This is a list of state leaders in the 19th century (1851–1900) AD, except for the leaders within British south Asia and its predecessor states, and those leaders within the Holy Roman Empire.
These polities are generally sovereign states, but excludes minor dependent territories, whose leaders can be found listed under territorial governors in the 19th century. For completeness, these lists can include colonies, protectorates, or other dependent territories that have since gained sovereignty.
Africa
Africa: Central
Angola
Kasanje Kingdom (complete list) – Kambolo ka Ngonga, King (1851–1856) Kamweje ka Kalunga, King (1856–1857) Mbumba a Kinguri, King (1857–1873) Malenge a Kitumba, King (1873) Kwango, King (1883–1885) Kasanje ka Kalanyi, King (1888) Kinguri kya Kiluanje, King (1896)
Kingdom of Kongo (complete list) – Henrique III, King (1842–1857) Álvaro XIII, King (1857–1859) Pedro V, King (1859–1891) vassal to Portugal: 1888–1914 Álvaro XIV, King (1891–1896) Henrique IV, King (1896–1901)
Portuguese Angola, (complete list) – Colony, 1575–1951 For details see the Kingdom of Portugal under Southwest Europe
Cameroon
Fondom of Bafut (complete list) – Achirimbi I, King (1799–1852) Abumbi I, King (1852–1916)
Kingdom of Bamum (complete list) – Ngouhouo, Mfon (1818–1865) Ngoungoure, Mfon (1865) Nsangou, Mfon (1865–1884)
Duala people (complete list) – Doo a Priso, Chief (19th century) Mbape a Bele, Chief (19th century)
Kamerun (complete list) – German colony, 1884–1916 For details see the German Empire under central Europe
Central African Republic
Chad
Sultanate of Bagirmi (complete list) – 'Abdul Qadir II al-Mahdi, Mbangi (1846–1858) Abu-Sekkin Mohammed IV, Mbangi (1858–1870) 'Abd ar-Rahman II, Mbangi (1870–1871) Abu-Sekkin Mohammed IV, Mbangi (1871–1884) Burkomanda IV as-Saghir, Mbangi (1884–1885) Ngarmane Ermanala, Regent (1885) Gaourang II, Mbangi (1885–1918)
Wadai Sultanate (complete list) – 'Izz ad-Din Muhammad al-Sharif ibn Salih Derret, Kolak (1835–1858) 'Ali ibn Muhammad, Kolak (1858–1874) Yusuf ibn 'Ali, Kolak (1874–1898) Ibrahim ibn 'Ali, Kolak (1898–1900) Ahmad Abu al-Ghazali ibn 'Ali, Kolak (1900–1901)
rule of Rabih az-Zubayr Rabih az-Zubayr, warlord (1879–1900)
French Chad, part of French Equatorial Africa (complete list) – Colony, 1900–1960 For details see France under western Europe
Congo: Belgian; today, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Kuba Kingdom (complete list)Joyce (M.A.) & Torday (E.), Notes ethnographiques sur les peuples communément appelés Bakuba, ainsi que sur les peuplades apparentées, les Bushongo. Bruxelles 1910; page 17–19 – Bope Mobinji, Nyim (1840–1885) Mikope Mobinji, Nyim (1885–1890) KotoMboke, Nyim (1890–1896) Mishanga Pelenge, Nyim (1896–1900)
Luba Empire (complete list) – Ilunga Kabale, muLopwe (1837–1864) Maloba Konkola, muLopwe (1864–1865) Kitamba, muLopwe (1865–1869) Kasongo a Kalombo, muLopwe (1869–1886) Nday a Mande, muLopwe (1886–1889)
