You probably think of kings and queens as something out of a dusty history book or a Disney movie. It's easy to assume that in 2026, the whole world has moved on to presidents and prime ministers. But honestly, that’s not the case at all.
Royalty is surprisingly resilient.
Right now, there are 43 countries that still have a monarch as their head of state. That’s about 22% of the world's sovereign nations. It sounds like a lot, doesn't it? Well, it's a bit more complicated once you look at the map.
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Most of these monarchies aren't absolute rulers who can just chop off heads whenever they're grumpy. Most are "constitutional" monarchs. Basically, they're the ultimate VIPs—symbolic figureheads who have a lot of prestige but very little actual power to change laws.
If you break it down by region, the distribution is kinda wild:
- Asia leads the pack with 13 monarchies.
- Europe follows closely with 12.
- The Americas have 9 (mostly because of King Charles III).
- Oceania has 6.
- Africa keeps it small with only 3.
You've got a massive variety here. It ranges from the tiny Principality of Monaco, where Prince Albert II oversees a playground for billionaires, to Japan, where Emperor Naruhito represents the oldest continuous hereditary monarchy on the planet.
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Why Does King Charles III Appear Everywhere?
This is where the numbers get tricky. If you count individual people, there aren't 43 different kings and queens.
King Charles III is the head of state for 15 different countries. These are known as the Commonwealth realms.
He is the King of the United Kingdom, sure. But he's also the King of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, and several island nations in the Caribbean and the Pacific like Tuvalu and the Solomon Islands.
It's a weird hangover from the British Empire. These countries are totally independent, but they’ve chosen to keep the Crown as a symbolic link. It's not always a popular arrangement, though. Barbados ditched the monarchy in 2021 to become a republic, and places like Jamaica are constantly debating if they should be next.
Not All Kings Are Created Equal
When people ask how many countries still have kings and queens, they’re usually thinking of the glamorous European version. But there are different "flavors" of monarchy that still exist today.
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Absolute Monarchies
These are the real-deal rulers. They have the final say on everything. Think of Saudi Arabia under King Salman or Oman under Sultan Haitham bin Tariq. In these nations, the monarch is basically the government. Brunei and Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) also fall into this category. Even Vatican City is technically an absolute monarchy, with the Pope holding total power over the tiny state.
Semi-Constitutional Monarchies
These monarchs have more than just a fancy title but less than absolute power. They might have the right to appoint the Prime Minister or veto certain laws. Jordan, Morocco, and Thailand are big players here. King Abdullah II of Jordan, for example, is deeply involved in his country's foreign policy and security.
Constitutional Monarchies
This is the "celebrity" version. These monarchs, like King Felipe VI of Spain or King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, reign but do not rule. They show up to ribbon cuttings, host state dinners, and act as a symbol of national unity. In Sweden, the King doesn't even have the formal power to sign laws anymore; he’s purely ceremonial.
The Oddballs: Diarchies and Elective Kings
Monarchy isn't always "firstborn son gets the crown."
Take Malaysia. It’s an elective monarchy. Every five years, the nine hereditary rulers of the Malay states get together and vote on who among them will be the "Yang di-Pertuan Agong" (the High King). It’s like a royal game of musical chairs.
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Then there’s Andorra. It’s a diarchy, meaning it has two heads of state. And get this: neither of them is actually from Andorra. One is the Bishop of Urgell in Spain, and the other is the President of France. So, technically, Emmanuel Macron is a prince.
Is Monarchy Dying Out?
Honestly, it depends on who you ask.
In the UK, recent data from early 2026 shows that about 64% of people still want to keep the monarchy. People like the stability. They like the tradition. Plus, the royals are a massive boost for tourism. The Sovereign Grant for 2026-27 is set at £132 million, which sounds like a ton of money—and it is—but supporters argue they bring in way more than that through the "Royal Brand."
However, the younger generation isn't as convinced. There’s a growing "Not My King" movement in several countries. Critics argue that hereditary power is an outdated concept that has no place in a modern democracy. They see the lack of transparency in royal finances as a major red flag.
Why We Still Care
We're obsessed. Whether it's the fashion, the scandals, or the sheer drama of a succession crisis, kings and queens still command our attention. Even in 2026, the fascination with the "crown" hasn't faded. It’s a mix of history, soap opera, and political intrigue that you just can't find anywhere else.
If you’re curious about how these royal houses affect modern travel or international relations, you can start by looking into the Commonwealth of Nations. It’s the easiest way to see how the influence of one king stretches across the globe. You might also want to track the republican movements in countries like Jamaica or Australia, as these are the places where the number "43" is most likely to change next.
Check the official websites of the royal houses, like the British Royal Family's site or the Imperial Household Agency of Japan, to see the day-to-day reality of what being a "modern" monarch actually looks like. It's usually a lot more paperwork and a lot less gold-throne-sitting than you'd imagine.