2020 World Leaders: A Pronunciation Guide

This guide lists the names, titles, and pronunciations of a wide range of foreign leaders from around the world. This is not a comprehensive list; it particularly includes countries that are critically important to US national security and foreign policy.

The names and titles are from the CIA World Fact Book and recent media sources. Foreign leaders for each country are listed in descending order of potential engagement with US policymakers. Pronunciations are based primarily on Voice of America’s pronunciation guide. Upcoming election information has also been included for positions with scheduled elections.

Africa

Algeria

Head of State: President Abdelmadjid Tebboune @TebbouneAmadjid

 (ab-dahl-mah-JEED teh-BOON)

Since: December 12, 2019

Democratic Republic of Congo

Head of State: President Felix Tshisekedi

(fee-LIKS chee-seh-KEH-dee)

Since: January 25, 2019

Next Election: December 2023

Djibouti

Head of State: President Ismail Omar Guelleh @IsmailOguelleh

(HIHS-mah-ihl  OH-mahr  GEH-leh)

Since: May 8, 1999

Next Election: April 2021

Head of Government: Prime Minister Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed

(Ab-dool-kaw-der Kah-meel  moh-HAH-mehd)

Since: April 1, 2013

Appointed by the president

Egypt

Head of State: President Abdel Fattah el-sisi @AlsisiOfficial

(AHB-dehl FAH-tah ah-SEE-see)

Since: June 8, 2014

Next Election: March 2024

Head of Government: Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly

(mohs-tah-fah mad-BOOL-ee)

Since: June 14, 2018

Appointed by the president

Kenya

Head of State: President Uhuru Kenyatta

(oo-HOO-roo  kehn-YAH-tah)

Since: April 9, 2013

Next Election: August 2022

Libya¹

Prime Minister (Government of National Accord): Fayiz al-Saraj

(FAH-yehz al sahr-RAJ)

Since: March 30, 2016

Prime Minister (National Salvation Government): Khalifa al-Ghawil

(kah-LEE-fah al-GAH-weel)

Since: October 14, 2016

Field Marshal (Libyan National Army): Khalifa Haftar

(kah-LEE-fah HAHF-tar)

Since: March 2, 2015

Mali

Head of State: President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita

(EE-brah-hihm BOO-bah-kahr KAY-tah)

Since: September 4, 2013

Next Election: July 2023

Head of Government: Prime Minister Boubou Cisse

(BOO-BOO SEE-say)

Since: April 23, 2019

Appointed by the president

Morocco

Head of State: King Mohammed VI

(moh-HAH-mehd)

Since: July 22, 1999

Head of Government: Prime Minister Saad Eddine al-Othmani

(SAHD eh-DEEN ooth-MAH-nee)

Since: March 17, 2017

Appointed by the king

Niger

Head of State: President Mahamadou Issoufou @IssoufouMhm

(mah-hah-mah-DOO)

Since: April 7, 2011

Next Election: February 2021

Head of Government: Prime Minister Brigi Rafini

(BREE-ghee RAH-fee-nee)

Since: April 7, 2011

Appointed by the president

Nigeria

Head of State: President Muhammadu Buhari @MBuhari

(moo-hah-MAH-doo boo-HAH-ree)

Since: May 29, 2015

Next Election: February 2023

Somalia

Head of State: President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed @M_Farmaajo

(moh-HAH-mehd ahb-dah-LAH-hee moh-HAH-mehd)

Since: February 16, 2017

Next Election: February 2022

Head of Government: Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble @MohamedHRoble

(moh-HAH-mehd hoo-SAYN roW-BLAY)

Since: September 27, 2020

Appointed by the president

Tunisia

Head of State: President Kais Saied

(KAY-ees SIGH-eed)

Since: October 23, 2019

Next Election: 2024

Head of Government: Hichem Mechichi

(ee-SHEM meck-e-CHEE)

Since September 2, 2020

Appointed by the president

Rwanda

Head of State: President Paul Kagame @PaulKagame

(PAWL kah-GAH-meh)

Since: March 24, 2000

Next Election: August 2024

South Africa 

Head of State: President Cyril Ramaphosa @CyrilRamaphosa

(SIH-rehl rah-mah-POH-sah)

