch's title | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Bahrain | King | Constitutional, strong royal powers |
| Jordan | King | Constitutional, strong royal powers |
| Kuwait | Emir | Constitutional, strong royal powers |
| Oman | Sultan | Absolute |
| Qatar | Emir | Absolute or mixed (sources differ) |
| Saudi Arabia | King | Absolute |
| United Arab Emirates | President, chosen from the seven emirs | Federal monarchy (sources differ on type) |
| Eswatini | King (Ngwenyama) | Absolute |
| Lesotho | King | Parliamentary |
| Morocco | King | Constitutional, strong royal powers |
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Asia (6)
| Country | Monarch's title | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Bhutan | King (Druk Gyalpo) | Constitutional since 2008 |
| Brunei | Sultan | Absolute |
| Cambodia | King | Parliamentary, elective (chosen by a Throne Council) |
| Japan | Emperor | Parliamentary |
| Malaysia | Yang di-Pertuan Agong | Federal, elective, parliamentary |
| Thailand | King | Constitutional |
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The Americas (9) and Oceania (6)
Fourteen of these fifteen countries share the British King as their own monarch. Tonga has its own king.
| Region | Countries | Monarch |
|---|---|---|
| Americas and Caribbean | Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Charles III, as a separate crown in each |
| Oceania | Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu | Charles III, as a separate crown in each |
| Oceania | Tonga | King of Tonga; constitutional monarchy |
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Why the total is "about" 43
Number of monarchies in the world.
Status: Disputed. Counts vary by method.
Note: The figure of 43 counts each Commonwealth realm as its own monarchy. It counts Andorra and Vatican City. It leaves out monarchs inside states, such as Malaysia's state rulers or traditional kings in Africa.
Several realms, such as Jamaica, have debated becoming republics, so the count can change. Some lists also differ on Samoa. Its head of state is elected by parliament for a fixed term.
Sources: Britannica, "Monarchy in the modern era"; The Commonwealth, "Member countries".
One King, fifteen crowns
Charles III became king of fifteen countries at once in 2022. They were the United Kingdom and fourteen other Commonwealth realms. Each realm has its own crown under its own law.
In each, a governor-general does most of the monarch's duties. That country's prime minister advises on who is appointed. That is why the list above counts each realm on its own.
The oldest and newest royal lines
Some of these monarchies are very old. Japan's imperial house is usually called the oldest hereditary monarchy still going. But its early reigns are legendary. Denmark describes its own monarchy as one of the oldest in the world, more than a thousand years old. Morocco's Alaouite dynasty has ruled since the 1600s.
Others are recent. Bhutan's Wangchuck dynasty began in 1907. Jordan became a kingdom in 1946. Saudi Arabia was proclaimed a kingdom in 1932. Several Gulf monarchies became fully independent only in 1971.
Heirs to watch
Several monarchies now pass the crown to the eldest child, whether a son or a daughter. So several heirs are women. They include Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands.
They also include Princess Elisabeth of Belgium and Princess Leonor of Spain. Spain's law still puts brothers first. But King Felipe VI has no sons.
Monarchies that changed since 2000
| Year | Country | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Nepal | Monarchy abolished; became a republic |
| 2008 | Bhutan | First written constitution; absolute to constitutional |
| 2021 | Barbados | Became a republic; the Queen replaced by an elected president |
| 2023 | Vatican City | New Fundamental Law confirms the Pope's full powers |
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Monarchies by type, counted
| Type | Number | Countries |
|---|---|---|
| Parliamentary or constitutional | 30 | The UK and the 14 other realms, the Nordic and Benelux monarchies, Spain, Andorra, Japan, Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, Bhutan, Lesotho and Tonga |
| Constitutional with strong royal powers | 6 | Liechtenstein, Monaco, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco |
| Absolute | 5 | Saudi Arabia, Oman, Brunei, Eswatini, Vatican City |
| Classified differently by sources | 2 | Qatar, United Arab Emirates |
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The line between the first two groups is not sharp. Thailand and Bhutan, for example, are constitutional monarchies. Yet the king still carries great weight in public life.
How the monarchies compare
- Constitutional and parliamentary monarchies are the majority, including every realm that shares Charles III, the Nordic monarchies, Japan and Spain.
- Monarchies with strong royal powers are found mainly in the Arab world and in Liechtenstein and Monaco.
- Absolute monarchies are Saudi Arabia, Oman, Brunei, Eswatini and Vatican City.
- Elective monarchies are Malaysia, Cambodia and Vatican City, and in a sense the UAE.
The types are explained on the monarchies page. For the absolute cases, see absolute monarchy examples.
For the monarchy that heads the most of these realms, see our guide to the best books about the royal family. It covers the line from 1066 to Elizabeth II.
Verdict: countries having monarchy today
Countries having monarchy number about 43, on every lived-in continent. Europe and the Commonwealth realms make up more than half. Most are constitutional monarchies. In them the monarch reigns and elected governments rule.
The count shifts slowly, as Barbados showed in 2021. So this list is checked against current official sources. For the history and types of monarchy, see the monarchy hub. For examples from history, see monarchy examples.
Sources checked for this page
- Britannica, "Monarchy in the modern era"
- The Commonwealth, "Member countries"
- Denmark.dk, "One of the oldest monarchies"
- Britannica, "Yang di-Pertuan Agong"
- Cour grand-ducale, "The Role of the Grand Duke"
- Constitute Project, Bhutan's Constitution of 2008
- Vatican City State, Fundamental Law (2023)
- Comparative Constitutions Project, "Monarchy" data report
Questions people also ask
How many countries have a monarchy?
About 43 sovereign states. Fifteen of them shared Charles III as monarch when he came to the throne in 2022; the rest have their own monarchs.
Which continent has the most monarchies?
Europe, with 12, if Andorra and Vatican City are counted. If each Commonwealth realm is counted, the Americas and Caribbean have 9.
Which countries have an absolute monarchy?
Saudi Arabia, Oman, Brunei, Eswatini and Vatican City are generally classed as absolute. Qatar and the UAE are borderline cases that sources classify differently.
Which country most recently abolished its monarchy?
Barbados, which became a republic on 30 November 2021 and replaced the Queen with an elected president. Nepal ended its monarchy in 2008.
How many countries share King Charles III as monarch?
Fifteen, including the United Kingdom, when he came to the throne in 2022. Each is a separate crown, and in the other realms a governor-general acts for him.
Which monarchies are elective?
Malaysia, where the nine hereditary state rulers elect the king for five years; Cambodia, where a Throne Council chooses the king; and Vatican City, where cardinals elect the Pope.
Are there female monarchs today?
No queen regnant was reigning in 2026 after Queen Margrethe II of Denmark abdicated in January 2024. Several heirs are women, including those of Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain.
Which is the newest monarchy?
Of today's monarchies, Bhutan's royal line dates from 1907 and several Gulf states became fully independent in 1971. No new monarchy has been created in the 21st century.