List of leaders of dependent territories

This is a list of leaders of dependent territories. A dependent territory is a territory that does not possess full political independence or sovereignty as a sovereign state yet remains politically outside of the controlling state's integral area.[1] This latter condition distinguishes a dependent territory from an autonomous region or administrative division, which forms an integral part of the 'parent' state.

The majority of the world's dependent territories are legacies of nineteenth and twentieth century colonial empires.[2] This list divides the world's inhabited dependent territories roughly into half: those which are dependencies of Commonwealth nations, formerly members of the British Empire and all of which have King Charles III as head of state; and the remainder. Governors, managers or wardens of uninhabited dependent territories are excluded.

Current dependent territory leaders

Seven sovereign states possess one or more dependent territories: the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, and Norway.

Region, territory or Crown dependency Title Name Since
 Akrotiri and Dhekelia Administrator Peter J. M. Squires 1 September 2022
 American Samoa Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga 3 January 2021
 Anguilla Governor Julia Crouch 11 September 2023
Premier Ellis Webster 30 June 2020
 Aruba Governor Alfonso Boekhoudt 1 January 2017
Prime Minister Evelyn Wever-Croes 17 November 2017
Australia Ashmore and Cartier Islands Administrator[3] Anthony Chisholm 1 June 2022
Australia Australian Antarctic Territory Administrator[4] Kim Ellis 6 April 2019
United States Baker Island Administrator[5] Martha Williams[6] (acting) 20 January 2021
 Bermuda Governor[7][8] Rena Lalgie 14 December 2020
Premier Edward David Burt 17 July 2017
 Bonaire Lieutenant governor John Soliano 1 August 2024
Norway Bouvet Island Administrator[9] Øystein Mortensen 2 October 2015
 British Antarctic Territory - BAT Commissioner Jane Rumble August 2024
Administrator Natalie Allen 2024
 British Indian Ocean Territory - BIOT Commissioner Nishi Dholakia August 2024
Administrator Emily Ager 2024
 British Virgin Islands Governor[10] Daniel Pruce 29 January 2024
Premier Natalio Wheatley[11] 5 May 2022
 Cayman Islands Governor Jane Owen 21 April 2023
Premier Julianna O'Connor-Connolly 15 November 2023
 Christmas Island Administrator Farzian Zainal 26 May 2023
President of Shire Gordon Thomson[12] 21 October 2013
France Clipperton Island Administrator[13] Philippe Vigier 20 July 2023
Commissioner[14] Éric Spitz 26 September 2022
 Cocos (Keeling) Islands Administrator Farzian Zainal 26 May 2023
President of the Shire Council Aindil Minkom 23 October 2019
 Cook Islands King's Representative Sir Tom Marsters 27 July 2013
High commissioner (New Zealand's Representative) Catherine Graham 22 April 2024
Prime Minister Mark Brown 30 November 2020
Australia Coral Sea Islands Administrator[3] Anthony Chisholm 1 June 2022
 Curaçao Governor Lucille George-Wout 4 November 2013
Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas 14 June 2021
 Falkland Islands Governor Alison Blake 23 July 2022
 French Polynesia High Commissioner Éric Spitz 26 September 2022
President Moetai Brotherson 12 May 2023
 French Southern and Antarctic Lands Prefect[15] Florence Jeanblanc-Risler 5 October 2022
 Gibraltar Governor of Gibraltar Sir Ben Bathurst 4 June 2024
Chief Minister Fabian Picardo 9 December 2011
 Guam Governor[16] Lou Leon Guerrero 7 January 2019
 Guernsey Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey Richard Cripwell 15 February 2022
Bailiff Sir Richard McMahon 9 May 2020
