B. Semi-Hereditary, Resident Sovereign
Malaysia. Independent 1963. Monarch elected by council of hereditary rulers of the Malayan states (including Perak) every five years. Sovereign: King Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin, born 1943, acceded December 13, 2001. (Commonwealth)
Samoa. Independent 1962. Sovereign: King Malietoa Tanuamafili II, born January 4, 1913, acceded January 1, 1962. Formerly known as Western Samoa. (Commonwealth)
United Arab Emirates. Independent 1971. Federation of emirates. President of federation: Zaid ibn Sultan an-Nahayan, born 1923, acceded December 2, 1971.
C. Hereditary, Associated with British Crown (Commonwealth)
Antigua and Barbuda. Independent 1981.
Australia. Independent 1901. Proposal to become a republic defeated in referendum, November 6, 1999.
Bahamas. Independent 1973.
Barbados. Independent 1966.
Belize. Independent 1981.
Canada. Independent 1867.
Grenada. Independent 1974.
Jamaica. Independent 1962.
New Zealand. Independent 1907.
Papua New Guinea. Independent 1975.
Saint Kitts and Nevis. Independent 1983.
Saint Lucia. Independent 1979.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Independent 1979.
Solomon Islands. Independent 1978.
Tuvalu. Independent 1978.
D. Non-Hereditary (status as monarchies debatable, but clearly not republics)
Andorra. Co-principality since 1278. Parliamentary government adopted 1993 but nominal sovereignty is still held by President of France (as successor to the Counts of Foix) and the Bishop of Urgell. Sovereigns: Jacques Chirac, President of France and (Co) Prince of Andorra, born November 29, 1932, in office May 17, 1995; Joan Enric Vives Sicilia, Bishop of Urgell and (Co) Prince-Bishop of Andorra, born July 24, 1949, in office May 12, 2003.
Vatican City. Independent 1929, but papacy dates from 42 AD. Sovereign: Pope John Paul II (Karol Wojtyla), born May 18, 1920, in office May 12, 2003.
II. Republics
A. Former Monarchies with generally acknowledged claimants
Afghanistan. Independent 1919. Monarchy overthrown 1973, followed by Communist and Islamic dictatorships. New republican government established 2002. Former sovereign: King Zahir Shah, born October 15, 1914, reigned 1933-1973.
Albania. Independent 1912. Brief monarchy in 1914 under Prince Wilhelm of Wied. Second monarchy proclaimed 1928. Italy invaded 1939; Vittorio Emanuele III proclaimed King of Albania. Communist regime 1944-89. Claimant: Leka, born April 5, 1939, son of King Zog I, inherited claim April 9, 1961, proclaimed King of the Albanians at Paris by the Albanian National Assembly in exile.
Austria. Monarchy overthrown 1918. Claimant: Archduke Otto, Crown Prince of Austria and Hungary, born November 20, 1912, son of Emperor Karl I, inherited claim April 1, 1922. Has served in European Parliament.
Brazil. Independent 1822. Monarchy overthrown 1889. Claimant: Prince Luiz Gastao, born June 6, 1938, great-great-grandson of Emperor Pedro II, inherited claim July 5, 1981.
Bulgaria. Independent kingdom 1908. Monarchy overthrown 1946. Former sovereign: King (Tsar) Simeon II, born June 16, 1937, reigned August 28, 1943 to September 15, 1946. Prime Minister (as Simeon Saxe-Coburg) since July 2001.
Egypt. Independent 1922/36. Monarchy overthrown 1953. Former sovereign: King Ahmad Fuad II, born January 16, 1952, reigned July 26, 1952 to June 18, 1953.
Ethiopia. Monarchy overthrown 1975. Last Emperor: Haile Selassie (born 1891; acceded 1916/30, died 1975). Claimant: Prince Zere Yacob, born August 15, 1953, designated as Crown Prince and Heir Apparent by Haile Selassie on April 14, 1974; inherited claim 1975.
France. Revolution 1789, Monarchy abolished 1792, First Empire 1804, Bourbon restoration 1814/15, Orléans constitutional monarchy 1830-48, Second Empire 1852-70, Republic since 1871. Succession disputed. Claimants: Prince Henri of Orléans, Count of Paris, born June 14, 1933, inherited Orléanist claim June 19, 1999; Louis Alphonse de Bourbon, Duke of Anjou, born April 23, 1974, inherited Legitimist claim January 30, 1989; Prince Charles Bonaparte, Prince Napoléon, born October 19, 1950, inherited Bonapartist claim May 3, 1997.
