List of state leaders in 1956

This is a list of heads of state, government leaders, and other rulers in the year 1956.

Africa

• Egypt
  • President - Gamal Abdel Nasser, President of Egypt (1954–1970)
  • Prime Minister - Gamal Abdel Nasser, Prime Minister of Egypt (1954–1962)
• Ethiopia
  • Monarch - Haile Selassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia (1930–1974)
  • Prime Minister - Makonnen Endelkachew, Prime Minister of Ethiopia (1942–1957)
• Liberia
  • President - William Tubman, President of Liberia (1944–1971)
• Libya
  • Monarch - Idris, King of Libya (1951–1969)
  • Prime Minister - Mustafa Ben Halim, Prime Minister of Libya (1954–1957)
• Morocco
  • French protectorate of Morocco gained independence on 2 March 1956, Spanish Morocco joined it on 7 April 1956
  • French Resident-General - André Dubois, Resident-General of French Morocco (1955–1956)
  • Spanish High Commissioner - Rafael García Valiño, High Commissioner of Spanish Morocco (1951–1956)
  • Monarch - Mohammed V, Sultan of Morocco (1955–1961)
  • Prime Minister - Mbarek Bekkay, President of the Council of Ministers of Morocco (1955–1958)
• South Africa
  • Monarch - Elizabeth II, Queen of South Africa (1952–1961)
  • Governor-General - Ernest George Jansen, Governor-General of South Africa (1951–1959)
  • Prime Minister - Johannes Gerhardus Strijdom, Prime Minister of South Africa (1954–1958)
• Sudan
  • Anglo-Egyptian Sudan gained independence on 1 January 1956
  • Head of State - Sovereignty Council, Head of State of Sudan (1956–1958)
  • Prime Minister -
    1. Ismail al-Azhari, Chief Minister of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan (1954–1956)
    2. Abdallah Khalil, Prime Minister of Sudan (1956–1958)
• Tunisia
  • the French protectorate of Tunisia gained independence on 20 March 1956
  • High Commissioner - Roger Seydoux, High Commissioner of Tunisia (1955–1956)
  • Monarch - Muhammad VIII al-Amin, King of Tunisia (1943–1957)
  • Prime Minister -
    1. Tahar Ben Ammar, Prime Minister of Tunis (1954–1956)
    2. Habib Bourguiba, Prime Minister of Tunisia (1956–1957)