President of the Policy and Resources Committee Lyndon Trott 13 December 2023
Australia Heard Island and McDonald Islands Administrator[4] Kim Ellis 6 April 2019
United States Howland Island Administrator[5] Martha Williams[6] 20 January 2021
 Isle of Man Lieutenant Governor Sir John Lorimer 29 September 2021
Chief Minister Alfred Cannan 12 October 2021
United States Jarvis Island Administrator[5] Martha Williams[6] 20 January 2021
 Jersey Lieutenant Governor Jerry Kyd 8 October 2022
Bailiff Tim Le Cocq 12 October 2019
Chief Minister Kristina Moore 12 July 2022
United States Johnston Atoll Administrator[5] Martha Williams[6] 20 January 2021
United States Kingman Reef Administrator[5] Martha Williams[6] 20 January 2021
United States Midway Atoll Administrator[5] Martha Williams[6] 20 January 2021
 Montserrat Governor Sarah Tucker 6 April 2022
Premier Easton Taylor-Farrell 19 November 2019
United States Navassa Island Administrator[5] Martha Williams[6] 20 January 2021
 New Caledonia High Commissioner Louis Le Franc 6 February 2023
President of the Government Louis Mapou 8 July 2021
 Niue High Commissioner Mark Gibb 5 March 2024
Premier Dalton Tagelagi 11 June 2020
 Norfolk Island Administrator George Plant 1 June 2023
General Manager Andrew Roach 6 January 2020
Administrator of the Regional Council Michael Colreavy[17] 5 February 2021
 Northern Mariana Islands Governor Arnold Palacios 9 January 2023
United States Palmyra Atoll Administrator[5] Martha Williams[6] 20 January 2021
Manager[18] vacant March 2009
Norway Peter I Island Administrator[9] Øystein Mortensen 2 October 2015
 Pitcairn Islands Governor of the Pitcairn Islands[19] Iona Thomas 3 August 2022
Mayor Simon Young 1 January 2020
 Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi 2 January 2021
Norway Queen Maud Land Administrator[9] Øystein Mortensen 2 October 2015
New Zealand Ross Dependency Governor-General Cindy Kiro 21 October 2021
Administrator[20] Sarah Williamson June 2019
 Saba Island Governor Jonathan G. A. Johnson 2 July 2008
Saint Barthelemy Prefect[21] Alexandre Rochatte 10 August 2020
Prefect delegated[22] Vincent Berton 28 March 2022
President of the Territorial Council Xavier Lédée 3 April 2022
 Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Governor of Saint Helena
Governor of Ascension
Governor of Tristan da Cunha		 Nigel Phillips 13 August 2022
Chief Minister of Saint Helena Julie Thomas 25 October 2021
Administrator of Ascension Simon Minshull 2 November 2022
Administrator of Tristan da Cunha Philip Kendall 26 September 2023[23]
Saint-Martin Prefect[24] Alexandre Rochatte 10 August 2020
Prefect delegated[22] Vincent Berton 28 March 2022
President of the Territorial Council Louis Mussington 3 April 2022
 Saint Pierre and Miquelon Prefect Bruno André 21 August 2023
President of the Territorial Council Bernard Briand 13 October 2020
 Sint Eustatius Government commissioner Alida Francis[25] 18 April 2021
 Sint Maarten Governor Ajamu Baly 10 October 2022
Prime Minister Luc Mercelina 3 May 2024
 South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Commissioner[26] Alison Blake 23 July 2022
 Tokelau Administrator Don Higgins 1 June 2022
Head of Government Kelihiano Kalolo 8 March 2021
 Turks and Caicos Islands Governor Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam 29 June 2023
Premier Washington Misick 21 February 2021
 Virgin Islands (U.S.) Governor Albert Bryan Jr. 7 January 2019
United States Wake Island Administrator[27] Keone Nakoa (acting) 14 September 2021
Governor[28] Peter Beshar 18 March 2022
 Wallis and Futuna Administrator Superior of Wallis and Futuna Blaise Gourtay 21 August 2023
President of the Territorial Assembly Munipoese Muliʻakaʻaka 25 March 2022

