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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. 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. 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.
Current leaders of autonomous or insular regions
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
- Administrative division
- Colonial governors by year
- List of leaders of dependent territories in 2024
- List of current presidents of assembly
- List of current governors of Afghanistan
- List of current governors in Indonesia
- List of provincial governors in Argentina
- List of Brazil states governors
- List of current Canadian lieutenant governors and commissioners
- List of Ghanaian regional ministers
- List of current Indian governors, List of current Indian lieutenant governors and administrators & List of current Indian chief ministers
- List of governors of Japan
- List of leaders of Malaysian states
- List of Mexican state governors
- List of Nigerian state governors
- List of current Pakistani governors & List of current Pakistani chief ministers
- List of Palau states governors
- List of current Philippine provincial governors
- List of heads of federal subjects of Russia
- List of Spanish regional legislatures & governments
- List of state leaders by year
- List of Sudan states governors
- List of current United States governors
References
- United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1514
- 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.
- ^ Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Territories
- ^ Director of the Australian Antarctic Division.
- ^ Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
- ^ Acting to 8 March 2022.
- "Governor Rena Lalgie Arrives in Bermuda". Bernews. 14 December 2020. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
- 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.
- ^ Director of the Polar Department of the Norwegian Ministry of Justice and Public Security.
- Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007, article 42.
- "Acting BVI Premier Against Any Suspension of the Constitution". Loop Caribbean News. 29 April 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
- Previously from 2003 – 14 October 2011.
- Since 21 February 2007, directly administered by the French minister of Overseas France.
- The authority of the French minister of Overseas France on Clipperton Island is delegated to the High Commissioner of the Republic in French Polynesia
- "Florence Jeanblanc-Risler nouvelle préfète des Taaf". Le Marin (in French). 6 October 2022.
- "48 U.S. Code § 1422 - Governor and Lieutenant Governor; term of office; qualifications; powers and duties; annual report to Congress".
- Interim to 6 December 2021.
- Director of Program Palmyra of The Nature Conservancy.
- The British high commissioner to New Zealand.
- Chief Executive Officer of Antarctica New Zealand.
- The prefect of Guadeloupe is also state representative in Saint-Barthelemy from 9 July 2007.
- ^ Delegated by the prefect of Guadeloupe
- "Philip Kendall sworn-in as Tristan Administrator".
- The prefect of Guadeloupe is also state representative in Saint-Martin from 9 July 2007.
- Acting to 22 June 2021.
- Since 3 October 1985, the governor of the Falkland Islands.
- Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular Affairs.
- Also General Counsel of the US Air Force.
- Since 1 January 1995, Jan Mayen is administered by the governor of Nordland county.
- Minister for Environment, Parks and Heritage of Tasmania.
- Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Greek government.
- The Civil Governor of the Monastic Republic of Mount Athos is appointed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Greek government.
- Ecumenical Patriarchs of Constantinople.
- Dean of the Holy Epistasis of the Monastic Republic of Mount Athos.
- Jointly with the Deputy First Minister
- ^ "Time to build a better future for everyone – O'Neill and Little-Pengelly". The Executive Office. 14 March 2024. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
- Jointly with the First Minister
- Previously chef commissaire from 4 August 2006 to 12 January 2011.
- Previously Chief Executive from 24 October 2004 to 5 March 2010.
External links
| Leaders of dependent territories | |
|---|---|