List of countries by system of government

Published on Friday, May 2nd 2008

This is a list of countries categorized by system of government.

Alphabetical list of countries

Name Constitutional basis Head of state Basis of executive legitimacy

Afghanistan Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature

Albania Republic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence

Algeria Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature

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 Executive Presidency is independent of legislature

Australia Constitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence

Austria Republic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence

Azerbaijan Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature

Bahamas 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 Constitutional monarchy 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 Absolute monarchy Executive All authority vested in absolute monarch

Bolivia Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature

Bosnia and Herzegovina Republic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence

Botswana Republic Executive Presidency and ministry are 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 Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature

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 subject to parliamentary confidence

Central African Republic Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature

Chad Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature

Chile Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature

China, People’s Republic of Republic Executive Power constitutionally linked to a single political movement

China, Republic of Republic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence

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 subject to parliamentary confidence

Congo, Republic of the Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature

Costa Rica Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature

Cote 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 independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence

Dominica Republic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence

Dominican Republic Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature

East Timor Republic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence

Ecuador Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature

Egypt Republic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry 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

Ethiopia Republic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence

Fiji n/a n/a n/a No constitutionally-defined basis to current regime

Finland Republic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence

France Republic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence

Gabon Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature

Gambia Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature

Georgia Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature

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 Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature

Guinea-Bissau Republic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence

Guyana Republic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence

Haiti Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature

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 and ministry are subject to parliamentary confidence

Korea, North Republic Executive Power constitutionally linked to a single political movement

Korea, South Republic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry 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 Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence

Lesotho Constitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence

Liberia Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature

Libya Republic Executive Power constitutionally linked to a single political movement

Liechtenstein Constitutional monarchy Executive Monarch personally exercises power in concert with other institutions

Lithuania Republic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence

Luxembourg Constitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence

Macedonia Republic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence

Madagascar Republic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry 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 Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature

Malta Republic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence

Marshall Islands Republic Executive Presidency and ministry are subject to parliamentary confidence

Mauritania Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature

Mauritius Republic Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence

Mexico Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature

Micronesia Republic Executive Presidency and ministry are subject to parliamentary confidence

Moldova Republic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry 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 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 is independent of legislature

Myanmar n/a n/a n/a No constitutionally-defined basis to current regime

Namibia Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature

Nauru Republic Executive Presidency and ministry are subject to parliamentary confidence

Nepal Constitutional monarchy 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 subject to parliamentary confidence

Nigeria Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature

Norway Constitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence

Oman Absolute monarchy Executive All authority vested in absolute monarch

Pakistan Republic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence

Palau Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature

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 Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence

Qatar Absolute monarchy Executive All authority vested in absolute monarch

Romania Republic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence

Russia Republic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence

Rwanda Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature

Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic Republic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence

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 Executive Presidency and ministry are subject to parliamentary confidence

Sao Tome and Principe Republic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence

Saudi Arabia Absolute monarchy Executive All authority vested in absolute monarch

Senegal Republic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence

Serbia Republic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry 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 Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence

South Africa Republic Executive Presidency and ministry are subject to parliamentary confidence

Spain Constitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence

Sri Lanka Republic Executive Presidency independent of legislature; ministry subject to parliamentary confidence

Sudan Republic Executive Power constitutionally linked to a single political movement

Suriname Republic Executive Presidency and ministry are subject to parliamentary confidence

Swaziland Absolute monarchy Executive All authority vested in absolute monarch

Sweden Constitutional monarchy Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence

Switzerland Republic Executive Presidency and ministry are subject to parliamentary confidence

Syria Republic Executive Power constitutionally linked to a single political movement

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 Ceremonial Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence

Turkmenistan Republic Executive Power constitutionally linked to a single political movement

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 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 Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature

Zambia Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature

Zimbabwe Republic Executive Presidency is independent of legislature

Notes on colour-code

orange – parliamentary republics
green – presidential republics, executive presidency linked to a parliament
yellow – presidential republics, semi-presidential system
blue – presidential republics, full presidential system
red – parliamentary constitutional monarchies in which the monarch does not personally exercise power
magenta – constitutional monarchies in which the monarch personally exercises power, often (but not always) alongside a weak parliament
purple – absolute monarchies
brown – republics where the dominant role of a single party is codified in the constitution
beige – states where constitutional provisions for government have been suspended
grey – countries which do not fit any of the above systems

Note that several states constitutionally deemed to be multiparty republics are broadly described by outsiders as authoritarian states. This chart aims to represent de jure form of government, not de facto degree of democracy. Those more interested in a version reflecting such judgements may be interested in seeing this map from Freedom House. .

Systems of Governance

Presidential / Separated republics

These are systems in which a president is the active head of the executive branch of government and is elected and remains in office independently of the legislature. The following list includes democratic and non-democratic states:

Full presidential systems

In full presidential systems, the president is both head of state and head of government. There is generally no prime minister, although if one exists he or she serves purely at the pleasure of the president.

Semi-presidential systems

In semi-presidential systems, there is usually both a president and a prime minister. In such systems, the President has genuine executive authority, unlike in a parliamentary republic, but some of the role of a head of government is exercised by the prime minister, who is also leader of the legislature.