Lunda Empire (complete list) – Nawej II Ditend, Mwaant Yaav (c.1800–1852) Mulaj a Namwan, Mwaant Yaav (1852–1857) Cakasekene Naweej, Mwaant Yaav (1857) Muteba II a Cikombe, Mwaant Yaav (1857–1873) Mbala II a Kamong Isot, Mwaant Yaav (1873–1874) Mbumb I Muteba Kat, Mwaant Yaav (1874–1883) Cimbindu a Kasang, Mwaant Yaav (1883–1884) Kangapu Nawej, Mwaant Yaav (1884–1885) Mudib, Mwaant Yaav (1885–1886) Mutand Mukaz, Mwaant Yaav (1886–1887) Mbala III a Kalong, Mwaant Yaav (1887)
Yeke Kingdom – Msiri, King (1856–1891)
Congo Free State Sovereign – Leopold II of Belgium, Sovereign (1885–1908) Governors general (complete list) – Théophile Wahis, Governor general (1892–1908)
Congo: French; today, the Republic of the Congo
Tio Kingdom – , Makoko (?–c.1880)
Kingdom of Loango (complete list) – N'Gangue M'voumbe Makosso Ma N'Sangou, King (1840-c.1883)
French Congo part of French Equatorial Africa (complete list) – Colony, 1882–1910 For details see France under western Europe
Equatorial Guinea
Spanish Guinea (complete list) – Colony, 1778–1968 For details see Spain in southwest Europe
Gabon
Kingdom of Orungu (complete list) – Ombango Rogombe "Ikinda" / King Pascal, Agamwinboni (1840–1862) Ndebulia, Agamwinboni (1862–1865 Ntchènguè, Agamwinboni (1865–1882 Avonowanga, Agamwinboni (1882–?)
French Gabon, part of French Equatorial Africa (complete list) – French Colony, 1882–1910 For details see France under western Europe
São Tomé and Príncipe
Portuguese São Tomé and Príncipe (complete list) – Colony, 1470–1951 For details see the Kingdom of Portugal under Southwest Europe
Africa: East
Great Lakes area
Burundi
Kingdom of Burundi (complete list) – Mwezi IV, King (c.1850–1908)
Kenya
East Africa Protectorate (complete list) – British protectorate, 1895–1920 For details see the United Kingdom under British Isles, Europe
Pate Sultanate (complete list) – Nabahani dynasty Ahmad ibn Fumo Bakari, Mfalume (1840–1856) Ahmad Simba Balla ibn Fumo Luti, Mfalume (1856–1858) unnamed dynasty Shaykh Muhammad, Mfalume (1858–1870)
Wituland (complete list) – Ahmad ibn Fumo Bakari, Mfalume (1858–1888) Fumo Bakari ibn Ahmad, Mfalume (1888–1890) Bwana Shaykh ibn Ahmad, Mfalume (1890–1891) Fumo 'Umar ibn Ahmad, Mfalume (1891–1893,1895–1923)
Rwanda
Kingdom of Rwanda (complete list) – Mutara II Rwogera, King (1802–1853) Kigeli IV Rwabugiri, King (1853–1895) Mibambwe IV Rutarindwa, King (1895–1896) Yuhi V Musinga, King (1896–1931)
South Sudan
Tanzania
German East Africa (complete list) – Colony, 1885–1919 For details see the German Empire under central Europe
Kingdom of Unyanyembe – Ifundikila, King (1840–1858) Mnywasela, King (c.1858–1860) Mkasiwa, King (1860–1875) Isike, King (1875–?)Dictionary of African Biography, p. 225
Kingdom of Urambo – Mirambo, Ntemi (1860–1884)
Sultanate of Zanzibar (complete list) – Majid, Sultan (1856–1870) Barghash, Sultan (1870–1888) Khalifa I, Sultan (1888–1890) Ali I, Sultan (1890–1893) Hamad, Sultan (1893–1896) Khalid, Sultan (1896) Hamoud, Sultan (1896–1902)
Uganda
