The map above shows the systems of government used by each country around the world in 2023. These include the following:
- Presidential republic: Head of state is a president that is the head of government and is independent of legislature
- Semi-presidential republic: Head of state is a president that has some executive powers and is independent of legislature; remaining executive power is vested in ministry that is subject to parliamentary confidence
- Republic with an executive presidency nominated by or elected by the legislature: President is both head of state and government; ministry, including the president, may or may not be subject to parliamentary confidence
- Parliamentary republic: Head of state is a president that is mostly or entirely ceremonial; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
- Constitutional monarchy: Head of state is a monarch that is mostly or entirely ceremonial; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
- Semi-constitutional monarchy: Head of state is an executive monarch; monarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions
- Absolute monarchy: Head of state is executive; all authority vested in absolute monarch
- One-party state: Head of state is executive or ceremonial; power constitutionally linked to a single political movement
- Countries in which constitutional provisions for government have been suspended (e.g. military juntas)
- No constitutionally defined basis to current regime (e.g. transitional governments)
In terms of numbers of the 195 UN member states they fall into the following categories:
- Republics: 143 (44 Ceremonial and 99 Executive)
- Constitutional monarchies: 38 (28 Ceremonial and 10 executive)
- Absolute monarchies: 5
- Provisional Governments: 9
For a full list see the following table:
Name | Constitutional form | Head of state | Basis of executive legitimacy |
---|---|---|---|
Afghanistan | Provisional | n/a | No constitutionally-defined basis to current regime |
Albania | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Algeria | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Andorra | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Angola | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Antigua and Barbuda | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Argentina | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Armenia | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Australia | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Austria | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Azerbaijan | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Bahamas, The | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Bahrain | Constitutional monarchy | Executive | Monarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions |
Bangladesh | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Barbados | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Belarus | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Belgium | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Belize | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Benin | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Bhutan | Constitutional monarchy | Executive | Monarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions |
Bolivia | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Botswana | Republic | Executive | Presidency is elected by legislature; ministry may be, or not be, subject to parliamentary confidence |
Brazil | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Brunei | Absolute monarchy | Executive | All authority vested in absolute monarch |
Bulgaria | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Burkina Faso | Provisional | n/a | All authority vested in a committee of the nation's military leaders for the duration of a state of emergency; constitutional provisions for government are suspended |
Burundi | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Cambodia | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Cameroon | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Canada | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Cape Verde | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Central African Republic | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Chad | Provisional | n/a | All authority vested in a committee of the nation's military leaders for the duration of a state of emergency; constitutional provisions for government are suspended |
Chile | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
China, People's Republic of | Republic | Ceremonial | Power constitutionally linked to a single political movement |
Colombia | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Comoros | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Congo, Democratic Republic of the | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Congo, Republic of the | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Costa Rica | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Côte d'Ivoire | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Croatia | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Cuba | Republic | Executive | Power constitutionally linked to a single political movement |
Cyprus | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Czech Republic | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Denmark | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Djibouti | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Dominica | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Dominican Republic | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
East Timor | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Ecuador | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Egypt | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
El Salvador | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Equatorial Guinea | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Eritrea | Republic | Executive | Power constitutionally linked to a single political movement |
Estonia | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Eswatini | Absolute monarchy | Executive | All authority vested in absolute monarch |
Ethiopia | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Fiji | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Finland | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
France | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Gabon | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Gambia, The | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Georgia | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Germany | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Ghana | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Greece | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Grenada | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Guatemala | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Guinea | Provisional | n/a | All authority vested in a committee of the nation's military leaders for the duration of a state of emergency; constitutional provisions for government are suspended |
Guinea-Bissau | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Guyana | Republic | Executive | Presidency is elected by legislature; ministry may be, or not be, subject to parliamentary confidence |
Haiti | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Honduras | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Hungary | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Iceland | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
India | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Indonesia | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Iran | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Iraq | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Ireland | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Israel | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Italy | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Jamaica | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Japan | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Jordan | Constitutional monarchy | Executive | Monarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions |
Kazakhstan | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Kenya | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Kiribati | Republic | Executive | Presidency is elected by legislature; ministry may be, or not be, subject to parliamentary confidence |
Kuwait | Constitutional monarchy | Executive | Monarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions |
Kyrgyzstan | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Laos | Republic | Executive | Power constitutionally linked to a single political movement |
