In a democratic parliamentary or presidential system, the ruling party holds a majority of elected positions in the government. In the United States, the ruling party alternates with elections, primarily between the Republican Party (GOP) and the Democratic Party. As of 2023, the GOP controlled the House of Representatives, while the Democrats held the Senate and the White House. Other minor parties in the US include the Reform, Libertarian, Socialist, Natural Law, Constitution, and Green Parties.
In India, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been the ruling party since 1980 and is currently the world's largest political party. The BJP, a conservative, right-wing party, governs the central government and most Indian states. In China, the ruling party since 1949 is the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which oversees most aspects of life and governance, advocating atheism over religion. Other parties exist in China but are subordinate to the CCP.
As of 2023, Canada's ruling party is the Liberal Party, led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau since 2013. Other significant parties include the Conservative Party (the Official Opposition), the New Democratic Party, the Bloc Québécois, and the Green Party of Canada.
In the United Kingdom, the Conservative Party has been the ruling party since World War II, with the Labour Party as the main opposition. Other parties in the UK Parliament include the Alliance Party, Co-operative Party, Democratic Unionist Party, Green Party, and Liberal Democrats.
Australia operates a two-party system, with the Australian Labor Party (ALP) as the ruling party and the Liberal Party of Australia as the other major political force.
Country | Additional Details | Most Recent Election | Party in Power | Party System |
---|---|---|---|---|
Afghanistan | On 15 August 2021, Afghanistan's capital city of Kabul was captured by the Taliban after a major ins... | 2021 | Taliban | One-party |
Albania | Parliamentary elections were held in Albania on 25 April 2021.It took place during the COVID-19 pand... | 2021 | Socialist Party of Albania | Multi-party |
Algeria | Presidential elections were held in Algeria on 12 December 2019. The election had originally been sc... | 2019 | National Liberation Front | Multi-party |
American Samoa | 2020 | Democratic Party | Multi-party | |
Andorra | 2023 | Democrats for Andorra | Multi-party | |
Angola | 2022 | People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola | Dominant-party | |
Anguilla | 2020 | Anguilla Progressive Movement | Two-party | |
Antigua and Barbuda | 2023 | Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party | Two-party | |
Argentina | 2019 | Frente de Todos | Multi-party | |
Armenia | 2021 | Civil Contract | Multi-party | |
Aruba | The party has been in power since 2009 and won the last election in 2017, securing 10 of the 21 seat... | 2017 | People's Electoral Movement | Multi-party |
Australia | 2022 | Labor Party | Two-party | |
Austria | 2019 | Austrian People's Party | Multi-party | |
Azerbaijan | 2020 | New Azerbaijan Party | Dominant-party | |
Bahamas | 2021 | Progressive Liberal Party | Two-party | |
Bahrain | Political parties are illegal in Bahrain but operate as de facto political parties under the term po... | 2022 | Political parties are illegal in Bahrain | Dominant-party |
Bangladesh | 2018 | Awami League | Dominant-party | |
Barbados | 2022 | Barbados Labour Party | Two-party | |
Belarus | An independent or non-partisan politician is a politician not affiliated with any political party or... | 2019 | Independents | Dominant-party |
Belgium | 2019 | CD&V | Multi-party | |
Belize | 2020 | People's United Party | Two-party | |
Benin | 2023 | Progressive Union for Renewal | Multi-party | |
Bermuda | 2020 | Progressive Labour Party | Two-party | |
Bhutan | 2018 | People's Democratic Party | Two-party | |
Bolivia | 2020 | Movement for Socialism | Multi-party | |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | 2018 | SDA | Multi-party | |
Botswana | 2022 | Botswana Democratic Party | Dominant-party | |
Brazil | 2022 | Brazil of Hope | Multi-party | |
British Virgin Islands | 2019 | Virgin Islands Party | Two-party | |
Brunei | The politics of Brunei take place in a framework of an absolute monarchy, whereby the Sultan of Brun... | 1959 | Absolute monarchy; No Political Parties | No parties (monarchy) |
Bulgaria | An independent or non-partisan politician is a politician not affiliated with any political party or... | 2021 | Independent | Multi-party |
Burkina Faso | 2020 | MPP | Military junta | |