Current leaders of autonomous or insular regions

Region, territory Title Name Since
 Aceh Governor Muzakir Manaf
 Adjara Chairman of the Supreme Council Davit Gabaidze 28 November 2016
Chairman of the Government Tornike Rizhvadze 21 July 2018
 Åland Islands Governor Marie Holm-Johansson 3 April 2023
Chief Minister Katrin Sjögren 11 December 2023
 Alderney Lieutenant-Governor (of Guernsey) Richard Cripwell 15 February 2022
President William Tate 28 June 2019
 Andalusia President Juan Manuel Moreno 18 January 2019
 Aosta Valley President Erik Lavévaz 21 October 2020
 Aragon President Javier Lambán 3 July 2015
 Asturias President Adrián Barbón 16 July 2019
Azad Kashmir President Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry 25 August 2021
Prime Minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas 18 April 2022
 Azores Representative of the (Portuguese) Republic Pedro Catarino 11 April 2011
President of the Government José Manuel Bolieiro 24 November 2020
 Balearic Islands President Marga Prohens 7 July 2023
 Bangsamoro Wali Muslim Guiamaden 13 May 2024
Chief Minister (interim) Murad Ebrahim 22 February 2019
Barbuda Chairperson of the Barbuda Council Devon Warner 17 January 2024
 Basque Country President (Lehendakari) Iñigo Urkullu 2012
 Bougainville President Ishmael Toroama 25 September 2020
 Catalonia President Pere Aragonès i Garcia 14 May 2018
 Canary Islands President Ángel Víctor Torres 29 September 2020
 Cantabria President María José Sáenz de Buruaga 5 July 2023
 Carriacou and Petite Martinique Minister for Carriacou and Petite Martinique Affairs Kindra Maturin-Stewart 25 March 2018
 Castile–La Mancha President Emiliano García-Page 1 July 2015
 Castile and León President Alfonso Fernández Mañueco 11 July 2019
Central Papua Governor
 Ceuta Mayor-President Juan Jesús Vivas Lara 2001
 Corsica Prefect Pascal Lelarge 19 August 2020
President of the Corsican Assembly Marie-Antoinette Maupertuis 1 July 2021
President of the Executive Council Gilles Simeoni 17 December 2015
 Crimea Presidential Representative Tamila Tasheva 25 April 2022
Chairmen of Parliament vacant 15 March 2014
Prime minister vacant 15 March 2014
 Easter Island Provincial Presidential Delegate René De la Puente Hey 14 July 2021
Mayor Pedro Edmunds Paoa 6 December 2012
 Extremadura President Guillermo Fernández Vara 5 July 2015
 Faroe Islands High Commissioner Lene Moyell Johansen 9 May 2017
Prime Minister Aksel Johannesen 22 December 2022
Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina President Lidija Bradara 28 February 2023
Prime Minister Nermin Nikšić 28 April 2023
French Guiana Prefect Antoine Poussier 21 August 2023
President of the Territorial Authority Gabriel Serville 2 July 2021
 Friuli Venezia Giulia President Massimiliano Fedriga 3 May 2018
 Gagauzia Governor Irina Vlakh 23 March 2015
Galápagos Islands Chairman of the Governing Council with Special Regime Johan Sotomayor 3 June 2021
 Galicia President Alfonso Rueda 13 May 2022
Gilgit Baltistan Governor Syed Mehdi Shah 15 August 2022
Chief Minister Khalid Khurshid 1 December 2020
Gorno-Badakhshan Chairmen of the Executive Committee Alisher Khudoyberdi 5 November 2021
 Greenland High Commissioner Julie Wilche 1 May 2022
Prime Minister Múte Bourup Egede 23 April 2021
Guadeloupe Prefect Xavier Lefort 6 February 2023
President of the Departmental Council Guy Losbar 1 July 2021
President of the Regional Council Ary Chalus 17 December 2015
Highland Papua Governor Befa Yigibalom
 Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee 1 July 2022
 Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung
Norway Jan Mayen Administrator[29] Tom Cato Karlsen 2 January 2019
 Karakalpakstan Chairmen of Parliament Murad Kamalov 2 October 2020
Chairman of the Council of Ministers Kakhraman Sariyev 14 October 2016
 Kurdistan Region President Nechervan Barzani 10 June 2019
Prime minister Masrour Barzani 10 July 2019
 La Rioja President Concha Andreu 29 August 2019
Lord Howe Island Chairman of the Lord Howe Island Board Atticus Fleming 1 January 2021
 Macau Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng 20 December 2019
 Madeira Representative of the (Portuguese) Republic Ireneu Barreto 11 April 2011
President of the Government Miguel Albuquerque 20 April 2015
 Madrid President Isabel Díaz Ayuso 19 August 2019
Macquarie Island Administrator[30] Matthew Groom 31 March 2014
Martinique Prefect Jean-Christophe Bouvier 23 August 2022
President of the Executive Council Serge Letchimy 2 July 2021
 Mayotte Prefect François-Xavier Bieuville 24 February 2024
President of the Departmental Council Ben Issa Ousseni 1 July 2021
 Melilla Mayor-President Eduardo de Castro González 15 June 2019
 Mount Athos Head of State[31] Nikos Dendias 9 July 2019
Civil Governor[32] Athanásios Martínos 9 October 2019
Spiritual Leader[33] Bartholomew I 22 October 1991
Protos[34] géron Georgios
(Vatopedi)		 14 June 2021
 Murcia President Fernando López Miras 3 May 2017
 Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic Chairmen of the Supreme Assembly Vasif Talıbov 16 December 1995
Prime minister Alovsat Bakhshiyev 2000
 Navarre President María Chivite 6 August 2019
 Nevis Deputy Governor-General (for Nevis) Hyleta Liburd 31 August 2018
Premier Mark Brantley 19 December 2017
Northern Ireland First Minister[35] Michelle O'Neill[36] 3 February 2024
Deputy First Minister[37] Emma Little-Pengelly[36] 3 February 2024
 Papua Governor Benhur Tomi Mano
São Tomé and Príncipe Principe President of the Regional Government Filipe Nascimento 18 August 2020
 Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik 15 November 2022
Prime Minister Radovan Višković 19 December 2018
Réunion Prefect Jérôme Filippini 23 August 2022
President of the Departmental Council Cyrille Melchior 18 December 2017
President of the Regional Council Huguette Bello 2 July 2021
 Rodrigues Chief Commissioner Johnson Roussety[38] 5 March 2022
Chief Executive Jean-Claude Pierre-Louis[39] 21 March 2022
 Sardinia President Christian Solinas 20 March 2019
 Sark Seigneur of Sark Christopher Beaumont 3 July 2016
 Scotland First Minister John Swinney 8 May 2024
 Sicily President Nello Musumeci 18 November 2017
South Papua Governor Apolo Safanpo
Southwest Papua Governor Elisa Kambu
Norway Svalbard Governor Lars Fause 24 June 2021
Trinidad and Tobago Tobago Chief Secretary of the House of Assembly Farley Chavez Augustine 9 December 2021
Torres Strait Islands Chairperson of the Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) Pedro Stephen Napau October 2016
 Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol President Maurizio Fugatti 2 November 2018
 Valencian Community President Ximo Puig 25 June 2015
 Wales First Minister Eluned Baroness Morgan of Ely 24 July 2024
 Vojvodina President of the Government Igor Mirović 20 June 2016
 West Papua Governor Dominggus Mandacan
Yogyakarta Governor Hamengkubuwono X 3 October 1998
 Zanzibar President Hussein Mwinyi 3 November 2020

