List of state leaders in the 20th century (1951–2000)

This is a list of state leaders in the 20th century (1951–2000) AD, such as the heads of state, heads of government, and the general secretaries of single-party states.

These polities are generally sovereign states, including states with limited recognition (when recognised by at least one UN member state), but excludes minor dependent territories, whose leaders can be found listed under territorial governors in the 20th century. For completeness, these lists can include colonies, protectorates, or other dependent territories that have since gained sovereignty.

Africa

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Africa: Central

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Angola

Colony, 1575–1951; Overseas province, 1951–1975
For details see the Kingdom of Portugal under Southwest Europe

Cameroon

Annexed from German Kamerun, 1914–1919; League of Nations mandate, 1919–1946; United Nations trust territory, 1946–1960
For details see France under western Europe
Annexed from German Kamerun, 1914–1919; League of Nations mandate, 1919–1946; United Nations trust territory, 1946–1961
For details see the United Kingdom under British Isles, Europe
East Cameroon
West Cameroon
United Cameroon

Central African Republic

French colony, 1903–1958
For details see France under western Europe

Chad

Colony, 1900–1960
For details see France under western Europe

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

Colony, 1908–1960
For details see the Belgium under Western Europe

Congo: Republic of the

Federation of colonies, 1910–1934; Colony, 1934–1958
For details see France under western Europe

Equatorial Guinea

Colony, 1778–1968
For details see Spain in southwest Europe

Gabon

São Tomé and Príncipe

Colony, 1470–1951; Overseas province, 1951–1975
For details see the Kingdom of Portugal under Southwest Europe

Africa: East

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Burundi

Belgian military occupation, 1916–1922; League of Nations mandate, 1922–1946; United Nations trust territory, 1946–1962
For details see Belgium under western Europe

Comoros

French overseas territory, 1946–1961; French autonomous territory, 1961–1975
For details see France under western Europe

Djibouti

Overseas territory, 1946–1967
Overseas territory, 1967–1977
For details see France under western Europe

Eritrea

Ethiopia

  • Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

Kenya

British colony and protectorate, 1920–1963
For details see the United Kingdom under British Isles, Europe

Madagascar

Colony, 1897–1958
For details see France under western Europe

Mauritius

Colony, 1810–1968
For details see the United Kingdom under British Isles, Europe

Rwanda

Seychelles

British colony, 1903–1976
For details see the United Kingdom under British Isles, Europe

Somalia

Protectorate, 1884–1940, 1941–1960
For details see the United Kingdom under British Isles, Europe
United Nations trust territory of Italy, 1950–1960
For details see Italy under southcentral Europe

Tanzania

League of Nations mandate/ United Nations trust territory, 1922–1961
For details see the United Kingdom under British Isles, Europe

Uganda

British protectorate, 1894–1962
For details see the United Kingdom under British Isles, Europe

Africa: Northcentral

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Libya

Allied military administration, 1942–1951
  • Idris, Emir (1949–1951), King (1951–1969)
  • Idris, Emir (1949–1951), King (1951–1969)

Tunisia

Protectorate, 1881–1956
For details see France under western Europe

Africa: Northeast

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Egypt

Sudan

Condominium of the United Kingdom and Egypt, 1899–1956
For details see the United Kingdom under British Isles, Europe

Africa: Northwest

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Algeria

French Départements, 1830–1962
For details see France under western Europe
  • People's Democratic Republic of Algeria
  • Chairman of the Revolutionary Council (1965–1976)
  • President (1976–1978)

Morocco

French protectorate, 1912–1956; Spanish protectorate, 1912–1956; Tangier International Zone, 1924–1956
Overseas territory, 1884–1958; Overseas province, 1958–1975
For details see Spain in southwest Europe

Africa: South

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Botswana

British protectorate, 1885–1966
For details see the United Kingdom under British Isles, Europe

Eswatini/ Swaziland

  • Sobhuza II, Paramount Chief under British rule (1921–1968), King (1968–1982)

Lesotho

British colony, 1884–1966
For details see the United Kingdom under British Isles, Europe
  • Moshoeshoe II, Paramount Chief (1960–1966), King (1966–1990, 1995–1996)
  • Letsie III, King (1990–1995, 1996–present)

Malawi

British protectorate, 1907–1964
For details see the United Kingdom under British Isles, Europe

Mozambique

Colony, 1498–1972; Territory, 1972–1975
For details see the Kingdom of Portugal under Southwest Europe

Namibia

United Nations trust territory, 1946–1990
For details see the South African Republic under southern Africa

South Africa

Zambia

British protectorate, 1924–1964
For details see the United Kingdom under British Isles, Europe
Self-governing British colony, 1953–1963
For details see the United Kingdom under British Isles, Europe

Zimbabwe

British protectorate, 1923–1965, 1979–1980
For details see the United Kingdom under British Isles, Europe

Africa: West

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Benin

Colony, 1904–1958
For details see France under western Europe

Burkina Faso

  • Yempaabu, King (1941–1986)[1][2]
  • Yencabri, ruler (1942–1969)
  • Abdullahi Sandu bi Faruku, Almami (1932–1956)
  • Usman bi Amiru, Almami (1956–1959)
  • Yendieri, Boopo (1945–1976)
  • Huntani, Jafuali (1938–1952)
  • Yempaabu, Jafuali (1952–?)
  • Yamba Sorgo, Naaba (1933–1957)
  • Naaba Saaga II, Moogo-naaba (1942–1957)
  • Naaba Kugri, Moogo-naaba (1957–1982)
  • Naaba Tigre, Yatenga naaba (1914–1954)
  • Naaba Sigiri, Yatenga naaba (1954–1960)
Colony, 1919–1932, 1947–1958
For details see France under western Europe

