Simone Lawson
As of 2025, there are 43 sovereign states with a monarch as the head of state. Of these, 15 are constitutional monarchies under King Charles III, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. There are two types of constitutional monarchies: executive and ceremonial. In executive monarchies, the monarch wields significant power, while in ceremonial monarchies, the monarch holds little to no political power but often has social and cultural influence. Examples of constitutional monarchies include Japan, Thailand, Norway, Denmark, Belgium, and Spain.
Characteristics of Constitutional Monarchies
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of constitutional monarchies in the world | 43 |
| Examples | United Kingdom, Belgium, Cambodia, Jordan, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Canada, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia |
| Power of the monarch | Limited by a set of laws and basic principles or the constitution |
| Law-making power | Rests with the legislature or parliament |
| Monarch's role | Head of State, but not the sovereign |
| Monarch's status | "Servants of the people" |
| Monarch's powers | The right to be consulted, the right to encourage, and the right to warn |
| Type of monarchy | Opposite of absolute monarchy |
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What You'll Learn
There are 43 constitutional monarchies worldwide
Constitutional monarchies are the opposite of absolute monarchies, in which the monarch holds all power over the government and the people. In a constitutional monarchy, the monarch is not an absolute ruler because their power is limited by a set of laws and basic principles, or the constitution. The constitution also places the law-making power in the legislature, whether or not the legislature has exclusive legislative power.
The present-day concept of a constitutional monarchy developed in the United Kingdom, where they have democratically elected parliaments, and their leader, the prime minister, exercises power, with the monarchs having ceded power and remaining as a titular position. The British Monarchy is a constitutional monarchy, with the Sovereign as Head of State, but the ability to make and pass legislation resides with the elected Parliament. While the Sovereign has no political or executive role, they continue to play an important part in the life of the nation, undertaking constitutional and representational duties.
Many countries have been constitutional monarchies at some point in their history, including Barbados, Brazil, Bulgaria, South Africa, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Guyana, Mauritius, Trinidad and Tobago, Pakistan, and Poland-Lithuania.
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The UK is an example of a constitutional monarchy
The UK is a constitutional monarchy, a system of government in which a monarch shares power with a constitutionally organized government. The monarch may be the de facto head of state or a ceremonial leader. The UK's current monarch is King Charles III, who possesses the ultimate legal responsibility for a variety of duties.
In a constitutional monarchy, the power of the monarch is limited by a set of laws and basic principles, or the constitution. The constitution of a constitutional monarchy places the law-making power in the legislature, whether or not the legislature has exclusive legislative power. In the UK, the monarch has no political or executive role and does not govern according to their own wishes. Instead, they act as a symbol of national unity and have a less formal role as the 'Head of Nation'. The monarch undertakes constitutional and representational duties, such as appointing ministers or other holders of important posts and representing the country on the international stage. They also officially recognize success and excellence and support the ideal of voluntary service.
The UK's constitutional monarchy has roots that predate the UK itself as a state. Its origins can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon era and the multiple kingdoms that existed prior to the formation of England as a single polity. Over time, the power of the monarch has been constrained by various laws and principles, such as the Magna Carta (first agreed upon in 1215) and the Bill of Rights (agreed upon in 1688).
The UK is not the only constitutional monarchy in the world. There are currently 43 monarchies worldwide, and many countries have developed democracy while retaining their monarchs. Other constitutional monarchies include Belgium, Cambodia, Jordan, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and Thailand.
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Absolute monarchies are where the monarch holds all power
Absolute monarchy is a form of government in which a single person, usually a king or queen, holds absolute power. It is a system where the sovereign is the sole source of political power, unconstrained by constitutions, legislatures, or other checks on their authority. The absolutist system of government was particularly prominent in Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries, with figures such as Louis XIV of France, known as the "Sun King", embodying this form of rule. Charles I of England also espoused absolutist ideals, viewing Parliament as unnecessary, which ultimately led to the English Civil War and his execution.
