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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