Can You Identify These European Heads of State?

By: Tasha Moore
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Can You Identify These European Heads of State?
Image: Wiki Commons by Number 10

About This Quiz

Can you recognize the faces of today's top European leaders? Allow our challenge to inventory your heads-of-state ID skills on this quiz. Identifying the names of lesser-known regions of Europe is a great first step to scoring high!

The dissolution of the Soviet Union in the early 20th century created voids of leadership throughout Europe, mainly in Eastern Europe. Different political parties continue to vie for their nations' top government spots with hopes of steering their people along the right post-Communist paths. Luminaries have promoted conservative nationalist rule in many parts of the continent, and judging by the current roster of select European leaders, many constituents agree. New leaders, eager to advance their societies, cite border security and economic issues as major reasons certain countries have suffered stagnation. A quick survey of political campaigns of some European leaders would pattern similar themes.

Our world leaders test also highlights a few of the more progressive states that have elected liberal-leaning statesmen and women. Estonia, for example, elected its first female president in 2016, and Iceland's prime minister was born in 1976. And of course, we don't fail to mention the monarchs of Europe, many of whom have ruled their respective countries in virtual silence for hundreds of years.

Mosey on through to see how many European officials you already know and discover the ones you don't!


Vladimir Putin
Wiki Commons by Russian Presidential Press and Information Office
Name the Russian leader with a huge love for animals.
Ilir Meta
Vladimir Putin
Alexander Lukashenko
Abdul Hamid
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

President of Russia Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin is fond of animals. His elderly dog, Koni, has accompanied him at his press events. Putin also has owned a Bulgarian breed dog named Bafik and a Japanese dog named Yume, among other creatures.

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Petro Poroshenko
Wiki Commons by Photo Claude TRUONG-NGOC
He is a ruler of candy and the Ukraine. Who is he?
Paul Biya
Milos Zeman
Petro Poroshenko
Kersti Kaljulaid
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The president of Ukraine is known as "Chocolate King." Billionaire businessman and politician Petro Poroshenko made a fortune on the sweet confectionery. Poroshenko is reportedly worth approximately $1.3 billion.

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Emmanuel Macron
Wiki Commons by Foundations World Economic Forum
Do you know the French leader who married a teacher?
Alpha Conde
Janos Ader
Emmanuel Macron
Michel Aoun
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Brigitte Trogneux, also known as "Bibi," is wife to French President Emmanuel Macron, and she is 24 years his senior. Trogneux has been instrumental in her husband's political life. The two met when Macron was a schoolboy, and she was a teacher.

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Felipe VI
Wiki Commons by Cancillería Ecuador
How well do you know this distant relative of Russian czars who reigns in Spain?
Felipe VI
Andry Rajoelina
Igor Dodon
Bidhya Devi Bhandari
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

King Felipe's parents are King Juan Carlos, who was born in Rome, and Princess Sofia of Greece, who is related to Queen Victoria of Britain and the czars of Russia. King Felipe VI has two other siblings.

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Carl XVI Gustaf
Wiki Commons by Bengt Nyman
Who began adulthood around the same time he began to rule Sweden?
Carl XVI Gustaf
Martin Vizcarra
Paul Kagame
Macky Sall
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Carl XVI Gustaf ascended to Sweden's high throne as king in 1953 at the young age of 27. He has three children with Queen Silvia, whom he met at the Munich Olympics in 1972. Their daughter Crown Princess Victoria is heir to the throne.

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Harald V
Wiki Commons by Tor Atle Kleven
Try to select the name of the Norwegian king who, as a youth, sought exile with his mother in the United States during World War II.
Bashar al-Assad
Harald V
Yoweri Museveni
Brahim Ghali
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Harald V, King of Norway, fled to the United States with his mother when the Nazis attacked the country in 1940. After World War II, he returned to Norway and married Sonja Haraldsen, a commoner, in 1968.

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Frank-Walter Steinmeier
Wiki Commons by Viet-Hoang Nguyen
Do you recognize this German head of state?
Ashraf Ghani
Abdelkader Bensalah
Frank-Walter Steinmeier
Armen Sarkissian
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier is Germany's current president and former Minister of Foreign Affairs. Steinmeier is a member of the Social Democratic Party and served as Chief of Staff in the German Chancellery from 1999 to 2005.