Burundi | 2020 | National Council for the Defense of Democracy | Dominant-party | |
Cambodia | 2023 | Cambodian People's Party | Dominant-party | |
Cameroon | 2020 | Cameroon People's Democratic Movement | Dominant-party | |
Canada | 2021 | Liberal Party | Multi-party | |
Cape Verde | 2021 | Movement for Democracy | Two-party | |
Cayman Islands | An independent or non-partisan politician is a politician not affiliated with any political party or... | 2021 | Independent | Two-party |
Central African Republic | General elections were held in the Central African Republic on 27 December 2020 to elect the Preside... | 2020 | United Hearts Movement | Multi-party |
Chad | The Northern Chad offensive was a military offensive in Northern Chad, initiated by the Chadian rebe... | 2021 | Transitional government | Transitional government |
Chile | 2021 | Apruebo Dignidad | Multi-party | |
China | 2023 | Chinese Communist Party | One-party | |
Colombia | 2022 | Historic Pact | Multi-party | |
Comoros | 2020 | Union for the Development of the Comoros | Dominant-party | |
Cook Islands | 2022 | Cook Islands Party | Multi-party | |
Costa Rica | 2022 | Social Democratic Progress Party | Multi-party | |
Croatia | 2020 | Croatian Democratic Union | Multi-party | |
Cuba | 2023 | Communist Party of Cuba | One-party | |
Curacao | 2021 | National People's Party | Multi-party | |
Cyprus | 2023 | Democratic Party | Multi-party | |
Czech Republic | An independent or non-partisan politician is a politician not affiliated with any political party or... | 2023 | Independent | Multi-party |
Denmark | 2022 | Social Democrats | Multi-party | |
Djibouti | 2021 | RPP | Dominant-party | |
Dominica | 2022 | Dominica Labour Party | Dominant-party | |
Dominican Republic | 2020 | Modern Revolutionary Party | Multi-party | |
DR Congo | 2018 | UDPS | Multi-party | |
Ecuador | 2021 | CREO | Multi-party | |
Egypt | An independent or non-partisan politician is a politician not affiliated with any political party or... | 2018 | Independent | Dominant-party |
El Salvador | 2019 | GANA | Multi-party | |
Equatorial Guinea | 2022 | Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea | Dominant-party | |
Eritrea | There have not been national elections in Eritrea since independence in 1993 | People's Front for Democracy and Justice | One-party | |
Estonia | 2023 | Reform Party | Multi-party | |
Eswatini | An independent or non-partisan politician is a politician not affiliated with any political party or... | 2018 | Independents | No parties |
Ethiopia | 2021 | Prosperity Party | Dominant-party | |
Falkland Islands | An independent or non-partisan politician is a politician not affiliated with any political party or... | 2021 | Nonpartisan | No parties |
Faroe Islands | 2022 | Social Democratic Party | Multi-party | |
Fiji | 2022 | FijiFirst | Multi-party | |
Finland | 2023 | National Coalition | Multi-party | |
France | 2022 | Renaissance (RE) | Multi-party | |
French Guiana | 2021 | Socialist Party | Multi-party | |
French Polynesia | 2023 | Tāvini Huiraʻatira | Multi-party | |
Gabon | On 30 August 2023, a coup d'état occurred in the Gabonese Republic shortly after the announcement th... | 2023 | Civilian government suspended | Military junta |
Gambia | 2021 | National People's Party | Multi-party | |
Georgia | 2020 | Georgian Dream | Dominant-party | |
Germany | 2021 | Social Democratic Party | Multi-party | |
Ghana | 2020 | New Patriotic Party | Two-party | |
Gibraltar | 2019 | GSLP–Liberal Alliance | Two-party | |
Greece | 2023 | New Democracy | Multi-party | |
Greenland | 2021 | Inuit Ataqatigiit | Multi-party | |
Grenada | 2022 | National Democratic Congress | Two-party | |
Guadeloupe | 2004 | PS-PPDG | Multi-party | |
Guam | Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States, with policy relations between G... | 2022 | Republican | Two-party |
Guatemala | 2023 | Semilla | Multi-party | |
Guernsey | An independent or non-partisan politician is a politician not affiliated with any political party or... | 2020 | Independents | Multi-party |
Guinea | On 5 September 2021, President of Guinea Alpha Condé was captured by the country's armed forces in a... | 2021 | Civilian government suspended | Military junta |
Guinea Bissau | 2019 | Madem G15 | Multi-party | |
Guyana | 2020 | People's Progressive Party | Two-party | |
Haiti | Presidential elections were held in Haiti on 20 November 2016 after having been postponed several ti... | 2016 | Haitian Tèt Kale Party | Multi-party |
Honduras | 2021 | Libre | Multi-party | |
Hong Kong | 2021 | Pro-Beijing camp | Dominant-party | |
Hungary | 2022 | Fidesz–KDNP | Dominant-party | |