Cape Verde

Colony, 1462–1951; Overseas province, 1951–1975
For details see the Kingdom of Portugal under Southwest Europe

Gambia

British colony and protectorate, 1821–1965
For details see the United Kingdom under British Isles, Europe
  • Dawda Jawara, President (1970–1994)
  • Yahya Jammeh, Chairman of the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council (1994–1996), President (1996–2017)

Ghana

British colony, 1821–1957
For details see the United Kingdom under British Isles, Europe

Guinea

French colony, 1894–1958
For details see France under western Europe

Guinea-Bissau

Colony, 1474–1951; Overseas province, 1951–1974
For details see the Kingdom of Portugal under Southwest Europe

Ivory Coast

Colony, 1893–1960
For details see France under western Europe

Liberia

Mali

Colony, 1880–1958
French territory, united together with Senegal 1959–1960
For details see France under western Europe
  • Modibo Keïta, Head of State (1960–1965), President (1965–1968)
  • Moussa Traoré, Chairman of the Military Committee for National Liberation (1968–1969), Head of State (1969–1979), President (1979–1991)
  • Amadou Toumani Touré, Chairman of the National Reconciliation Council (1991), Chairman of the Transitional Committee (1991–1992)
  • Alpha Oumar Konaré, President (1992–2002)

Mauritania

French colony, 1903–1960
For details see France under western Europe

Niger

  • Zarmakoy Moumouni, King (1938–1953)
  • Zarmakoy Hamani, King (1953–1962)
French colony, 1921–1960
For details see France under western Europe

Nigeria

British colony, 1862–1906, British colony and protectorate, 1890s–1906
For details see the United Kingdom under British Isles, Europe
British colony, 1914–1960
For details see the United Kingdom under British Isles, Europe

Senegal

  • Fode N'Gouye Joof, Maad Saloum (1935–c.1960)[4][3]
Federation of colonies, 1895–1958
For details see France under western Europe
French colony, 1659–1960
For details see France under western Europe

Sierra Leone

British colony and protectorate, 1808–1961
For details see the United Kingdom under British Isles, Europe
First Republic
Military regime
Second Republic

Togo

United Nations Trust Territory, 1946–1956
For details see the United Kingdom under British Isles, Europe
League of Nations mandate, 1916–1946; United Nations Trust Territory, 1946–1960
For details see France under western Europe

Americas

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Americas: Caribbean and Lucayan

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Antigua and Barbuda

British territory, 1632–1671, 1958–1962
British colony, 1962–1967
State in free association with the United Kingdom, 1967–1981
For details see the United Kingdom under British Isles, Europe

The Bahamas

British colony, 1648–1973
For details see the United Kingdom under British Isles, Europe

Barbados

British colony, 1627–1966
For details see the United Kingdom under British Isles, Europe

Cuba

  • Fidel Castro, Prime minister (1959–1976), President of the Council of Ministers (1976–2008)

Dominica

British Colony, 1763–1978
For details see the United Kingdom under British Isles, Europe

Dominican Republic

Grenada

Haiti

Jamaica

Netherlands Antilles

Dutch colony 1634–1828, 1845–1954
For details see the Netherlands under western Europe
Constituent country 1954–2010
For details see the Netherlands under western Europe

Saint Kitts and Nevis

British colony, 1882–1983
For details see the United Kingdom under British Isles, Europe
British colony, 1882–1983
For details see the United Kingdom under British Isles, Europe

Saint Lucia

British colony, 1802–1979
For details see the United Kingdom under British Isles, Europe

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

British colony, 1763–1979
For details see the United Kingdom under British Isles, Europe

Trinidad and Tobago

British colony, 1797–1962
For details see the United Kingdom under British Isles, Europe

Americas: Central

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Belize

British colony, 1862–1981
For details see the United Kingdom under British Isles, Europe

Costa Rica

El Salvador

Guatemala

Honduras

Nicaragua

Panama

  • Military leaders: de facto Heads of state (1968–1989)

Americas: North

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Canada

Mexico

United States

Americas: South

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Argentina

Bolivia

Brazil

Chile

Colombia

Ecuador

Guyana

British colony, 1814–1966
For details see the United Kingdom under British Isles, Europe
  • Co-operative Republic of Guyana

Paraguay

Peru

Suriname

Dutch colony 1667–1954
For details see the Netherlands under western Europe
Constituent country 1954–1975
For details see the Netherlands under western Europe

Uruguay

Venezuela

Asia

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Asia: Central

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Asia: East

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  • People's Republic of China
  • Mao Zedong, Chairman (1945–1976), Paramount Leader (1949–1976)
  • Hua Guofeng, Chairman (1976–1981), Paramount Leader (1976–1978)
  • Deng Xiaoping, Paramount Leader (1978–1989)
  • Hu Yaobang, Chairman (1981–1982), General Secretary (1982–1987)
  • Zhao Ziyang, General Secretary (1987–1989)
  • Jiang Zemin, General Secretary (1989–2002), Paramount Leader (1989–2002)
  • Kim Il Sung, Chairman (1949–1966), General Secretary (1966–1994)
  • Kim Jong Il, General Secretary (1997–2011)

Asia: Southeast

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Brunei

British protectorate, 1888–1984

Cambodia

  • Pol Pot, General Secretary (1963–1981)