Georgia. Ancient monarchy annexed by Russia 1801. Independent republic 1991. Claimant: Prince George, born 1943/44, inherited claim 1977. (also see Russia)
Germany. Unified 1871; monarchy overthrown 1918. Claimant: Prince Georg Friedrich of Prussia, born June 10, 1976, great-great-grandson of Kaiser Wilhelm II, inherited claim September 25, 1994. There are also claimants to the former kingdoms, grand duchies, duchies, and principalities of the German Empire.
Greece. Independent 1829; Oldenburg (Danish) dynasty began 1863. Republic 1924-35. King and royal family exiled 1967; republic declared 1973; monarchy abolished following referendum in 1974. Former sovereign: King Constantine II, born June 6, 1940, reigned March 6, 1964 to December 8, 1974.
Hungary. Crown inherited by Hapsburgs, 1526. From 1867 Emperors of Austria were also Kings of Hungary. Dual monarchy abolished 1918; nominal (kingless) monarchy under "Regent" Nicholas Horthy 1920. Republic 1946; Communist regime 1947-89. Claimant: see Austria.
Iran. Monarchy overthrown 1979. Claimant: Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, born October 31, 1960, son of Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, inherited claim July 27, 1980.
Iraq. Independent 1932. Monarchy overthrown 1958. Claimant: Prince Ra'ad, born February 18, 1936, inherited claim October 18, 1970. Alternate claimant: Prince Sharif Ali bin AlHussein, born 1956.
Italy. Unified 1861. Monarchy overthrown 1946. Claimant: Crown Prince Vittorio Emanuele, Prince of Naples, born February 12, 1937, son of King Umberto II, inherited claim March 18, 1983.
Korea, North and Korea, South. Korea was ruled by the Ree dynasty, who became vassals of China in the 16th century, until 1910, when Korea was annexed by Japan. Since then the Korean royal family has been considered a part of the Japanese imperial family. The two independent Korean republics were established in 1948. Claimant: Prince Kyu Ree, born December 29, 1931, inherited claim May 1, 1970.
Laos. Independent 1949. Monarchy overthrown 1975. Claimant: Prince Soulivong Savang, born May 8, 1963, fled Laos in August 1982.
Libya. Independent 1951. Monarchy overthrown 1969. Claimant: Prince Muhammed al-Hasan ar-Rida al-Senussi, born 1961/62, nephew of King Idris I, inherited claim April 28, 1992.
Maldives. Independent 1965; monarchy abolished 1968. (Commonwealth). Claimant: Prince Muhammad Nur ud-din.
Mexico. Independent monarchy under Emperor Augustín Iturbide 1822-23. Second monarchy under Archduke Maximilian of Austria 1864-67. Claimant: (Count) Don Maximiliano de Götzen-Iturbide, born March 2, 1944, great-great-great-grandson of Emperor Augustín, inherited claim August 8, 1999.
Myanmar. Independent 1937. Republic 1948. Known as Burma until 1989. Claimant: Prince Hteikin Taw Paya.
Portugal. Independent kingdom 1139. Crown united with that of Spain, 1580 to 1640. Monarchy overthrown 1910. Claimant: Prince Duarte, Duke of Braganza, born May 15, 1945, inherited claim December 24, 1976.
Romania. Independent 1878. Monarchy overthrown 1947. Former Sovereign: King Michael I, born October 25, 1921, reigned 1927-30 and 1940 to December 30, 1947.
Russia. Various monarchies dated from ninth century. Unified 1547. Romanov dynasty began 1613. Empire 1721. Constitutional monarchy 1905. Monarchy overthrown 1917. Communist regime (as Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) 1917-91. Succession has been disputed by some members of the Romanov family, but most monarchists recognize Princess/Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, born December 23, 1953, great-great-granddaughter of Tsar Alexander II, inherited claim April 21, 1992.
Rwanda. Monarchy abolished 1961. Independent republic 1962. Former sovereign: King Kigeri V, born 1935, reigned 1959 to October 2, 1961.
Serbia and Montenegro (formerly Yugoslavia). Serbia independent 1878. Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes established 1918; name changed to Yugoslavia 1929. Monarchy overthrown 1945. Four republics seceded 1991; Yugoslavia then comprised only Serbia and Montenegro. These two remaining republics signed an agreement in March 2002 which abolished the name "Yugoslavia" without completely severing ties. Claimant: Crown Prince Alexander, born July 17, 1945, son of King Peter II, inherited claim November 3, 1970.
-----Montenegro. Independent kingdom 1910. Part of Yugoslavia from 1918; this was recognized 1922. Claimant: Prince Nicholas, born July 24, 1944, son of titular King Michael I, inherited claim March 24, 1986.
Tunisia. Independent 1956. Monarchy abolished 1957. Claimant: Prince Sidi Allala, born November 7, 1910, inherited claim August 28, 1992.
