This is a list of state leaders in the 20th century (1901–1950) AD, such as the heads of state, heads of government, and the general secretaries of single-party states.
These polities are generally sovereign states, 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.
Leaders of constituent states within the British South Asia, are excluded, and found on this list of state leaders in 20th-century British South Asia.
Africa
Africa: Central
Angola
Kasanje Kingdom (complete list) – Ngwangwa, King (1911–1912)
Kingdom of Kongo (complete list) – vassal to Portugal: 1888–1914 Henrique IV, King (1896–1901) Pedro VI, King (1901–1910) Manuel Nkomba, King (1910–1911) Manuel III, King (1911–1914)
Portuguese Angola, (complete list) – Colony, 1575–1951 For details see the Kingdom of Portugal under Southwest Europe
Cameroon
Fondom of Bafut (complete list) – Abumbi I, King (1852–1932) Achirimbi II, King (1932–1961, joined Cameroon)
Duala people (complete list) – Dika a Mpondo, King, Paramount Chief (pre-1879–c.1905) Manga Ndumbe Bell, King Paramount Chief (c.1897–?) Rudolf Duala Manga Bell, King, Paramount Chief (c.1908–1913)
Kamerun (complete list) – German colony, 1884–1916 For details see the German Empire under central Europe
French Cameroons, part of French Equatorial Africa (complete list) – League of Nations mandate, 1918–1946; United Nations trust territory, 1946–1960 For details see France under western Europe
British Cameroons part of British West Africa (complete list) – League of Nations mandate, 1922–1946; United Nations trust territory, 1946–1961 For details see the United Kingdom under British Isles, Europe
Central African Republic
Ubangi-Shari part of French Equatorial Africa (complete list) – French colony, 1903–1958 For details see France under western Europe
Chad
Sultanate of Bagirmi (complete list) – Gaourang II, Mbang (1885–1918) vassal to France: from 1912 Mahamat Abdelkader, Mbang (1918–1935)
Wadai Empire (complete list) – Ahmad Abu al-Ghazali ibn 'Ali, Kolak (1900–1901) Dud Murra, Kolak (1901–1909) 'Asil, Kolak (1909–1912)
French Chad, part of French Equatorial Africa (complete list) – Colony, 1900–1960 For details see France under western Europe
Congo: Belgian
Congo Free State Sovereign – Leopold II of Belgium, Sovereign (1885–1908) Governors general (complete list) – Théophile Wahis, Governor general (1892–1908)
Belgian Congo (complete list) – Colony, 1908–1960 For details see the Belgium under Western Europe
Congo: French
French Congo part of French Equatorial Africa (complete list) – Colony, 1882–1910 For details see France under western Europe
French Equatorial Africa (complete list) – Federation of colonies, 1910–1934; Colony, 1934–1958 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) – Rogombé-Nwèntchandi, Agamwinboni (?–1927)
French Gabon, part of French Equatorial Africa (complete list) – 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) Mutaga IV, King (1908–1915) Mwambutsa IV, King (1915–1966) Ntare V Ndizeye, King (1966)
Ruanda-Urundi (complete list) – League of Nations mandate of Belgium, 1922–1946; United Nations trust territory, 1946–1962 For details see Belgium under western Europe
Kenya
Wituland (complete list) – Fumo 'Umar ibn Ahmad, Mfalume (1891–1893, 1895–1923)
East Africa Protectorate (complete list) – British protectorate, 1895–1920 Kenya Colony (complete list) – British colony and protectorate, 1920–1963 For details see the United Kingdom under British Isles, Europe
Rwanda
Kingdom of Rwanda (complete list) – Yuhi V Musinga, King (1896–1931) Mutara III Rudahigwa, King (1931–1959) Kigeli V Ndahindurwa, King (1959–1961)