Since: February 15, 2018

Next Election: May 2024

South Sudan²

Head of State: President Salva Kiir Mayardit

(SAHL-vah KEER M-EYE-ahr-diht)

Since: July 23, 2016

Next Election: July 2021

First Vice President: Riek Machar

(ree-EHK mah-SHAHR)

Since: February 22, 2020

Appointed by the president

Sudan³

Chairman of the Sovereignty Council: Abdel Fattah al-Burhan

(AHB-dehl FAH-tah al-BOOR-han)

Since: August 20, 2019

Zimbabwe

Head of State: President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa @edmnangagwa

(EHM-ehr-sohn muh-nahn-GAHG-wah)

Since: November 24, 2017

Next Election: July 2023

Asia 

Afghanistan⁴

Head of State: President Ashraf Ghani @ashrafghani

(ahsh-RAHF gah-NEE)

Since: September 21, 2014

Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation:  Dr. Abdullah Abdullah @DrabdullahCE

(ahb-DUH-LAH ahb-DUH-LAH)

Since: September 29, 2014 (previously the Chief Executive Officer)

Appointed by the president in May 2020

Bangladesh

Head of State: President Abdul Hamid

(ahb-DUHL hah-MEED)

Since: April 24, 2013

Head of Government: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

(SHAYK hah-SEE-nah)

Since: January 6, 2009

Burma (Myanmar)

Head of Government: Acting President U Myint Swe

(Ooh MYE-unt sWEE)

Since: February 1, 2021

Promoted by Myanmar military ⁵

China

Head of State: President Xi Jinping

(SHEE JEEN-PEENG)

Since: November 15, 2012

Next Election: March 2023

Hong Kong⁶

Head of Government: Chief Executive Carrie Lam

(KAYE-ee LAM)

Since: July 1, 2017

Next Election: 2022

Head of State: President Xi Jinping

(SHEE JEEN-PEENG)

Since: November 15, 2012

Next Election: March 2023

India

Head of Government: Prime Minister Narendra Modi @narendramodi

(nah-REHN-drah MOH-DEE)

Since: May 26, 2014

Next Election: May 2024

Head of State: President Ram Nath Kovind @rashtrapatibhvn

(raum nath Koh-vihnd)

Since: July 25, 2017

Next Election: July 2022

Japan

Head of Government: Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga 

(yo-shee HEE-dei SHOO-guh)

Since: September 16, 2020

Next Election: October 22, 2021

Elected by Liberal Democratic Party Ministers

Head of State: Emperor Naruhito

(Nar-rooh-HE-tow)

Since: May 1, 2019

North Korea

Head of State: Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un

(KIHM JAWNG-UHN)

Since: December 30, 2011

Pakistan

Head of Government: Prime Minister Imran Khan @ImranKhanPTI

(ihm-RAHN KAHN)

Since: August 18, 2018

Next Election: October 12, 2023

Head of State: President Arif Alvi @ArifAlvi

(AH-rihf AL-vee)

Since: September 9, 2018

Appointed by the Electoral College

Philippines

Head of State: President Rodrigo Duterte

(roe - DREE - go doo - TARE - tay)

Since: June 30, 2016

Next Election: May 9, 2022

South Korea 

Head of State: President Moon Jae-in @moonriver365

(MOON JAAH IHN)

Since: May 10, 2017

Next Election: March 2022

Taiwan

Head of State: President Tsai Ing-wen @iingwen

((t)S-EYE EENG WUHN)

Since: May 20, 2016

Next Election: January 11, 2024

Australia/Oceana

Australia

Head of Government: Prime Minister Scott Morrison @ScottMorrisonMP

Since: August 24, 2018

Next Election: May 2022

Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II

Since: February 6, 1952

New Zealand

Head of Government: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern @jacindaardern

(Jah-sin-da Ar-durn)

Since: October 26, 2017

Next Election: January 13, 2024

Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II

Since: February 6, 1952

Europe

Denmark

Head of Government: Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen

(MAY-tah Fred-er-rik-son)