Leaders of dependent Commonwealth territories

State Government Head of state Represented by Head of government
 Anguilla Parliamentary democracy King Charles III of the United Kingdom Governor Julia Crouch Premier Ellis Webster
 Bermuda Parliamentary democracy King Charles III of the United Kingdom Governor Rena Lalgie Premier Edward David Burt
 British Virgin Islands Parliamentary democracy King Charles III of the United Kingdom Governor Daniel Pruce Premier Natalio Wheatley
 Cayman Islands Parliamentary democracy King Charles III of the United Kingdom Governor Jane Owen Premier Julianna O'Connor-Connolly
 Christmas Island Non-self-governing dependency King Charles III of Australia Administrator Farzian Zainal Shire President Gordon Thomson
 Cocos (Keeling) Islands Non-self-governing dependency King Charles III of Australia Administrator Farzian Zainal Shire President Aindil Minkom
 Cook Islands Parliamentary democracy
in free-association with New Zealand 		King Charles III of New Zealand King's Representative (not otherwise styled) Sir Tom Marsters Prime Minister Mark Brown
 Falkland Islands Parliamentary democracy King Charles III of the United Kingdom Governor Alison Blake Chief Executive Andy Keeling
 Gibraltar Parliamentary democracy King Charles III of the United Kingdom Governor Sir Ben Bathurst Chief Minister Fabian Picardo
 Guernsey Crown dependency King Charles III of the United Kingdom
(as Duke of Normandy)		 Lieutenant-Governor Richard Cripwell Bailiff Sir Richard McMahon
President Lyndon Trott
 Isle of Man Crown dependency King Charles III of the United Kingdom
(as Lord of Mann)		 Lieutenant-Governor Sir John Lorimer Chief Minister Alfred Cannan
 Jersey Crown dependency King Charles III of the United Kingdom
(as Duke of Normandy)		 Lieutenant-Governor Jerry Kyd Bailiff Sir Timothy Le Cocq
Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham
 Montserrat Parliamentary democracy King Charles III of the United Kingdom Governor Sarah Tucker Premier Reuben Meade
 Niue Parliamentary democracy
in free-association with New Zealand 		King Charles III of New Zealand High Commissioner Fisa Igilisi Pihigia Premier Dalton Tagelagi
 Norfolk Island Parliamentary democracy King Charles III of Australia Administrator George Plant Self-government abolished in 2015
 Pitcairn Islands Parliamentary democracy King Charles III of the United Kingdom Governor Iona Thomas Mayor Simon Young
 Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Non-self-governing dependency King Charles III of the United Kingdom Governor Nigel Phillips Chief Minister Julie Thomas
 Tokelau Parliamentary democracy King Charles III of New Zealand Administrator Don Higgins Head of Government Alapti Tavite
 Turks and Caicos Islands Parliamentary democracy King Charles III of the United Kingdom Governor Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam Premier Washington Misick

Leaders of dependent non-Commonwealth territories

State Government Head of state Head of territory Head of government
 Åland Gubernatorial democracy President Sauli Niinistö of Finland, represented by Governor Peter Lindbäck Premier Katrin Sjögren
 American Samoa Gubernatorial democracy President Joe Biden of the United States Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga
 Aruba Parliamentary democracy King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, represented by Governor Alfonso Boekhoudt Prime Minister Evelyn Wever-Croes
 Curaçao Parliamentary democracy King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, represented by Governor Lucille George-Wout Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas
 Faroe Islands Parliamentary democracy King Frederik X of Denmark, represented by High Commissioner Lene Moyell Johansen Prime Minister Mette Frederiksn
 French Polynesia Presidential democracy President Emmanuel Macron of France, represented by High Commissioner Éric Spitz President Moeai Brotherson
 Greenland Parliamentary democracy King Frederik X of Denmark, represented by High Commissioner Julie Præst Wilche Prime Minister Múte Bourup Egede
 Guam Gubernatorial democracy President Joe Biden of the United States Governor Lou Leon Guerrero
 New Caledonia Parliamentary democracy President Emmanuel Macron of France, represented by High Commissioner Louis Le Franc President of the Government Louis Mapou
 Northern Mariana Islands Gubernatorial democracy President Joe Biden of the United States Governor Arnold Palacios
 Puerto Rico Gubernatorial democracy President Joe Biden of the United States Governor Pedro Pierluisi
 Sint Maarten Parliamentary democracy King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, represented by Governor Ajamu Baly Prime Minister Luc Mecelina
 U.S. Virgin Islands Gubernatorial democracy President Joe Biden of the United States Governor Albert Bryan
 Wallis and Futuna Presidential democracy President Emmanuel Macron of France, represented by Administrator-Superior Blaise Gourtay President of the Territorial Assembly Munipoese Muliʻakaʻaka