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Sauli Niinisto
Wiki Commons by Jim Mattis
This Finnish leader leans conservative. Can you guess his name?
Joseph Ngute
Sauli Niinistö
Bruno Tshibala
Taur Matan Ruak
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Sauli Väinämö Niinistö was born in Salo. His mother, Hilkka Heimo, was a nurse and his father, Vaino Niinisto, a circulation manager. The president is the youngest of three siblings, Virve, Kari and Kirsi.

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Andrzej Duda
Wiki Commons by Michał Józefaciuk
Is it a challenge for you to guess the identity of this Polish president?
Angela Merkel
Keith Mitchell
Andrzej Duda
Leo Varadkar
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

President Andrzej Duda of Poland was born on May 16, 1972, in Krakow, Poland. As a member of the conservative Law and Justice party, he served as an adviser to its caucus in parliament in 2005.

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Sergio Mattarella
Wiki Commons by Jaqen
In a sense, the Mafia made Italian president ________ what he is today.
Sergio Mattarella
Shinzo Abe
Michel Aoun
Pavel Filip
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Sergio Mattarella is a former judge from Sicily. Mattarella also served as defense and education minister before winning the presidency in 2015. The president was inspired to start a political career after his brother Piersanti was killed by the Mafia in 1980.

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Theresa May
Wiki Commons by Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office
Name this Oxford grad and UK prime minister.
Baron Waqa
Mark Rutte
Theresa May
Jacinda Ardern
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May is the only child of an Anglican vicar. May grew up in Oxfordshire, located in central England. She married an investment banker before starting a political career as a member of parliament in 1997.

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Klaus Iohannis
Wiki Commons by European People's Party
He is one of the four Romanian presidents the Eastern European country had after the fall of communism. What is his name?
Erna Solberg
Peter O'Neill
Klaus Iohannis
Timothy Harris
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Born in Sibiu, Romania on June 13, 1959, Klaus Iohannis became Romania's fourth president in 2014. He was mayor of Sibiu from 2000 to 2014. Iohannis is an ethnic German from Transylvania.

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Alexander Lufashenko
Wiki Commons by Serge Serebro, Vitebsk Popular News
Critics of the Belarusian president abhor his ruling style. Pick the correct head of state shown in the image.
Alexander Lukashenko
Evaristo Carvalho
Halimah Yacob
Imad Khamis
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Dubbed "the last dictator in Europe" by his critics, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is affectionately called "batka," or father, by his supporters. A former farm director, Lukashenko has ruled Belarus since 1994.

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Alexis Tsipras
Wiki Commons by Пресс-служба Президента России
Who's this Greek statesman and scientist?
Jair Bolsonaro
Hun Sen
Alexis Tsipras
Xi Jinping
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Prime Minister of Greece Alexis Tsipras was trained as a civil engineer, earning his Master's degree from National Technical University in Athens. Tsipras was a member of the Communist Youth while in secondary school.

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Boyko Borisov
Wiki Commons by European People's Party
Don't be surprised if this prime minister requests a stop-drop-and-role vote in Bulgaria's parliament. Choose your best guess among the options.
Edi Rama
Gaston Browne
Scott Morrison
Boyko Borisov
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Born on June 13, 1959, in Bankya, Bulgaria, Boyko Borisov learned fire and safety procedures at the Higher Special School of the Ministry of Interior. He began a political career in 2001, serving as the secretary general of the Ministry of Interior.

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Katrin Jakobsdottir
Wiki Commons by Johannes Jansson
What Icelandic prime minister leads the popularity polls in her country?
Mia Mottley
Katrin Jakobsdottir
Sheikh Hasina
Dean Barrow
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Born in Reykjavik, Iceland on February 1, 1976, Katrin Jakobsdottir earned her undergraduate and master's degrees at the University of Iceland. The Icelandic prime minister's constituency has regarded her as one of the nation's most trusted politicians.

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Viktor Orban
Wiki Commons by European People's Party
This Hungarian prime minister studied law. Can you ID him?
Viktor Orban
Antoni Marti
Charles Michel
Justin Trudeau
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban was president of the Fidesz-Hungarian Civic party. Orban graduated from Eotvos Lorand University in 1987 with a degree in law, and he founded the center-right political group one year later.

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Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa
Wiki Commons by Web Summit
Is it difficult for you to choose the president of Portugal?
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa
Juri Ratas
Salome Zourabichvili
Barham Salih
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

On January 24, 2016, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa won Portugal's presidential election with 52 percent of the votes. The center-right Social Democratic Party backed Rebelo de Sousa's presidential bid.