Tanzania
Sultanate of Zanzibar (complete list) – Hamoud, Sultan (1896–1902) Ali II, Sultan (1902–1911) Khalifa II, Sultan (1911–1960) Abdullah, Sultan (1960–1963) Jamshid, Sultan (1963–1964)
German East Africa (complete list) – Colony, 1885–1919 For details see the German Empire under central Europe
Tanganyika under Britain (complete list) – League of Nations mandate of Britain, 1922–1946; United Nations trust territory, 1946–1961 For details see the United Kingdom under British Isles, Europe
Uganda
Ankole (complete list) – Kahaya II, Omugabe (1895–1944) Gasyonga II, Omugabe (1944–1967)
Buganda (complete list) – Daudi Chwa II, Kabaka (1897–1939) Muteesa II, Kabaka (1939–1969)
Bunyoro (complete list) – Kitahimbwa, Omukama (1898–1902) Duhaga III, Omukama (1902–1924) Winyi IV, Omukama (1925–1967)
Uganda Protectorate (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; Overseas territory, 1946–1967 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) – Menelik II, Emperor (1889–1913) Iyasu V, Emperor (1913–1916) Zewditu I, Empress (1916–1930) Haile Selassie I, Emperor (1930–1974)
Italian East Africa (complete list) – Colony, 1936–1941 For details see Italy under southcentral Europe
Sultanate of Aussa (complete list) – Mahammad ibn Hanfere, Amoyta (1862–1902) Mahammad ibn Aydahis ibn Hanfere, Amoyta (1902–c.1910) Yayyo ibn Mahammad ibn Hanfere, Amoyta (c.1902–1927) Mahammad Yayyo, Amoyta (1927–1944)
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 – Firisa, Moti (1899–1902)
Kingdom of Jimma (complete list) – Abba Jifar II, Moti (1878–1932) Abba Jofir, Moti (1932)
Leqa Neqemte (complete list) – Kumsa Mereda, Moti (1888–1923)
Somalia
Dervish state – Diiriye Guure, sultan (1895–1920) Mohammed Abdullah, emir (1895–1920)
Sultanate of the Geledi (complete list) – Osman Ahmed, Sultan (1878–1911)The social structure of southern Somali tribes, Virginia Luling, pg. 204
Sultanate of Hobyo – Yusuf Ali Kenadid, Sultan (1870s–early 20th century) Ali Yusuf Kenadid, Sultan (early 20th century–1926)
Majeerteen Sultanate (complete list) – Osman Mahamuud, King (1860–c.1924)
Italian Somaliland part of Italian East Africa (complete list) – Colony, 1890–1936 For details see Italy under southcentral Europe British Occupied territory, 1941–1949 For details see the United Kingdom under British Isles, Europe
British Somaliland (complete list) – Protectorate, 1884–1940, 1941–1960 For details see the United Kingdom under British Isles, Europe
Trust Territory of Somaliland (complete list) – United Nations trust territory of Italy, 1950–1960 For details see Italy under southcentral Europe
Indian Ocean
Comoros
Sultanate of Mwali (complete list) – Salima Machamba bint Saidi Hamadi Makadara Queen/Sultan (1888–1909)
Sultanate of Ndzuwani (complete list) – Saidi Mohamed bin Saidi Omar, Sultan (1892–1912)
French Comoros (complete list) – Annexed by France, 1841–1843; Colony attached to Mayotte, 1843–1914; Colony attached to French Madagascar, 1914–1946 Territory of the Comoros (complete list) – French overseas territory, 1946–1961; French autonomous territory, 1961–1975 For details see France under western Europe
Madagascar
French Madagascar (complete list) – Colony, 1897–1958 For details see France under western Europe
Mauritius
British Mauritius (complete list) – Colony, 1810–1968 For details see the United Kingdom under British Isles, Europe
Seychelles
Colony of Seychelles (1903–1976) Part of British Mauritius, 1811–1903; British colony, 1903–1976 For details see the United Kingdom under British Isles, Europe
Africa: Northcentral
Libya