See also

References

  1. ^ United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1514
  2. ^ Armstrong, H. W., and R. Read. 2000. "Comparing the Economic Performance of Dependent Territories and Sovereign Microstates". Economic Development and Cultural Change 48 (2). 285–306. doi:10.1086/452459.
  3. ^ a b Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Territories
  4. ^ a b Director of the Australian Antarctic Division.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Acting to 8 March 2022.
  7. ^ "Governor Rena Lalgie Arrives in Bermuda". Bernews. 14 December 2020. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  8. ^ McWhirter, Fiona; Johnston-Barnes, Owain (15 December 2020). "History made as new Governor is sworn in at closed event". The Royal Gazette (Bermuda). Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  9. ^ a b c Director of the Polar Department of the Norwegian Ministry of Justice and Public Security.
  10. ^ Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007, article 42.
  11. ^ "Acting BVI Premier Against Any Suspension of the Constitution". Loop Caribbean News. 29 April 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  12. ^ Previously from 2003 – 14 October 2011.
  13. ^ Since 21 February 2007, directly administered by the French minister of Overseas France.
  14. ^ The authority of the French minister of Overseas France on Clipperton Island is delegated to the High Commissioner of the Republic in French Polynesia
  15. ^ "Florence Jeanblanc-Risler nouvelle préfète des Taaf". Le Marin (in French). 6 October 2022.
  16. ^ "48 U.S. Code § 1422 - Governor and Lieutenant Governor; term of office; qualifications; powers and duties; annual report to Congress".
  17. ^ Interim to 6 December 2021.
  18. ^ Director of Program Palmyra of The Nature Conservancy.
  19. ^ The British high commissioner to New Zealand.
  20. ^ Chief Executive Officer of Antarctica New Zealand.
  21. ^ The prefect of Guadeloupe is also state representative in Saint-Barthelemy from 9 July 2007.
  22. ^ a b Delegated by the prefect of Guadeloupe
  23. ^ "Philip Kendall sworn-in as Tristan Administrator".
  24. ^ The prefect of Guadeloupe is also state representative in Saint-Martin from 9 July 2007.
  25. ^ Acting to 22 June 2021.
  26. ^ Since 3 October 1985, the governor of the Falkland Islands.
  27. ^ Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular Affairs.
  28. ^ Also General Counsel of the US Air Force.
  29. ^ Since 1 January 1995, Jan Mayen is administered by the governor of Nordland county.
  30. ^ Minister for Environment, Parks and Heritage of Tasmania.
  31. ^ Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Greek government.
  32. ^ The Civil Governor of the Monastic Republic of Mount Athos is appointed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Greek government.
  33. ^ Ecumenical Patriarchs of Constantinople.
  34. ^ Dean of the Holy Epistasis of the Monastic Republic of Mount Athos.
  35. ^ Jointly with the Deputy First Minister
  36. ^ a b "Time to build a better future for everyone – O'Neill and Little-Pengelly". The Executive Office. 14 March 2024. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  37. ^ Jointly with the First Minister
  38. ^ Previously chef commissaire from 4 August 2006 to 12 January 2011.
  39. ^ Previously Chief Executive from 24 October 2004 to 5 March 2010.