Asia

• Afghanistan
  • Monarch - Mohammed Zahir Shah, King of Afghanistan (1933–1973)
  • Prime Minister - Mohammed Daoud Khan, Prime Minister of Afghanistan (1953–1963)
• Bhutan
  • Monarch - Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, King of Bhutan (1952–1972)
  • Prime Minister - Jigme Palden Dorji, Prime Minister of Bhutan (1952–1964)
• Burma
  • President - Ba U, President of Burma (1952–1957)
  • Prime Minister -
    1. U Nu, Prime Minister of Burma (1948–1956)
    2. Ba Swe, Prime Minister of Burma (1956–1957)
• Cambodia
  • Monarch - Norodom Suramarit, King of Cambodia (1955–1960)
  • Prime Minister -
    1. Prince Norodom Sihanouk, Prime Minister of Cambodia (1955–1956)
    2. Oum Chheang Sun, Prime Minister of Cambodia (1956)
    3. Prince Norodom Sihanouk, Prime Minister of Cambodia (1956)
    4. Khim Tit, Prime Minister of Cambodia (1956)
    5. Prince Norodom Sihanouk, Prime Minister of Cambodia (1956)
    6. Sam Yun, Prime Minister of Cambodia (1956–1957)
• Ceylon
  • Monarch - Elizabeth II, Queen of Ceylon (1952–1972)
  • Governor-General - Sir Oliver Ernest Goonetilleke, Governor-General of Ceylon (1954–1962)
  • Prime Minister -
    1. Sir John Kotelawala, Prime Minister of Ceylon (1953–1956)
    2. S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka (1956–1959)
• China (People's Republic of China)
  • Communist Party Leader - Mao Zedong, Chairman of the Communist Party of China (1935–1976)
  • Head of State - Mao Zedong, Chairman of China (1949–1959)
  • Premier - Zhou Enlai, Premier of the State Council of China (1949–1976)
• India
  • President - Rajendra Prasad, President of India (1950–1962)
  • Prime Minister - Jawaharlal Nehru, Prime Minister of India (1947–1964)
• Indonesia
  • President - Sukarno, President of Indonesia (1945–1967)
  • Prime Minister -
    1. Burhanuddin Harahap, Prime Minister of Indonesia (1955–1956)
    2. Ali Sastroamidjojo, Prime Minister of Indonesia (1956–1957)
  • Islamic State of Indonesia (unrecognized secessionist state)
    • Leader - Sekarmadji Maridjan Kartosuwirjo, Imam of the Islamic State of Indonesia (1949–1962)
• Iran
  • Monarch - Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Shah of Iran (1941–1979)
  • Prime Minister - Hossein Ala', Prime Minister of Iran (1955–1957)
• Iraq
  • Monarch - Faisal II, King of Iraq (1939–1958)
  • Prime Minister - Nuri as-Said, Prime Minister of Iraq (1954–1957)
• Israel
  • President - Yitzhak Ben-Zvi, President of Israel (1952–1963)
  • Prime Minister - David Ben-Gurion, Prime Minister of Israel (1955–1963)
• Japan
  • Monarch - Hirohito, Emperor of Japan (1926–1989)
  • Prime Minister -
    1. Ichirō Hatoyama, Prime Minister of Japan (1954–1956)
    2. Tanzan Ishibashi, Prime Minister of Japan (1956–1957)
• Jordan -
  • Monarch - Hussein, King of Jordan (1952–1999)
  • Prime Minister -
    1. Ibrahim Hashem, Prime Minister of Jordan (1955–1956)
    2. Samir al-Rifai, Prime Minister of Jordan (1956)
    3. Sa`id al-Mufti, Prime Minister of Jordan (1956)
    4. Ibrahim Hashem, Prime Minister of Jordan (1956)
    5. Sulayman al-Nabulsi, Prime Minister of Jordan (1956–1957)
• North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea)
  • Communist Party Leader - Kim Il-sung, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Korean Workers' Party (1949–1994)
  • Head of State - Kim Tu-bong, Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of North Korea (1947–1957)