Latvia | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Lebanon | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Lesotho | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Liberia | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Libya | Provisional | n/a | No constitutionally-defined basis to current regime |
Liechtenstein | Constitutional monarchy | Executive | Monarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions |
Lithuania | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Luxembourg | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Madagascar | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Malawi | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Malaysia | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Maldives | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Mali | Provisional | n/a | All authority vested in a committee of the nation's military leaders for the duration of a state of emergency; constitutional provisions for government are suspended |
Malta | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Marshall Islands | Republic | Executive | Presidency is elected by legislature; ministry may be, or not be, subject to parliamentary confidence |
Mauritania | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Mauritius | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Mexico | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Micronesia | Republic | Executive | Presidency is elected by legislature; ministry may be, or not be, subject to parliamentary confidence |
Moldova | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Monaco | Constitutional monarchy | Executive | Monarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions |
Mongolia | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Montenegro | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Morocco | Constitutional monarchy | Executive | Monarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions |
Mozambique | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Myanmar | Provisional | n/a | All authority vested in a committee of the nation's military leaders for the duration of a state of emergency; constitutional provisions for government are suspended |
Namibia | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Nauru | Republic | Executive | Presidency is elected by legislature; ministry may be, or not be, subject to parliamentary confidence |
Nepal | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Netherlands | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
New Zealand | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Nicaragua | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Niger | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Nigeria | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
North Korea | Republic | Executive | Power constitutionally linked to a single political movement |
North Macedonia | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Norway | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Oman | Absolute monarchy | Executive | All authority vested in absolute monarch |
Pakistan | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Palau | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Palestine | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Panama | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Papua New Guinea | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Paraguay | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Peru | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Philippines | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Poland | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Portugal | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Qatar | Constitutional monarchy | Executive | Monarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions |
Romania | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Russia | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Rwanda | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Saint Kitts and Nevis | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Saint Lucia | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Samoa | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
San Marino | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
São Tomé and Príncipe | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Saudi Arabia | Absolute monarchy | Executive | All authority vested in absolute monarch |
Senegal | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Serbia | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Seychelles | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Sierra Leone | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Singapore | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Slovakia | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Slovenia | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Solomon Islands | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Somalia | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
South Africa | Republic | Executive | Presidency is elected by legislature; ministry may be, or not be, subject to parliamentary confidence |
South Korea | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
South Sudan | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Spain | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Sri Lanka | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Sudan | Provisional | n/a | All authority vested in a committee of the nation's military leaders for the duration of a state of emergency; constitutional provisions for government are suspended |
Suriname | Republic | Executive | Presidency is elected by legislature; ministry may be, or not be, subject to parliamentary confidence |
Sweden | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Switzerland | Republic | Executive | Presidency is elected by legislature; ministry may be, or not be, subject to parliamentary confidence |
Syria | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Tajikistan | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Tanzania | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Thailand | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Togo | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Tonga | Constitutional monarchy | Executive | Monarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions |
Trinidad and Tobago | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Tunisia | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Turkey | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Turkmenistan | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Tuvalu | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Uganda | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Ukraine | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
United Arab Emirates | Constitutional monarchy | Executive | Monarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions |
United Kingdom | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
United States | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Uruguay | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Uzbekistan | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Vanuatu | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Vatican City | Absolute monarchy | Executive | All authority vested in absolute monarch |
Venezuela | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Vietnam | Republic | Executive | Power constitutionally linked to a single political movement |
Yemen | Provisional | n/a | No constitutionally-defined basis to current regime |
Zambia | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Zimbabwe | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
And for other non-UN member states have a look at this table:
Name | Constitutional form | Head of state | Basis of executive legitimacy |
---|---|---|---|
Abkhazia | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Artsakh | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
Cook Islands | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Kosovo | Republic | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Niue | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial | Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Northern Cyprus | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic | Republic | Executive | Power constitutionally linked to a single political movement |
Somaliland | Republic | Executive | Presidency is independent of legislature |
South Ossetia | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Taiwan (Republic of China) | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
Transnistria | Republic | Executive | Presidency independent of legislature; ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence |
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