Ankole (complete list) – Mutambuka, Omugabe (1839–1873) Ntare V Rugingiza, Omugabe (1873–1895) Kahaya II, Omugabe (1895–1944)
Buganda (complete list) – Ssuuna II, Kabaka (1832–1856) Muteesa I, Kabaka (1856–1884) Mwanga II, Kabaka (1884–1888, 1889–1897) Kiweewa, Kabaka (1888) Kalema, Kabaka (1888–1889) Daudi Cwa II, Kabaka (1897–1939)
Bunyoro (complete list) – Olimi V, Omukama (1848–1852) Kyebambe IV, Omukama (1852–1869) Kabalega, Omukama (1869–1898) Kitahimbwa, Omukama (1898–1902)
Protectorate of Uganda (complete list) – British protectorate, 1894–1962 For details see the United Kingdom under British Isles, Europe
Horn of Africa area
Djibouti
French Somaliland (complete list) – Colony, 1896–1946 For details see France under western Europe
Eritrea
Italian Eritrea (complete list) – Colony, 1890–1936 For details see Italy under southcentral Europe
Ethiopia
Ethiopian Empire (complete list) – Yohannes III, Emperor (1850–1851) Sahle Dengel, Emperor (1851–1855) Tewodros II, Emperor (1855–1868) Tekle Giyorgis II, Emperor (1868–1871) Yohannes IV, Emperor (1871–1889) Menelik II, Emperor (1889–1913)
Sultanate of Aussa (complete list) – Hanfere ibn Aydahis, Amoyta (1832–1862) Mahammad ibn Hanfere, Amoyta (1862–1902)
Kingdom of Garo (complete list) – Ogata, Tato (1845–1865) Dagoye, Tato (1865–1883)
Kingdom of Gera (complete list) – Abba Rago I, Moti(c.1845–c.1860) Abba Magal, Moti (c.1860–1870) Abba Rago II, Moti (c.1870) Genne Fa, Queen (c.1880)C.F. Beckingham and G.W.B. Huntingford, Some Records of Ethiopia, 1593–1646 (London: Hakluyt Society, 1954), pp. lxxxivf
Kingdom of Gomma (complete list)C.F. Beckingham and G.W.B. Huntingford, Some Records of Ethiopia, 1593–1646 (London: Hakluyt Society, 1954), p. lxxxix – Abba Rebo, Moti (?–1856) Abba Dula, Moti (?–1864) Abba Jifar, Moti (late 19th century) Abba Boka, Moti (?–1886)
Kingdom of Gumma (complete list)C.F. Beckingham and G.W.B. Huntingford, Some Records of Ethiopia, 1593–1646 (London: Hakluyt Society, 1954), p. lxxxvif – Jawe, Moti (c.1840–1854) Abba Dula, Moti (1854–1879) Abba Jubir, Moti (June 1879–c.1890) Abba Fogi, Moti (c.1890–1899) Firisa, Moti (1899–1902)
Emirate of Harar (complete list) – Abu Bakr II ibn ʽAbd al-Munan, Emīr (1834–1852) Ahmad III ibn Abu Bakr, Emīr (1852–1866) Muhammad ibn 'Ali 'Abd ash-Shakur, Emīr (1866–1875) 'Abd Allah II ibn 'Ali 'Abd ash-Shakur, Emīr (1884–1887)
Kingdom of Janjero (complete list) – Abba Bagibo, Koynab (?–1894)
Kingdom of Jimma (complete list) – Abba Jifar I, Moti (c.1830–c.1855) Abba Rebu, Moti (1855–1859) Abba Bok'a, Moti (1859–1862) Abba Gomol, Moti (1862–1878) Abba Jifar II, Moti (1878–1932)
Kingdom of Kaffa (complete list)C.F. Beckingham and G.W.B. Huntingford, Some Records of Ethiopia, 1593–1646 (London: Hakluyt Society, 1954), p. lvi. Amnon Orent, "Refocusing on the History of Kafa prior to 1897: A Discussion of Political Processes" in African Historical Studies, Vol. 3, No. 2. (1970), p. 268. – Gawi Nechocho or Haji Ginoch, King (1845–1854) Kaye Sherocho or Kamo, King (1854–1870) Gali Sherocho, King (1870–1890) Gaki Sherocho, King (1890–1897)