  • Prime Minister - Kim Il-sung, Prime Minister of the Cabinet of North Korea (1946–1972)
• South Korea (Republic of Korea)
  • President - Syngman Rhee, President of South Korea (1948–1960)
• Laos
  • Monarch - Sisavang Vong, King of Laos (1946–1959)
  • Prime Minister -
    1. Katay Don Sasorith, Prime Minister of Laos (1954–1956)
    2. Prince Souvanna Phouma, Prime Minister of Laos (1956–1958)
• Lebanon
  • President - Camille Chamoun, President of Lebanon (1952–1958)
  • Prime Minister -
    1. Rashid Karami, Prime Minister of Lebanon (1955–1956)
    2. Abdallah El-Yafi, Prime Minister of Lebanon (1956)
    3. Sami as-Solh, Prime Minister of Lebanon (1956–1958)
• Mongolia
  • Communist Party Leader - Dashiin Damba, First secretary of the Central Committee of the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (1954–1958)
  • Head of State - Jamsrangiin Sambuu, Chairman of the Presidium of the State Great Hural of Mongolia (1954–1972)
  • Premier - Yumjaagiin Tsedenbal, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Mongolia (1952–1974)
• Muscat and Oman
  • Monarch - Said Bin Taimur, Sultan of Muscat and Oman (1932–1970)
• Nepal
  • Monarch - Mahendra, King of Nepal (1955–1972)
  • Prime Minister -
    1. Mahendra, Prime Minister of Nepal (1955–1956)
    2. Tanka Prasad Acharya, Prime Minister of Nepal (1956–1957)
• Pakistan
  • the Dominion of Pakistan was superseded by the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on 23 March 1956
  • Monarch - Elizabeth II, Queen of Pakistan (1952–1956)
  • Governor-General - Iskander Mirza, Governor-General of Pakistan (1955–1956)
  • President - Iskander Mirza, President of Pakistan (1956–1958)
  • Prime Minister -
    1. Chaudhry Muhammad Ali, Prime Minister of Pakistan (1955–1956)
    2. Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, Prime Minister of Pakistan (1956–1957)
• Philippines
  • President - Ramon Magsaysay, President of the Philippines (1953–1957)
• Saudi Arabia
  • Monarch - Saud, King of Saudi Arabia (1953–1964)
  • Prime Minister - Crown Prince Faisal, Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia (1954–1960)
• Syria
  • President - Shukri al-Quwatli, President of Syria (1955–1958)
  • Prime Minister -
    1. Said al-Ghazzi, Prime Minister of Syria (1955–1956)
    2. Sabri al-Assali, Prime Minister of Syria (1956–1958)
• Taiwan (Republic of China)
  • President - Chiang Kai-Shek, President of Taiwan (1950–1975)
  • Premier - Yu Hung-Chun, President of the Executive Yuan of Taiwan (1954–1958)
• Thailand
  • Monarch - Bhumibol Adulyadej, King of Thailand (1946–present)
  • Regent - Queen Sirikit, Regent of Thailand (1956)
  • Prime Minister - Plaek Phibunsongkhram, Prime Minister of Thailand (1948–1957)
• Turkey
  • President - Celâl Bayar, President of Turkey (1950–1960)
  • Prime Minister - Adnan Menderes, Prime Minister of Turkey (1950–1960)
• North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam)
  • Communist Party Leader -
    1. Trường Chinh, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (1941–1956)
    2. Hồ Chí Minh, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (1956–1960)
  • President - Hồ Chí Minh, President of North Vietnam (1945–1969)
  • Premier - Phạm Văn Đồng, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of North Vietnam (1955–1987)
• South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam)
  • President - Ngô Đình Diệm, President of South Vietnam (1955–1963)
• Yemen
  • Monarch - Ahmad bin Yahya, King of Yemen (1955–1962)