Since: June 27, 2019

Next Election: June 2023 (based on an ability to achieve majority support in parliament)

Head of State: Queen Margrethe II

(mahr-GREHT-eh)

Since: January 14, 1972

Estonia

Head of State: President Kersti Kaljulaid @KerstiKaljulaid

(Keer-stee Kal-YU-layd)

Since: October 10, 2016

Next Election: October 2021

France 

Head of Government: President Emmanuel Macron @EmmanuelMacron

(E-man-yoo-ell Ma-crohn)

Since: May 14, 2017

Next Election: April 2022

Head of State: Prime Minister Jean Castex

 (j-AHN KAST-ex)

Since: July 3, 2020

Appointed by the president

Georgia

Head of State: President Salome Zourabichvili @Zourabichvili_S

(SAH-loh-may zoo-rah-BEESH-vee-lee)

Since: December 16, 2018

Next Election: November 2024

Germany

Head of Government: Chancellor Angela Merkel

(ahn-GAY-lah M-AIR-kl)

Since: November 22, 2005

Next Election: October 2021

Head of State: Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier

(FRAHNK VAHL-tehr SHT-EYE-N-m-eye-her)

Since: March 19, 2017

Next Election: February 2022

Greece

Head of Government: Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis @kmitsotakis

(kee-ree-AH-kohss meet-soh-TAH-kees)

Since: July 8, 2019

Head of State: President Katerina Sakellaropoulou @PresidencyGR

(kah-tayr-EEN-uh SAH-keh-lar-oh-poo-loh)

Since: March 13, 2020

Next Election: February 2025

Holy See (Vatican City) 

Head of State (Supreme Pontiff): Pope Francis @Pontifex

Since: March 13, 2013

Hungary

Head of Government: Prime Minister Viktor Orban

(VIHK-tohr OHR-bahn)

Since: May 29, 2010

Next Election: April 2022

Head of State: President Janos Ader

(YAH-noosh AHD-air)

Since: May 10, 2012

Next Election: March 2022

Ireland 

Head of Government: Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Micheál Martin

(MAI-kuhl MAAR-tn)

Since: June 27, 2020

Elected by Dáil Éireann

Head of State: President Michael Daniel Higgins

Since: September 11, 2011

Next Election: October 2025

Italy

Head of Government: Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte @GiuseppeConteIT

(Jee-u-zeh-peh Kon-te)

Since: June 1, 2018

Next Election: May 2022

Head of State: President Sergio Mattarella

(ser-gih-oh mat-tah-rel-lah)

Since: February 3, 2015

Next Election: January 2022

Latvia

Head of State: President Egils Levits @valstsgriba

(EHG-eehls LEH-vitss)

Since: July 8, 2019

Next Election: 2023

Head of Government: Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins @krisjaniskarins

(KRIS-chn KOOR-inss)

Since: January 23, 2019

Next Election: October 2022

Lithuania 

Head of State: President Gitanas Nauseda

(gee-TAH-nahss NOH-seh-duh)

Since: July 12, 2019

Next Election: May 2024

Head of Government: Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė  @IngridaSimonyte

(in-GRIDA sh-MO-NEE-tay)

Since: November 25, 2020

Next Election: October 6, 2024

Poland

Head of State: President Andrzej Duda

(awn-jay doo-duh)

Since: August 6, 2015

Next Election: 2025

Head of Government: Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki @MorawieckiM

(Mah-tey-oosh More-ah-vyets-kee)

Since: December 11, 2017

Russia

Head of State: President Vladimir Putin

(vlah-DEE-meer POO-tihn)

Since: May 7, 2012

Next Election: 2036⁷

Head of Government: Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin

(mihk-EYE-el mee-SHOO-stihn)

Since: January 16, 2020

Spain

Head of Government: President Pedro Sanchez Perez-Castejon @sanchezcastejon

(Pey-dro San-chez)

Since: June 2, 2018

Next Election: November 2023

Head of State: King Felipe VI

(fay-LEE-pay)

Since: June 19, 2014

Ukraine

Head of State: President Volodymry Zelensky @ZelenskyyUa

(VOH-loh-dee-meer zeh-LEHN-skee)