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Sebastian Kurz
Wiki Commons by Пресс-служба Президента России
Do you recognize this Austrian statesman?
Reuven Rivlin
Sergio Mattarella
Sebastian Kurz
Giuseppe Conte
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In 2014, Sebastian Kurz seized the role of Austrian Foreign Minister at the age of 27, and was the world's youngest foreign minister at the time. Kurz currently serves as Chancellor.

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Andrej Babis
Wiki Commons by Martin Strachoň
Select the Czech prime minister with a checkered past.
Andrej Babis
Hassan Rouhani
Joko Widodo
Tom Thabane
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Czech Republic Prime Minister Andrej Babis is a billionaire and former Finance Minister. Before becoming prime minister, Babis was accused of unlawfully securing EU funds for his wife and daughter.

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Aleksandar Vucic
Wiki Commons by Guelland/ MSC
Can you ID the Serbian president who considerably outpaced his competition during his election?
Jacinda Ardern
Aleksandar Vucic
Arif Alvi
Timothy Harris
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

President Aleksandar Vucic had served as Serbia's first deputy prime minister. In 2017, Vucic secured the presidency, winning 55.7 percent of the votes cast. His nearest contender, Sasa Jankovic, won 15.6 percent of the votes.

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Michael D Higgins
Wiki Commons by Irish Defence Forces
Ireland's president has advocated for the poor in his country. Who is he?
Macky Sall
Stefan Lofven
Michael D. Higgins
Moon Jae-in
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ireland elected Michael Daniel Higgins, a Limerick native, as president in October 2011. Higgins had served previously as a member of parliament for a few decades. The Irish president, who lived in poverty as a youth, has long promoted an anti-poverty agenda.

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Dalia Grybauskaite
Wiki Commons by Kapeksas
Guess this multi-talented top Lithuanian official?
Maithripala Sirisena
Dalia Grybauskaitė
Keith Rowley
Charlot Salwai
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Lithuanian president Dalia Grybauskaitė is a martial arts expert and holds a Ph.D. in social science. Grybauskaite is not married and does not have children. She began her professional life working the night shift at a Russian fur factory.

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Raimonds Vejonis
Wiki Commons by Okras
Who manned defense before taking office as Latvia's president?
Edi Rama
Armen Sarkissian
Bruno Tshibala
Raimonds Vejonis
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Lativia swore in its ninth president, Raimonds Vejonis, on July 8, 2015. Vejonis had previously served as Minister of Defense starting in January 2014, and from 2011 to 2014 he was a National Security Committee member.

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Andrej Plenkovic
Wiki Commons by EU2017EE Estonian Presidency
Are you confident that you know one of Croatia's most influential leaders?
Paul Biya
Idriss Deby
Felix Tshisekedi
Andrej Plenkovic
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic served in the Foreign Affairs Ministry in the early 1990s. Considered one of the most powerful leaders in Croatia, Plenkovic is the leader of the HDZ, Croatian Democratic Union.

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Kersti Kaljulaid
Wiki Commons by Annika Haas
Who achieved an Estonian first?
Kersti Kaljulaid
Francisco Guterres
Aristides Gomes
Barham Salih
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In October 2016, at the age of 46, Kersti Kaljulaid made history, becoming the first female president of Estonia. Kaljulaid had been a member of the European Audit Board for 12 years before winning the Estonian presidency.

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Margrethe II
Wiki Commons by Johannes Jansson
What Danish royal do you see?
Leo Varadkar
Margrethe II
Tom Thabane
Taneti Mamau
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The same royal family has reigned over Denmark for nearly 50 generations. The current Queen of Denmark is Margrethe II, who can trace her lineage to Gorm the Old, a Viking who once ruled over a thousand years ago.

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Willem-Alexander
Wiki Commons by RVD, Jeroen van der Meyde
His mom was Queen of the Netherlands. Who is this Dutch monarch?
Willem-Alexander
Peter Mutharika
Hilda Heine
Brigi Rafini
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Before King Willem-Alexander's ascension to the throne, his mother Beatrix was queen. Beatrix married Claus von Amsberg, a German diplomat, in 1966. In 1982, Claus was relieved of his royal duties after the court announced he was suffering from depression.

