List of state leaders in 1596

This is a list of heads of state, heads of governments, and other rulers in the year 1596.

Africa

• Ethiopian Empire – Sarsa Dengel (1563–1597)
• Kingdom of Kongo – Álvaro II, Manikongo (1587–1614)
• Sennar Sultanate – Unsa I (1591–1603/4)

Asia

• Ayutthaya Kingdom (Siam) – Naresuan (1590–1605)
• Khanate of Khiva – Abdullah Khan II (1577–1598)
• China (Ming dynasty) - Wanli Emperor (1573–1620)
• Đại Việt – Lê Thế Tông, Emperor of Đại Việt (1573–1599)
  • Đàng Ngoài – Trịnh Tùng, Trịnh lord (1570–1623)
  • Đàng Trong – Nguyễn Hoàng, Nguyễn lord (1558–1613)
• Japan (Sengoku period)
  • Monarch – Emperor Go-Yōzei (1586–1611)
  • Regent (Kampaku) - Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Sesshō and Kampaku (1585–1598)
• Khanate of Khiva – Haji Muhammad I (1558–1602)
• Joseon (Korea) – Seonjo (1567–1608)
• Mughal Empire – Akbar (1556–1605)
• Ryukyu Kingdom – Shō Nei (1587–1620)

Europe

• Kingdom of Denmark and Norway – Christian IV (1588–1648)
  • Duchy of Schleswig – Christian IV (1588–1648) and John Adolphus (1590–1616) in condominial rule
• Kingdom of England and Kingdom of Ireland — Elizabeth I, Queen of England and Ireland (1558–1603)
• Kingdom of France – Henry IV (1589–1610)
• Holy Roman Empire – Rudolf II (1576–1612)
  • Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen –
    • 1. John Adolphus (1589–1596)
      2. John Frederick (1596–1634)
  • Duchy of Holstein – Christian IV (1588–1648) and John Adolphus (1590–1616) in condominial rule
  • Prince-Bishopric of Lübeck – John Adolphus (1586–1607)
• Royal Hungary – Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor (as Rudolf I) (1576–1608)
• Kingdom of Navarre – Henry III (1572–1610)
• Ottoman (Turkish) Empire – Mehmed III, Ottoman Sultan (1595–1603)
• Papal States – Pope Clement VIII (1592–1605)
• Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth – Sigismund III Vasa (1587–1632)
• Tsardom of Russia - Feodor I, Tsar of Russia (1584–1598)
• Kingdom of Scotland – James VI (1567–1625)
• Kingdom of Spain and Kingdom of Portugal and the Algarves – Philip II of Spain (1556–1598) and I of Portugal (1580–1598)
• Kingdom of Sweden – Sigismund (1592–1599)
• United Provinces
  • Estates of Friesland, Groningen, Guelders, Holland, Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland (1581–1795)
  • Stadtholder - Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange, Stadtholder of Gelre, Holland, Overijssel, Utrecht and Zeeland (1585–1625)
  • Grand Pensionary of Holland - Johan van Oldenbarnevelt (1586–1619)
• Republic of Venice – Marino Grimani, Doge of Venice (1595–1606)

Middle East and North Africa

• Morocco (Saadi dynasty) - Ahmad I al-Mansur Saadi (1578–1603)
• Safavid Empire – Abbas I, Shah of Iran (1587–1629)