Turkey. Ottoman Empire founded 1299. Republic 1923. Claimant: Crown Prince Osman VI, born August 18, 1912.
Vietnam. Japan invaded 1940; created Annam, monarchy under Emperor Bao Dai which ended in 1945. State of Vietnam declared 1949 with Bao Dai as chief of state. Divided into North (Communist) and South Vietnam, 1954. Republic in South 1955. Reunited under Communist regime, 1976. Claimant: Prince Bao Long, born January 4, 1936, inherited claim July 31, 1997.
Yemen. Formerly divided into North and South Yemen. North independent 1918; monarchy overthrown 1962. Civil war followed between royalists and republicans which republicans won. South independent 1967. United 1990. Claimant: Prince Ahmat al Ghani bin Muhammad al Mutawakkil, born 1949.
B. Former Monarchies; no obvious claimant
China. Monarchy overthrown 1911; restored in Manchuria (as Manchukuo) 1931-45 under Japanese rule. Last Emperor: Pu Yi (born 1906; acceded 1908; died 1967). Communist regime since 1949.
Czech Republic. As monarchy (before 1918) was known as Bohemia. Crown inherited by Hapsburgs, 1526. Theoretically the head of the Hapsburg family (see Austria) would have the best claim to the throne, but this is shaky since the Hapsburg emperors did not style themselves Kings of Bohemia after the abolition of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806. Czechoslovakia was formed 1918; split into Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993.
India. Independent 1947. Republic 1950. (Commonwealth)
-----Sikkim. British Protectorate 1816; Indian Protectorate 1950. Annexed by India 1975. Claimant: Prince Namgyal, 13th Maharaja, born 1952.
Ireland. Independent 1922. Republic 1948.
Israel. Independent 1948.
Lithuania. Independent 1917-41; again 1991.
Macedonia. Independent 1991. Independence has been disputed, especially by Greece, but is now generally recognized. (also see Yugoslavia under Former Monarchies)
Mongolia. Independent 1911.
Poland. Elective (but occasionally hereditary) monarchy divided among Prussia, Austria and Russia 1795. Semi-independent (as Grand Duchy of Warsaw) 1807-13. Independent republic 1918. No claimant since monarchy was elective.
C. Former Associate Monarchies (were British unless otherwise indicated)
Fiji. Independent 1970. Republic 1987. (Commonwealth)
Gambia. Independent 1965. Republic 1970. (Commonwealth)
Ghana. Independent 1957. Republic 1960. (Commonwealth)
Iceland. Independent 1918 under Danish Crown. Republic 1941.
Malawi. Independent 1964. Republic 1966. (Commonwealth)
Malta. Independent 1964. Republic 1974. (Commonwealth)
Mauritius. Independent 1968. Republic 1992. (Commonwealth)
Nigeria. Independent 1960. Republic 1963. (Commonwealth--suspended 1995)
Pakistan. Independent 1947. Republic 1956. (Commonwealth)
Sierra Leone. Independent 1961. Republic 1971. (Commonwealth)
South Africa. Independent 1910. Republic 1961. (Commonwealth--rejoined 1994)
Sri Lanka. Independent (as Ceylon) 1948. Republic 1972. (Commonwealth)
Trinidad and Tobago. Independent 1962. Republic 1976. (Commonwealth)
Uganda. Independent 1962. Republic 1963. Traditional kingdoms (Buganda, Toro, Bunyoro, Busoga) abolished 1967; restored 1993 for ceremonial purposes. (Commonwealth)
D. Original Republics
Algeria. Independent 1962.
Angola. Independent 1975.
Argentina. Independent 1816.
Armenia. Independent 1991. (also see Russia under Former Monarchies)
Azerbaijan. Independent 1991. (also see Russia under Former Monarchies)
Bangladesh. Independent 1971. (Commonwealth)
Belarus. Independent 1991. (also see Russia under Former Monarchies)
Benin. Independent 1960. Traditional kings continue to play an important role. King of Dahomey: Agbo Dedjalagni, acceded 1989.
Bolivia. Independent 1825.
Bosnia and Herzegovina. Independent 1991. (also see Yugoslavia under Former Monarchies) Capital, Sarajevo, was site of assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria which provoked World War I.
Botswana.Independent 1966. (Commonwealth)
Burkina Faso. Independent 1960.
Burundi. Independent 1962.
Cameroon. Independent 1960. (Commonwealth)
Cape Verde. Independent 1975.
Central African Republic. Independent 1960. Monarchy (as Central African Empire) under Jean-Bedel Bokassa ("Emperor Bokassa I"), 1976-79.
Chad. Independent 1960.
Chile. Independent 1818.