Since: March 4, 2020

Next Election: March 2024

Head of Government: Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal

(DEH-niss SHMOOY-hahl)

Since: March 4, 2020

United Kingdom 

Head of Government: Prime Minister Boris Johnson @BorisJohnson

Since: July 24, 2019

Next Election: May 2024

Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II

Since: February 6, 1952

Middle East 

Bahrain

Head of State: King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa

(HAH-mahd bihn EE-sah al-kah-LEE-fah)

Since: March 6, 1969

Head of Government: Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa @HRH_Khalifa

(EE-sah bihn  SAL-mahn  al kah-LEE-fah)

Since: January 19, 1969

Iran

Head of Government: President Hasan Fereidun Rohani @HassanRouhani

(hah-SAHN roh-hah-NEE)

Since: August 3, 2013

Next Election: June 2021

Head of State: Supreme Leader (Ayatollah) Ali Hoseini-Khamenei

(eye-ah-toh-LAH  ah-LEE  hah-mehn-a-EE)

Since: June 4, 1989

Iraq

Head of Government: Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi @MAKadhimi

(MOO-stah-fah ahl-KAH-deh-mee)

Since: April 9, 2020

Next Election: October 2022

Head of State: President Barham Salih @BarhamSalih

(BAHR-hahm SAH-leh)

Since: October 2, 2018

Next Election: October 2022

Israel

Head of State: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu @netanyahu

(BEHN-juh-min neht-an-YAH-hoo)

Since: March 31, 2009

Next Election: 2021⁸

Head of Government: President Reuben Rivlin @PresidentRuvi

(ROO-vihn RIHV-lihn)

Since: July 24, 2014

Next Election: 2021

Jordan

Head of State: King Abdullah II @KingAbdullahII

(ahb-DUHL-lah)

Since: February 7, 1999

Head of Government: Prime Minister Bisher Al-Khasawneh @BisherKhasawneh

(BISH-er al-KAH-sahn-e)

Since: October 12, 2020

Appointed by the King

Kuwait

Head of State: Amir Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah

(nuh-WAF al-ah-mud al-JAH-ber al-sah-BAH)

Since: September 30, 2020

Head of Government: Prime Minister Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah

(sah-BAH al- KAH-lehd ah-sah-BAH)

Since: November 19, 2019

Lebanon

Head of Government: Prime Minister Hassan Diab⁹

(HAHSS-uhn dee-AHB)

Since: January 21, 2020

Appointed by the president

Head of State: President Michel Aoun @General_Aoun

(MEE-shehl ah-OON)

Since: October 31, 2016

Next Election: April 2022

Qatar

Head of State: Amir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani @TamimBinHamad

(TAH-MEEM BIHN HAH-mahd al TAH-nee)

Since: June 25, 2013

Saudi Arabia

Head of State: King Salaman bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud @KingSalman

(SAHL-mun BIN AH-bihd al ah-ZEES al-sah-OOD)

Since: January 23, 2015

Designated Successor: Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud

(moh-HAH-mehd BIN SAHL-mun)

Since: June 21, 2017

Syria 

Head of State: President Bashar al-Assad

(bah-SHAHR ahl AH-sahd)

Since: July 17, 2000

Turkey 

Head of State: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan¹⁰ @RTErdogan

(eh-JEHP t-eye-YIHP ERR-doh-ahn)

Since: August 28, 2014

Next Election: June 2023

United Arab Emirates 

Head of State: President Khalida bin Zayid Al Nuhayyan

(kah-LEE-fah bihn ZAH-yehd al-nah-hah-YAHN)

Since: November 3, 2004

Head of Government: Prime Minister Vice President Muhammad Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum @HHShkMohd

(muh-HAH-mehd bihn rah-SHEED al mahk-TOOM)

Since: January 5, 2006

West Bank¹¹

President Mahmoud Abbas¹²

(mah-MOOD ah-BAHS)

Since: January 15, 2005

Yemen

Head of State: President Abd Rabuh Mansur Hadi @HadiPresident

(AH-bd RAH-boh mahn-SOOR HAD-ee)