Absolute monarchies are often justified by the concept of the "divine right of kings", the belief that the authority of monarchs is bestowed upon them by God. This notion was prevalent throughout much of European history, with many European monarchs claiming supreme autocratic power by divine right. Thomas Hobbes, an English political philosopher, argued in his book Leviathan (1651) that absolute universal obedience to a single ruler was necessary to maintain civil order and security.
Absolute monarchies differ from constitutional monarchies, where the authority of the monarch is restricted by a constitution, legislature, or unwritten customs, or balanced by other officials, such as a prime minister. In a constitutional monarchy, the monarch may be the ceremonial leader or the de facto head of state, but their power is limited by a set of laws and principles. While absolute monarchy prevailed in much of Western Europe by the 16th century, its popularity declined sharply after the French Revolution, which gave rise to the principle of popular sovereignty.
Today, there are 43 monarchies worldwide, with absolute monarchies including Brunei, Eswatini, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Vatican City, and the individual emirates composing the United Arab Emirates. Constitutional monarchies include the United Kingdom, Belgium, Cambodia, Jordan, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and Thailand.
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Constitutional monarchies are a blend of monarchal rule and representative democracy
There are 43 monarchies worldwide, and many of them are constitutional monarchies. A constitutional monarchy is a system of government in which a monarch shares power with a constitutionally organized government. The monarch may be the de facto head of state or a ceremonial leader. The constitution allocates the rest of the government's power to the legislature and, in some cases, the judiciary.
Constitutional monarchies are a blend of monarchical rule and representative democracy. In a constitutional monarchy, the monarch is not an absolute ruler and their power is limited by a set of laws, basic principles, or a constitution. The constitution of a constitutional monarchy places the law-making power in the legislature, which may or may not have exclusive legislative power. The monarch in a constitutional monarchy is typically a hereditary symbolic head of state who performs representative and civic roles but does not exercise executive or policy-making power.
The present-day concept of a constitutional monarchy developed in the United Kingdom, where democratically elected parliaments and the prime minister exercise power, while the monarch has a more titular position. The British constitutional system serves as a model for many other constitutional monarchies, such as those in the Commonwealth realms, which include Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Some constitutional monarchies, such as Malaysia and Cambodia, are elective monarchies, where the ruler is periodically selected by a small electoral college. In other cases, the monarch may retain substantial powers, similar to a president in a presidential or semi-presidential system. The degree of power held by the monarch in a constitutional monarchy can vary significantly between countries.
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The British monarch has no political or executive role
The concept of a constitutional monarchy, where a monarch shares power with a constitutionally organized government, was developed in the United Kingdom. There are 43 monarchies worldwide, including constitutional monarchies such as Belgium, Cambodia, Jordan, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and Thailand.
The British monarchy is a constitutional monarchy, with the monarch as the head of state. However, the British monarch has no political or executive role, and their power is controlled by a set of laws and basic principles. The ability to make and pass legislation resides with the elected parliament, and the monarch's role is limited to constitutional and representational duties. While the monarch has authority over the government, this power may only be used according to laws enacted in parliament and within the constraints of convention and precedent.
The British monarchy's role is largely limited to non-partisan functions, such as granting honours, and they act within the constraints of convention and precedent. The monarch's political powers have been reduced over time, with the Magna Carta being one of the first documents to impose constraints upon the monarch. The monarch's role has evolved to become more ceremonial and diplomatic, serving as a brand ambassador for British interests and values abroad, increasing tourism, and promoting charities.
While the British monarch has no political or executive role, they continue to play an important part in the life of the nation. The monarch acts as a focus for national identity, unity, and pride, providing a sense of stability and continuity. They also officially recognize success and excellence and support the ideal of voluntary service. The monarch's immediate family also supports them in these duties and undertakes various official, ceremonial, diplomatic, and representational duties.
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Frequently asked questions
There are 43 sovereign states with a monarch as the head of state.
There are 13 constitutional monarchies in Asia, including Japan, Thailand, and Cambodia.
There are 12 constitutional monarchies in Europe, including the United Kingdom, Belgium, Norway, Denmark, and Sweden.
There are 9 constitutional monarchies in the Americas.
There are 6 constitutional monarchies in Oceania.