Europe

• Albania
  • Communist Party Leader - Enver Hoxha, First Secretary of the Albanian Party of Labor (1944–1985)
  • Head of State - Haxhi Lleshi, Chairman of the Presidium of the People's Assembly of Albania (1953–1982)
  • Premier - Mehmet Shehu, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Albania (1954–1981)
• Andorra
  • Monarchs -
    • French Co-Prince - René Coty, French Co-Prince of Andorra (1954–1959)
      • Co-Prince's Representative -
        1. Guy Henri Victor Menant (1952–1956)
        2. Yves Michel (1956–1958)
    • Episcopal Co-Prince - Ramon Iglesias i Navarri, Episcopal Co-Prince of Andorra (1943–1969)
      • Co-Prince's Representative - Jaume Sansa Nequí (1937–1972)
  • First Syndic - Francesc Cairat Freixes, First Syndic of Andorra (1937–1960)
• Austria
  • President - Theodor Körner, Federal President of Austria (1951–1957)
  • Chancellor - Julius Raab, Federal Chancellor of Austria (1953–1961)
• Belgium
  • Monarch - Baudouin, King of the Belgians (1951–1993)
  • Prime Minister - Achille Van Acker, Prime Minister of Belgium (1954–1958)
• Bulgaria
  • Communist Party Leader - Todor Zhivkov, General Secretary of the Bulgarian Communist Party (1954–1989)
  • Head of State - Georgi Damyanov, Chairman of the Presidium of the National Assembly of Bulgaria (1950–1958)
  • Premier -
    1. Vulko Chervenkov, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bulgaria (1950–1956)
    2. Anton Yugov, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bulgaria (1956–1962)
• Czechoslovakia
  • Communist Party Leader - Antonín Novotný, First Secretary of the Communisty Party of Czechoslovakia (1953–1968)
  • President - Antonín Zápotocký, President of Czechoslovakia (1953–1957)
  • Prime Minister - Viliam Široký, Prime Minister of Czechoslovakia (1953–1963)
• Denmark
  • Monarch - Frederick IX, King of Denmark (1947–1972)
  • Prime Minister - H. C. Hansen, Prime Minister of Denmark (1955–1960)
• Finland
  • President -
    1. Juho Kusti Paasikivi, President of Finland (1946–1956)
    2. Urho Kekkonen, President of Finland (1956–1982)
  • Prime Minister -
    1. Urho Kekkonen, Prime Minister of Finland (1954–1956)
    2. Karl-August Fagerholm, Prime Minister of Finland (1956–1957)
• France
  • President - René Coty, President of France (1954–1959)
  • Prime Minister -
    1. Edgar Faure, President of the Council of Ministers of France (1955–1956)
    2. Guy Mollet, President of the Council of Ministers of France (1956–1957)
• East Germany (German Democratic Republic)
  • Communist Party Leader - Walter Ulbricht, First Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (1950–1971)
  • President - Wilhelm Pieck, President of East Germany (1949–1960)
  • Premier - Otto Grotewohl, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of East Germany (1949–1964)
• West Germany (Federal Republic of Germany)
  • President - Theodor Heuss, Federal President of West Germany (1949–1959)
  • Chancellor - Konrad Adenauer, Federal Chancellor of West Germany (1949–1963)
  • West Berlin (Western Allies-occupied free city)
    • Governing Mayor - Otto Suhr, Governing Mayor of Berlin (1955–1957)
• Greece
  • Monarch - Paul, King of the Hellenes (1947–1964)
  • Prime Minister - Konstantinos Karamanlis, President of the Ministerial Council of Greece (1955–1958)
• Hungary
  • Communist Party Leader -
    1. Mátyás Rákosi, First Secretary of the Hungarian Workers' Party (1945–1956)
    2. Ernő Gerő, First Secretary of the Hungarian Workers' Party (1956)
    3. János Kádár, First Secretary of the Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party (1956–1988)
  • Head of State - István Dobi, Chairman of the Presidential Council of Hungary (1952–1967)
  • Premier -
    1. András Hegedüs, President of the Council of Ministers of Hungary (1955–1956)
    2. Imre Nagy, President of the Council of Ministers of Hungary (1956)
    3. János Kádár, President of the Revolutionary Workers' and Peasants' Government of Hungary (1956–1958)
• Iceland
  • President - Ásgeir Ásgeirsson, President of Iceland (1952–1968)