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Igor Dodon
Wiki Commons by OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
This Moldovan president's post-Communism political views are very familiar. Try to quickly ID him?
Igor Dodon
Rodrigo Duterte
Mahmoud Abbas
Paul Kagame
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Igor Dodon is a self-proclaimed "pro-Moscow" president. The Moldovan head-of-state won nearly 56 percent of the vote in his country's 2016 presidential election. His wife Galina heads "Din Suflet," a family charity foundation.

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King Philippe
Wiki Commons by Lars Koopmans
Does this Belgium head of state ring a bell?
Jorge Bom Jesus
King Philippe
Danny Faure
Borut Pahor
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Before Philippe became king of the Belgians, King Albert II was chief monarch. Albert II is a descendant of Leopold II and married Queen Paola of Italian royal lineage. King Philippe is married to former speech therapist Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz.

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Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Wiki Commons by U.S. Department of State
Who cornered Turkey's prime minister position before mastering the presidency?
Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Martin Vizcarra
Jacinda Ardern
Filipe Nyusi
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Born in Istanbul in 1954, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had served as Turkey's prime minister for a little more than a decade. The controversial leader is married and has four children.

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Ilham Aliyev
Wiki Commons by Senat RP/Polish Senate
What elected official campaigned on the same ticket with his father for Azerbaijan's high office?
Ilham Aliyev
Saad Hariri
Adrian Hasler
Serge Telle
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

During the Azerbaijan presidential election held on October 15, 2003, then prime minister of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev campaigned on behalf of his father, incumbent President Heydar Aliyev, who was hospitalized in the United States at the time. Ilham was elected as president after a swift nomination.

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Grand Duke Henri
Wiki Commons by א (Aleph)
Who's Grand Duke of the Luxembourg Grand Duchy?
Grand Duke Zoran Zaev
Grand Duke Henri
Grand Duke Timothy
Allen Chastanet
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Since 2000, Henri has presided as Grand Duke of Luxembourg, a small European grand duchy. Henri married Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, who was born in Cuba. The couple has five children.

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Mamuka Bakhtadze
Wiki Commons by Preiss/ MSC
He's a finance expert from Georgia. Can you pick his name?
Gjorge Ivanov
Mamuka Bakhtadze
Arif Alvi
Peter O'Neill
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadz has been tasked with reforming his country economically and politically. Before the prime minister post, Bakhtadz served as the nation's Foreign Finance Minister.

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Emmanuel Macron1
Wiki Commons by EU2017EE Estonian Presidency
He's president of a European superpower and moonlights as co-royal of Andorra. Are you aware of his identify?
Emmanuel Macron
Ralph Gonsalves
Hassan Ali Khayre
Pedro Sanchez
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

French President Emmanuel Macron is an official head of state of small and independent Andorra. Macron shares co-prince responsibilities with Catholic Bishop Joan Enric Vives Sicilia.

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Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca
Wiki Commons by OPRMALTA
She was a Maltese parliament mainstay before procuring the presidency. What is her name?
Viorica Dancila
Queen Elizabeth
Christian Ntsay
Marie-Louise Colerio Preca
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

During her term as minister for the Family and Social Solidarity, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca secured the presidency. Coleiro Preca started her term as president in April 2014. She also served in Malta's parliament from 1998 to 2014.

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Hans-Adam II
Wiki Commons by Presse- und Informationsamt, Vaduz
Which royal enjoys both symbolic as well as political power in Liechtenstein?
Hans-Adam II
Xavier Bettel
Adrian Hasler
Askar Mamin
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Prince Hans-Adam II inherited his reign as Prince of Liechtenstein, which is a small European territory with a population of 35,000. The country has one of the highest income per capita. The prince holds substantial political power, unlike the monarchs of many other European states.

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Ilir Meta
Wiki Commons by OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
Can you recall Albania's president?
Joseph Muscat
Ilir Meta
Emmanuel Macron
Abiy Ahmed
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ilir Meta was elected as Albania's seventh president on April 28, 2017. Before his appointment as president, Meta was speaker of parliament, and he led the Socialist Movement for Integration, a junior ruling party.

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Prince Albert II
Wiki Commons by Michel Ravassard
From this image, is it easy for you to spot former actress Grace Kelly's son and current Monacan monarch?
Prince Albert II
Francisco Guterres
Roosevelt Skerrit
Ashraf Ghani
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Before Prince Albert's ascension to the Monaco throne, Prince Rainier III ruled the small country until his death in 2005. Rainier was married to Albert's mother, American film actress Grace Kelly.

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Wiki Commons by Number 10