Parliamentary republics

A parliamentary republic is a system in which a prime minister is the active head of the executive branch of government and also leader of the legislature. The president’s degree of executive power may range from being reasonably significant (eg. Poland) to little or none at all (eg. Ireland). Where the president holds little executive power, their function is primarily that of a symbolic figurehead.

Mixed republican systems

Prime minister is also head of state and given title of president

Constitutional monarchies

Systems in which a prime minister is the active head of the executive branch of government and also leader of the legislature. The head of state is a constitutional monarch who only exercises his or her powers with the consent of the government, the people or their representatives.

Andorra
Belgium
Cambodia
Denmark
Japan
Lesotho
Luxembourg
Malaysia
Netherlands
Norway
Spain
Sweden
United Kingdom (see also under Commonwealth realms)

Commonwealth realms

Constitutional monarchies, in which Queen Elizabeth II serves as head of state over an independent government. In each Realm, she acts as the monarch of that state, and is usually titled accordingly – for example, Queen of Australia. The Queen appoints a Governor-General to each country other than the United Kingdom to act as her representative. The prime minister is the active head of the executive branch of government and also leader of the legislature.

Semi-constitutional monarchies

The prime minister (or equivalent) is the nation’s active executive, but the monarch still has considerable political powers that can be used at his/her own independent discretion.

Absolute monarchies

Monarchies in which the monarch is the active head of the executive branch and exercises all powers.

Theocracies

States based on a state religion where the head of state is selected by some form of religious hierarchy.

Iran (to some degree)
the Holy See (Vatican City)

One-party states

States in which political power is concentrated within a single political party whose operations are largely fused with the government hierarchy. However, some do have elected governments.

People’s Republic of China (Communist Party) (list)
Cuba (Communist Party) (list)
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (Workers' Party) (list)
Laos (Revolutionary Party) (list)
Syria (Arab Socialist Ba'th Party) (list)
Turkmenistan (Democratic Party) (list)
Vietnam (Communist Party) (list)

Military junta states

The nation’s military control the organs of government and all high-ranking political executives are also members of the military hierarchy.

Fiji (until 2010)
Libya
Myanmar

Transitional

States which have a system of government which is in transition or turmoil and cannot be accurately classified. (with current direction of change)

Eritrea (presidential republic)
Iraq (parliamentary republic)
Nepal (constitutional monarchy or parliamentary republic)
Somalia (semi-presidential republic)
Sudan (bipartisan Government of National Unity)
Thailand (constitutional monarchy)

Systems of Internal Governance

Federal

States in which the federal government shares power with semi-independent regional governments. In many cases, the central government is (in theory) a creation of the regional governments; a prime example is the United States.

Argentina (23 provinces and 1 autonomous city)
Australia (6 states and 2 territories)
Austria (9 states)
Belgium (Flemish Region, Walloon Region and Brussels Capital Region)
Bosnia and Herzegovina (Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska)
Brazil (26 states and 1 federal district)
Canada (10 provinces and 3 territories)
Comoros (Anjouan, Grande Comore, Moheli)
Ethiopia (9 regions and 2 chartered cities)
Federated States of Micronesia (Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei and Yap)
Germany (16 states)
India (28 states and 7 union territories)
Iraq (Currently 1 Region)
Malaysia (13 states and 3 federal territories)
Mexico (31 states and 1 federal district)
Nigeria (36 states and 1 federal capital territory)
Pakistan (4 provinces and 2 territories)
Palau (16 states)
Papua New Guinea (18 provinces, 1 autonomous province and 1 capital district)
Russia (47 oblasts, 21 republics, 8 krais, 6 autonomous okrugs, 2 federal cities, 1 autonomous oblast)
Saint Kitts and Nevis (Saint Kitts and Nevis)
South Africa (9 provinces)
Switzerland (26 cantons)
United Arab Emirates (7 emirates)
United States (50 states, 2 Commonwealths, 1 District (of Columbia), and 12 Territories)
Venezuela (23 states and 1 capital district)

Devolved

States in which the central government has delegated some of its powers to self-governing subsidiary governments, creating a de facto federation.

Spain (17 autonomous communities and the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla)
United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland)

Regionalized unitary

States in which the central government has delegated some of its powers to regional governments.

Italy (20 regions, five granted ‘autonomous’ status)
New Zealand (12 regions)
People’s Republic of China (22 provinces, 5 autonomous regions, 4 municipalities, and 2 Special Administrative Regions)
Philippines (17 regions, 1 granted ‘autonomous’ status)

Federacy

A federacy is a country in which some substates function like states in a federation and others like states in a unitary state.

Denmark with 2 autonomous regions and 5 regions;
Finland with 1 autonomous province and 19 regions;
France with 1 sui generis collectivity and 26 regions, 4 collectivites d'outre-mer, 1 territoire d'outre-mer;
Kingdom of the Netherlands with 2 states and 12 provinces;
Portugal with 2 autonomous regions (Azores and Madeira) and 18 districts;
Serbia, significant autonomy granted to Vojvodina; Kosovo-Metohija under UN protectorate, future status being negotiated;
Tanzania, 21 mainland regions, 5 regions under autonomous government of Zanzibar
Ukraine, 24 oblasts, 2 special-status cities, and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea;

Unitary

see Unitary state

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