Since: February 27, 2012

North America / Central America 

Canada

Head of Government: Prime Minister Justin Pierre James Trudeau @JustinTrudeau

(Justin TROO-doh)

Since: November 4, 2015

Next Election: October 16, 2023

Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II

Since: February 6, 1952

Cuba

Head of the Communist Party of Cuba: First Secretary Raul Castro

(Rah-ool KASS-troh)

Since: April 19, 2018

Next Election: March 2023

Head of State: President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez @DiazCanelB

(mee-GAYL DEE-ahss Kah-nel)

Since: April 19, 2018

Appointed by the National Assembly

El Salvador

Head of State: President Nayib Bukele @nayibbukele

(nay-YEEB BOO-kay-lay)

Since: June 1, 2019

Next Election: February 2024

Guatemala

Head of State: President Alejandro Giammattei @DrGiammattei

(a-LAH-HAN-dro gee-AH-MAH-tay)

Since: January 14, 2020

Next Election: June 2023

Haiti

Head of State: President Jovenel Moise

(JOH-veh-nehl MOYS)

Since: February 7, 2017

Head of Government: Prime Minister Jospeh Jouthe @moisejovenel

(ZHOH-sehf JOWTH)

Since: March 4, 2020

Honduras

Head of State: President Juan Orlando Hernandez @JuanOrlandoH

(HWAHN ohr-LAHN-doh air-NAHN-dehs)

Since: January 27, 2014

Next Election: November 2021

Mexico

Head of State: President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador @lopezobrador_

(ahn-DRAYS mahn-WEHL LOH-pehss oh-brah-DOOR)

Since: December 1, 2018

Next Election: July 2024

Nicaragua

Head of State: President Daniel Ortega 

(dahn-YEHL ohr-TAY-gah)

Since: February 7, 1999

Next Election: November 2021

South America 

Argentina

Head of State: President Alberto Fernández @alferdez

(ahl-BEHR-toh fehr-NAHN-dess)

Since: December 10, 2019

Next Election: October 2023

Bolivia

Head of State: President Luis Arce @LuchoXBolivia

(loo-EES AAR-sei)

Since: November 8, 2020

Next Election: Postponed due to COVID-19

Brazil

Head of State: President Jair Messias Bolsonaro

(jY-Ear Meh-CE-ASS  Bol-SOO-naro)

Since: January 1, 2019

Next Election: October 2022

Chile

Head of State: President Sebastian Pinera @sebastianpinera

(seh-bahst-YEHN peen-YEH-rah)

Since: March 11, 2018

Next Election: November 2021

Colombia

Head of State: President Ivan Duque Marquez @IvanDuque

(EYE-vun DOO-keh maar-kehz)

Since: August 7, 2018

Next Election: May 2022

Peru

Head of State: President Francisco Sagasti @FSagasti

(Fran-cis-koh Sah-gahs-t)

Since: November 17, 2020

Next Election: April 2021

Venezuela

Head of State (Recognized as such by the United States and others): Interim President Juan Guaido¹³ @jguaido

(Juan gwy-DOH)

Since: January 10, 2019

Next Election: May 2024¹⁴

Head of State and Government: President Nicolas Maduro @NicolasMaduro

(nee-koh-LAHS mah-DOO-roh)

Since: April 19, 2013

Next Election: May 2024¹⁵

Multilateral Organizations

International Monetary Fund

Managing Director: Kristalina Georgieva @KGeorgieva

(kriss-tuh-LEE-nuh Gor-ghee-ava)

Since: September 15, 2019

Next Election: 2024

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

Secretary General: Jens Stoltenberg @jensstoltenberg

(YEHNS STOHL-tehn-behrk)

Since: October 1, 2014

United Nations

Secretary General: António Guterres

(ahn-TOHN-yoo goo-TEH-rehsh)

Since: January 1, 2017

Next Election: March 2022

World Bank

President: David Malpass @DavidMalpassWBG

(David Mal-pass)

Since: April 9, 2019

Next Appointment: February 2024

World Health Organization

Director-General: Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus @DrTedros

(TED-rohs AD-ih-nom GEH-bree-AY-suhs)

Since: July 1, 2017

Next Appointment: July 2022