  • Prime Minister -
    1. Ólafur Thors, Prime Minister of Iceland (1953–1956)
    2. Hermann Jónasson, Prime Minister of Iceland (1956–1958)
• Ireland
  • President - Seán T. O'Kelly, President of Ireland (1945–1959)
  • Prime Minister - John A. Costello, Taoiseach of Ireland (1954–1957)
• Italy
  • President - Giovanni Gronchi, President of Italy (1955–1962)
  • Prime Minister - Antonio Segni, President of the Council of Ministers of Italy (1955–1957)
• Liechtenstein
  • Monarch - Franz Joseph II, Prince of Liechtenstein (1938–1989)
  • Prime Minister - Alexander Frick, Head of Government of Liechtenstein (1945–1962)
• Luxembourg
  • Monarch - Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg (1919–1964)
  • Prime Minister - Joseph Bech, President of the Government of Luxembourg (1953–1958)
• Monaco
  • Monarch - Rainier III, Prince of Monaco (1949–2005)
  • Head of Government - Henry Soum, Minister of State of Monaco (1953–1959)
• Kingdom of the Netherlands
  • Monarch - Juliana, Queen of the Netherlands (1948–1980)
  • Netherlands (constituent country)
    • Prime Minister - Willem Drees, Prime Minister of the Netherlands (1948–1958)
  • Netherlands Antilles (constituent country)
    • Governor -
      1. Teun Struycken, Governor of the Netherlands Antilles (1951–1956)
      2. Frans E.J. van der Valk, Acting Governor of the Netherlands Antilles (1956–1957)
    • Prime Minister - Efraïn Jonckheer, Prime Minister of the Netherlands Antilles (1954–1968)
  • Suriname (constituent country)
    • Governor-General -
      1. Jan Klaasesz, Governor-General of Suriname (1949–1956)
      2. Jan van Tilburg, Governor-General of Suriname (1956–1963)
    • Prime Minister - Johan Ferrier, Prime Minister of Suriname (1955–1958)
• Norway
  • Monarch - Haakon VII, King of Norway (1905–1957)
  • Regent - Crown Prince Olav, Regent of Norway (1955–1957)
  • Prime Minister - Einar Gerhardsen, Prime Minister of Norway (1955–1963)
• Poland
  • Communist Party Leader -
    1. Bolesław Bierut, First Secretary of the Central Committee of Polish United Workers' Party (1948–1956)
    2. Edward Ochab, First Secretary of the Central Committee of Polish United Workers' Party (1956)
    3. Władysław Gomułka, First Secretary of the Central Committee of Polish United Workers' Party (1956–1970)
  • Head of State - Aleksander Zawadzki, Chairman of the Council of State of Poland (1952–1964)
  • Premier - Józef Cyrankiewicz, President of the Council of Ministers of Poland (1954–1970)
• Portugal
  • President - Francisco Craveiro Lopes, President of Portugal (1951–1958)
  • Premier - António de Oliveira Salazar, President of the Council of Ministers of Portugal (1932–1968)
• Romania
  • Communist Party Leader - Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej, First Secretary of the Romanian Workers' Party (1955–1965)
  • Head of State - Petru Groza, Chairman of the Presidium of the Great National Assembly of Romania (1952–1958)
  • Premier - Chivu Stoica, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Romania (1955–1961)
• San Marino
  • Captains Regent -
    1. Primo Bugli and Giuseppe Maiani, Captains Regent of San Marino (1955–1956)
    2. Mario Nanni and Enrico Andreoli, Captains Regent of San Marino (1956)
    3. Mariano Ceccoli and Eugenio Bernardini, Captains Regent of San Marino (1956–1957)
• Soviet Union
  • Communist Party Leader - Nikita Khrushchev, First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (1953–1964)
  • Head of State - Kliment Voroshilov, Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union (1953–1960)
  • Premier - Nikolai Bulganin, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union (1955–1958)
• Spain
  • Head of State - Francisco Franco, Head of State of Spain (1936–1975)
  • Prime Minister - Francisco Franco, President of the Government of Spain (1938–1973)
• Sweden
  • Monarch - Gustaf VI Adolf, King of Sweden (1950–1973)
  • Prime Minister - Tage Erlander, Prime Minister of Sweden (1946–1969)
• Switzerland
  • Federal Council:

    Philipp Etter (1934–1959), Max Petitpierre (1944–1961), Markus Feldmann (1951–1958, President), Hans Streuli (1953–1959), Paul Chaudet (1954–1966), Giuseppe Lepori (1954–1959), Thomas Holenstein (1955–1959)

• United Kingdom
  • Monarch - Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom (1952–present)
  • Prime Minister - Sir Anthony Eden, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1955–1957)
• Vatican City
  • Monarch - Pope Pius XII, Sovereign of Vatican City (1939–1958)
  • President of the Governorate - Cardinal Nicola Canali, President of the Governorate of Vatican City (1939–1961)
  • Holy See (sui generis subject of public international law)
    • Secretary of State - Domenico Tardini, Pro-Secretary of State (1952–1961)
• Yugoslavia
  • Communist Party leader - Josip Broz Tito, General Secretary of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia (1936–1980)
  • President - Josip Broz Tito, President of Yugoslavia (1953–1980)
  • Premier - Josip Broz Tito, Chairman of the Federal Executive Council of Yugoslavia (1943–1963)

North America

• Canada
  • Monarch - Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada (1952–present)
  • Governor General - Vincent Massey, Governor General of Canada (1952–1959)
  • Prime Minister - Louis St. Laurent, Prime Minister of Canada (1948–1957)
• Costa Rica
  • President - José Figueres Ferrer, President of Costa Rica (1953–1958)
• Cuba
  • President - Fulgencio Batista, President of Cuba (1952–1959)
  • Prime Minister - Jorge García Montes, Prime Minister of Cuba (1955–1957)
• Dominican Republic
  • De facto Head of State - Rafael Trujillo, de facto ruler of the Dominican Republic (1930–1961)
  • President - Héctor Trujillo, President of the Dominican Republic (1952–1960)
• El Salvador
  • President -
    1. Óscar Osorio, President of El Salvador (1950–1956)
    2. José María Lemus, President of El Salvador (1956–1960)
• Guatemala
  • President - Carlos Castillo Armas, President of Guatemala (1954–1957)
• Haiti
  • President -
    1. Paul Magloire, President of Haiti (1950–1956)
    2. Joseph Nemours Pierre-Louis, Provisional President of Haiti (1956–1957)
• Honduras
  • President -
    1. Julio Lozano Díaz, Supreme Head of State of Honduras (1954–1956)
    2. Military Government Council, President of Honduras (1956–1957)
• Mexico
  • President - Adolfo Ruiz Cortines, President of Mexico (1952–1958)
• Nicaragua
  • President -
    1. Anastasio Somoza García, President of Nicaragua (1950–1956)
    2. Luis Somoza Debayle, President of Nicaragua (1956–1963)
• Panama
  • President -
    1. Ricardo Arias, President of Panama (1955–1956)
    2. Ernesto de la Guardia, President of Panama (1956–1960)
• United States of America
  • President - Dwight D. Eisenhower, President of the United States (1953–1961)

Oceania

• Australia
  • Monarch - Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia (1952–present)
  • Governor-General - Sir William Slim, Governor-General of Australia (1953–1960)
  • Prime Minister - Robert Menzies, Prime Minister of Australia (1949–1966)
• New Zealand
  • Monarch - Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand (1952–present)
  • Governor-General - Sir Willoughby Norrie, Governor-General of New Zealand (1952–1957)
  • Prime Minister - Sidney Holland, Prime Minister of New Zealand (1949–1957)

South America

• Argentina
  • President - Pedro Eugenio Aramburu, President of Argentina (1955–1958)
• Bolivia
  • President -
    1. Víctor Paz Estenssoro, President of Bolivia (1952–1956)
    2. Hernán Siles Zuazo, President of Bolivia (1956–1960)
• Brazil
  • President -
    1. Nereu Ramos, Acting President of Brazil (1955–1956)
    2. Juscelino Kubitschek, President of Brazil (1956–1961)
• Chile
  • President - Carlos Ibáñez del Campo, President of Chile (1952–1958)
• Colombia
  • President - Gustavo Rojas Pinilla, President of Colombia (1953–1957)
• Ecuador
  • President -
    1. José María Velasco Ibarra, President of Ecuador (1952–1956)
    2. Camilo Ponce Enríquez, President of Ecuador (1956–1960)
• Paraguay
  • President - Alfredo Stroessner, President of Paraguay (1954–1989)
• Peru
  • President -
    1. Manuel A. Odría, President of Peru (1950–1956)
    2. Manuel Prado Ugarteche, President of Peru (1956–1962)
  • Prime Minister -
    1. Roque Augusto Saldías Maninat, President of the Council of Ministers of Peru (1954–1956)
    2. Manuel Cisneros Sánchez, President of the Council of Ministers of Peru (1956–1958)
• Uruguay
  • Head of State -
    1. Luis Batlle Berres, President of the National Council of Government of Uruguay (1955–1956)
    2. Alberto Fermín Zubiría, President of the National Council of Government of Uruguay (1956–1957)
• Venezuela
  • President - Marcos Pérez Jiménez, President of Venezuela (1952–1958)

References

• Rulers