Leqa Neqemte (complete list) – Bekere Godana, Moti (1841–1868)[Ta'a, Tesema. "The Process of Urbanization in Wollega, Western Ethiopia: The Case of Neqemte". Journal of Ethiopian Studies 26, no. 1 (1993): 59–72. Accessed 29 April 2020. www.jstor.org/stable/41966012. p. 63] Mereda Bekere, Moti (1871–1888) Kumsa Moroda, Moti (1888–1923)
Kingdom of Limmu-Ennarea (complete list) – Ibsa, Abba Bagibo, Supera (1825–1861) Abba Bulgu, Supera (1861–1883) Abba Gomoli II, Supera (1883–1891)
Welayta: Tigre dynasty (complete list)C.F. Beckingham and G.W.B. Huntingford, Some Records of Ethiopia, 1593–1646 (London: Hakluyt Society, 1954), pp. lxv – lxvii. – Gobe, Kawa (1845–1886) Gaga, Kawa (1886–c.1890) Tona, Kawa (1890–1895)
Somalia Sultanate of the Geledi (complete list) – Ahmed Yusuf Mahamud, Sultan (1848–1878) Osman Ahmed, Sultan (1878–1911)The social structure of southern Somali tribes, Virginia Luling, p. 204
Sultanate of Hobyo – Yusuf Ali Kenadid, Sultan (1878–1911)
Majeerteen Sultanate (complete list) – Suldaan Maxamuud Suldaan Cismaan Suldaan Maxamuud, King (1844–1860) Osman Mahamuud, King (1860–c.1924)
Isaaq Sultanate (complete list) – Hassan Farah, Sultan (1845–1870) Deria Hassan, Sultan (1870–1939)
Italian Somaliland part of Italian East Africa (complete list) – Colony, 1890–1936 For details see Italy under southcentral Europe
British Somaliland (complete list) – Protectorate, 1884–1940, 1941–1960 For details see the United Kingdom under British Isles, Europe
Indian Ocean
Comoros
Sultanate of Mwali (complete list) – Mohamed bin Saidi Hamadi Makadara, Sultan (1865–1874) Djoumbé Fatima, Regent (1865–1868, 1871–1878) Joseph Lambert, Duc d'Imerina, Regent (1868–1871) Abderremane bin Saidi Hamadi Makadara, Sultan (1878–1885) Mohammed Shekhe, Sultan (1885–1886) Marjani bin Abudu Shekhe, Sultan (1886–1888) Salima Machamba Queen/Sultan (1888–1909) Fadeli bin Othman, Balia Juma, Abudu Tsivandini, Regents (1888–1889) Mahmudu bin Mohamed Makadara, Regent (1889–1897)
Sultanate of Ndzuwani (complete list) – Salim bin Alawi, Sultan (1837–1852) Saidi Abdallah bin Salim, Sultan (1852–1891) Salim bin Abdalla, Sultan (1891–1891) Saidi Omar bin Saidi Hasan, Sultan (1891–1892) Saidi Mohamed bin Saidi Omar, Sultan (1892–1912)
French Comoros (complete list) – French protectorate, 1887–1908 For details see France under western Europe
Madagascar
Merina Kingdom Monarchs (complete list) – Ranavalona I, Queen (1828–1861) Radama II, King (1861–1863) Rasoherina, Queen (1863–1868) Ranavalona II, Queen (1868–1883) Ranavalona III Queen (1883–1897) Prime ministers (complete list) – Rainiharo, Prime minister (1833–1852) Rainivoninahitriniony, Prime minister (1852–1864) Rainilaiarivony, Prime minister (1864–1895) Rainitsimbazafy, Prime minister (1895–1896) Rasanjy, Prime minister (1896–1897)
Malagasy Protectorate (complete list) – French protectorate, 1882–1897