Colombia. Independent 1819.
Comoros. Independent 1975.
Congo. Independent 1960. Known as Zaire 1971-1997.
Congo Republic. Independent 1960.
Costa Rica. Independent 1821.
Côte d’Ivoire. Independent 1960.
Croatia. Independent 1991. Nominally independent kingdom under Prince Aimone of Savoy (Italy), Duke of Aosta ("King Tomislav II"), 1941-43. (also see Yugoslavia under Former Monarchies)
Cuba. Independent 1902.
Cyprus. Independent 1960. (Commonwealth)
Djibouti. Independent 1977.
Dominica. Independent 1978. (Commonwealth)
Dominican Republic. Independent 1924.
East Timor. Independent 2002.
Ecuador. Independent 1822/30.
El Salvador. Independent 1821/39.
Equatorial Guinea. Independent 1968.
Eritrea. Independent 1993.
Estonia. Independent 1991. Monarchist movement in 1994 offered crown to Britain’s Prince Edward, who declined. (also see Russia under Former Monarchies)
Finland. Independent 1917. Crown offered in 1918 to Landgrave Friedrich Karl of Hesse, who never set foot in the country and soon gave up the dubious position following the abdication of his brother-in-law Kaiser Wilhelm II. Republic 1919.
Gabon. Independent 1960.
Guatemala. Independent 1821/39.
Guinea. Independent 1958.
Guinea-Bissau. Independent 1974.
Guyana. Independent 1966. (Commonwealth)
Haiti. Independent 1804. Has experimented (not very successfully) with hereditary rule.
Honduras. Independent 1821/38.
Indonesia. Independent 1949.
Kazahkstan. Independent 1991. (also see Russia under Former Monarchies)
Kenya. Independent 1963. (Commonwealth)
Kiribati. Independent 1979. (Commonwealth)
Kyrgyzstan. Independent 1991. (also see Russia under Former Monarchies)
Latvia. Independent 1991. (also see Russia under Former Monarchies)
Lebanon. Independent 1946.
Liberia. Independent 1847.
Madagascar. Independent 1960.
Mali. Independent 1960.
Marshall Islands. Independent 1991.
Mauritania. Independent 1960.
Micronesia. Independent 1991.
Moldova. Independent 1991. (also see Russia and Romania under Former Monarchies)
Mozambique. Independent 1975. (Commonwealth)
Namibia. Independent 1990. (Commonwealth)
Nauru. Independent 1968. (Commonwealth)
Nicaragua. Independent 1821/38.
Niger. Independent 1960.
Palau. Independent 1994.
Panama. Independent 1903.
Paraguay. Independent 1811.
Peru. Independent 1824.
Philippines. Independent 1946.
San Marino. Independent 331.
São Tomé and Príncipe. Independent 1975.
Senegal. Independent 1960.
Seychelles. Independent 1976. (Commonwealth)
Singapore. Independent 1965.
Slovakia. Independent 1993. (also see Czech Republic under Former Monarchies)
Slovenia. Independent 1991. (also see Yugoslavia under Former Monarchies)
Somalia. Independent 1960.
Sudan. Independent 1956.
Suriname. Independent 1975.
Switzerland. Independent 1648.
Syria. Independent 1946.
Taiwan. Independent 1949. (also see China under Former Monarchies)
Tajikistan. Independent 1991. (also see Russia under Former Monarchies)
Tanzania. Unified 1964. (Commonwealth)
-----Zanzibar. British protectorate 1890. Indepedendent 1963. Monarchy overthrown 1964; union with Tanganyika (as Tanzania) later that year. Former sovereign: Sultan Jamshid bin Abdullah, born September 16, 1929, reigned July 7, 1963 to January 17, 1964.
Togo. Independent 1960.
Turkmenistan. Independent 1991. (also see Russia under Former Monarchies)
Ukraine. Independent 1991. (also see Russia under Former Monarchies)
United States of America. Independent 1776.
-----Hawaii. Unified 1810. Monarchy overthrown 1893; Republic 1894. Annexed to United States 1898; statehood 1959. Claimant: Prince Edward J. Kawananakoa, inherited claim July 29, 1997.
Uruguay. Independent 1825.
Uzbekistan. Independent 1991. (also see Russia under Former Monarchies)
Vanuatu. Independent 1980. (Commonwealth)
Venezuela. Independent 1821/30.
Zambia. Independent 1964. (Commonwealth)
Zimbabwe. Independent 1980. Formerly known as Rhodesia. (Commonwealth)
Sources:
Almanach de Gotha (1999)
The World Almanac and Book of Facts (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003)
Almanach de Bruxelles
The Royal Ark
Dag Hoelseth: current monarchs ranked by seniority