Italian Libya (complete list) – Protectorate, 1912–1934; Colony, 1934–1943 For details see Italy under southcentral Europe
Tripolitanian Republic – Ahmad Tahir al-Murayyid, Chairman (1918–1923)
Allied administration of Libya (UK & France) – Allied military administration, 1942–1951
Cyrenaica Emirate (complete list) – Idris, Emir (1949–1951), King (1951–1969)
Tunisia
Beylik of Tunis Beys (complete list) – Ali III ibn al-Husayn, Bey (1882–1902) Muhammad IV al-Hadi, Bey (1902–1906) Muhammad V an-Nasir, Bey (1906–1922) Muhammad VI al-Habib, Bey (1922–1929) Ahmad II ibn Ali, Bey (1929–1942) Muhammad VII al-Munsif, Bey (1942–1943) Muhammad VIII al-Amin, Bey (1943–1956) Grand viziers (complete list) – Aziz Bouattour, Grand vizier (1882–1907) M'hamed Djellouli, Grand vizier (1907–1908) Youssef Djait, Grand vizier (1908–1915) Taïeb Djellouli, Grand vizier (1915–1922) Mustapha Dinguizli, Prime minister (1922–1926) Khelil Bouhageb, Prime minister (1926–1932) Hédi Lakhoua, Prime minister (1932–1942) Mohamed Chenik, Prime minister (1943) Slaheddine Baccouche, Prime minister (1943–1947) Mustapha Kaak, Prime minister (1947–1950) Mohamed Chenik, Prime minister (1950–1952)
French protectorate of Tunisia (complete list) – Protectorate, 1881–1956 For details see France under western Europe
Africa: Northeast
Egypt
Khedivate of Egypt Under British occupation since 1882 Khedive (complete list) – Abbas II, Khedive (1892–1914) Prime ministers (complete list) – Mostafa Fahmy Pasha, Prime minister (1895–1908) Boutros Ghali, Prime minister (1908–1910) Mohamed Said Pasha, Prime minister (1910–1914) Hussein Roshdy Pasha, Prime minister (1914)
Sultanate of Egypt British protectorate, 1914–1922 For details see the United Kingdom under British Isles, Europe Sultan (complete list) – Hussein Kamel, Sultan (1914–1917) Fuad I, Sultan (1917–1922), King (1922–1936) Prime ministers (complete list) – Hussein Roshdy Pasha, Prime minister (1914–1919) Mohamed Said Pasha, Prime minister (1919) Youssef Wahba, Prime minister (1919–1920) Mohamed Tawfik Naseem Pasha, Prime minister (1920–1921) Adly Yakan Pasha, Prime minister (1921–1922)
Kingdom of Egypt King (complete list) – Fuad I, Sultan (1917–1922), King (1922–1936) Farouk I, King (1936–1952) British High Commissioners (complete list) – Milne Cheetham, Acting High Commissioner (1914–1915) Henry McMahon, High Commissioner (1915–1917) Francis Reginald Wingate, High Commissioner (1917–1919) Edmund Allenby, High Commissioner (1919–1925) George Lloyd, High Commissioner (1925–1929) Percy Loraine, High Commissioner (1929–1933) Miles Lampson, High Commissioner (1934–1936) Prime ministers (complete list) – Abdel Khalek Sarwat Pasha, Prime minister (1922) Mohamed Tawfik Naseem Pasha, Prime minister (1922–1923) Yehya Ibrahim Pasha, Prime minister (1923–1924) Saad Zaghloul, Prime minister (1924) Ahmed Zeiwar Pasha, Prime minister (1924–1926) Adly Yakan Pasha, Prime minister (1926–1927) Abdel Khalek Sarwat Pasha, Prime minister (1927–1928) Mostafa El-Nahas, Prime minister (1928) Mohamed Mahmoud Pasha, Prime minister (1928–1929) Adly Yakan Pasha, Prime minister (1929–1930) Mostafa El-Nahas, Prime minister (1930) Ismail Sedky, Prime minister (1930–1933) Abdel Fattah Yahya Pasha, Prime minister (1933–1934) Mohamed Tawfik Naseem Pasha, Prime minister (1934–1936) Aly Maher Pasha, Prime minister (1936) Mostafa El-Nahas, Prime minister (1936–1937) Mohamed Mahmoud Pasha, Prime minister (1937–1939) Aly Maher Pasha, Prime minister (1939–1940) Hassan Sabry Pasha, Prime minister (1940) Hussein Serry Pasha, Prime minister (1940–1942) Mostafa El-Nahas, Prime minister (1942–1944) Ahmad Mahir Pasha, Prime minister (1944–1945)