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There are several monarchies in Asia, while some states function as absolute monarchies where the king has complete authority over the state, others are constitutional monarchies where a monarch exercises authority in accordance with a constitution and is not alone in decision making.
Parliamentary monarchies. Commonwealth realms (parliamentary monarchies in personal union) Subnational monarchies. This is a list of current monarchies. As of 2024, there are 43 sovereign states in the world with a monarch as head of state. There are 13 in Asia, 12 in Europe, 9 in the Americas, 6 in Oceania, and 3 in Africa.
MonarchyOfficial Local Name (s)Title Of Head Of StateMonarchIn Catalan: Principat d'AndorraJoan-Enric Vives Emmanuel MacronIn English: Antigua and BarbudaIn English: Commonwealth of AustraliaIn English: Commonwealth of the BahamasPeople also ask
How many monarchies are there in Asia?
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Which countries have absolute monarchies?
However, the two most populous constitutional monarchies in the world are in Asia: Japan and Thailand. In these countries, the prime minister holds the day-to-day powers of governance, while the monarch retains residual (but not always insignificant) powers. The powers of the monarch differ between countries.
- SCMP Reporter
- Japan. Japan lays claim to the world’s oldest continuous hereditary monarchy, which can trace its lineage back at least 1,500 years. During the Allied occupation of the country at the end of the second world war, constitutional reforms were imposed that stripped the emperor of his powers.
- Cambodia. Cambodia is home to one of the world’s few elective monarchies in which the ruler is selected by a council formed of the country’s political and religious representatives.
- Thailand. King Maha Vajiralongkorn became head of state following the death of his father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, in October 2016. Bhumibol, who ruled for 70 years and had held the title of world’s longest reigning living monarch, was widely beloved by Thais.
- Malaysia. Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy with a unique arrangement in which the national throne changes hands every five years between the sultans of the country’s nine states.
- Bhutan. Style: Constitutional (formerly absolute) Monarch: King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. Established: 1907. Succession: Hereditary (males are preferred over females and if there is no suitable candidate, the king can choose his own heir.)
- Brunei. Style: Absolute. Monarch: Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. Established: 1400s. Succession: Hereditary. Fact: Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah is one of the richest men in the world thanks to Brunei's abundance of oil and gas reserves.
- Cambodia. Style: Constitutional. Monarch: King Norodom Sihamoni. Established: 1st century AD. Succession: Elective. Fact: Cambodia followed in the footsteps of Thailand and in 2018 introduced majeste law, which makes it a crime to criticise or insult the king.
- Japan. Style: Constitutional. Monarch: Emperor Akihito. Established: 660 BC. Succession: Hereditary (males only) Fact: During World War II, Emperor Hirohito placed himself as the head of Japan's traditional religion, Shinto, which led to the development of an extremist cult that created the infamous kamikaze bombers.
Monarchy has thrived in five countries of Southeast Asia, blending traditions of kingship from the pre-colonial era with modern forms of constitutional rule. Brunei, Thailand, Malaysia, and...
Apr 25, 2019 · The Kingdom of Cambodia is an elective constitutional monarchy located in Southeast Asia. Norodom Sihamoni has been king of the country since 2004, having been named by the country’s throne...