Iceland | The Independence Party (Icelandic: Sjálfstæðisflokkurinn) is a liberal-conservative political party ... | 2021 | Independence Party | Multi-party |
India | 2019 | BJP | Multi-party | |
Indonesia | 2019 | PDI-P | Multi-party | |
Iran | 2021 | CCA | Dominant-party | |
Iraq | 2021 | Takadum | Multi-party | |
Ireland | 2020 | Fianna Fáil | Multi-party | |
Isle of Man | An independent or non-partisan politician is a politician not affiliated with any political party or... | 2021 | Independents | Two-party |
Israel | 2022 | Likud Party | Multi-party | |
Italy | 2022 | Brothers of Italy | Multi-party | |
Ivory Coast | 2021 | Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace | Dominant-party | |
Jamaica | 2020 | Jamaica Labour Party | Two-party | |
Japan | 2021 | Liberal Democratic Party | Dominant-party | |
Jersey | An independent or non-partisan politician is a politician not affiliated with any political party or... | 2022 | Independents | Multi-party |
Jordan | 2020 | Pro-monarchy independents | Dominant-party | |
Kazakhstan | An independent or non-partisan politician is a politician not affiliated with any political party or... | 2022 | Independent | Dominant-party |
Kenya | 2022 | UDA | Multi-party | |
Kiribati | 2020 | Tobwaan Kiribati Party | Two-party | |
Kuwait | The political system consists of an appointed judiciary, appointed government (dominated by the Al S... | 2022 | Independent | No parties |
Kyrgyzstan | 2021 | Mekenchil | Multi-party | |
Laos | 2021 | Lao People's Revolutionary Party | One-party | |
Latvia | 2022 | JV | Multi-party | |
Lebanon | 2022 | Lebanese Forces | Multi-party | |
Lesotho | 2022 | Revolution for Prosperity | Multi-party | |
Liberia | 2017 | Coalition for Democratic Change | Two-party | |
Libya | An independent or non-partisan politician is a politician not affiliated with any political party or... | 2014 | Independent | Provisional government |
Liechtenstein | 2021 | Patriotic Union | Multi-party | |
Lithuania | 2020 | Homeland Union | Multi-party | |
Luxembourg | 2018 | Democratic Party | Multi-party | |
Macau | 2021 | Pro-Beijing camp | Dominant-party | |
Madagascar | 2019 | Young Malagasies Determined | Multi-party | |
Malawi | 2020 | Malawi Congress Party | Multi-party | |
Malaysia | 2022 | PKR | Multi-party | |
Maldives | 2019 | Maldivian Democratic Party | Multi-party | |
Mali | The head of the junta that led the 2020 Malian coup d'état, announced that N'daw and Ouane were stri... | 2021 | Civilian government suspended | Military junta |
Malta | 2022 | Labour Party | Two-party | |
Marshall Islands | An independent or non-partisan politician is a politician not affiliated with any political party or... | 2019 | Independents | Two-party |
Martinique | Martinique is not a separate territory but a region of France. France has a multi-party system, with... | 2022 | Martinican Progressive Party | Multi-party |
Mauritania | 2023 | El Insaf | Multi-party | |
Mauritius | 2019 | MSM | Multi-party | |
Mayotte | 2021 | The Republicans | Multi-party | |
Mexico | 2021 | Morena | Multi-party | |
Micronesia | 2023 | No Political Parties | No parties | |
Moldova | 2021 | Party of Action and Solidarity | Multi-party | |
Monaco | 2023 | Monegasque National Union | Multi-party | |
Mongolia | 2021 | Mongolian People's Party | Multi-party | |
Montenegro | 2023 | PES | Multi-party | |
Montserrat | 2019 | Movement for Change and Prosperity | Two-party | |
Morocco | 2021 | National Rally of Independents | Multi-party | |
Mozambique | 2019 | FRELIMO Party | Dominant-party | |
Myanmar | civilian government suspended | 2021 | military rule | Military junta |
Namibia | 2019 | SWAPO Party of Namibia | Dominant-party | |
Nauru | An independent or non-partisan politician is a politician not affiliated with any political party or... | 2022 | Independents | Multi-party |
Nepal | 2022 | Nepali Congress | Multi-party | |
Netherlands | 2021 | VVD | Multi-party | |
New Caledonia | 2019 | Caledonian Union | Multi-party | |
New Zealand | 2020 | Labour Party | Multi-party | |
Nicaragua | 2021 | FSLN | Dominant-party | |
Niger | On 26 July 2023, a coup d'état occurred in Niger when the country's presidential guard
detained pre... | 2023 | Civilian government suspended | Military junta |
Nigeria | 2019 | All Progressives Congress | Two-party | |
Niue | An independent or non-partisan politician is a politician not affiliated with any political party or... | 2020 | Independent | No parties |
North Korea | The WPK has been in power since its inception in 1948 and is a one-party system led by a hereditary ... | 2019 | Workers' Party of Korea | One-party |
North Macedonia | 2020 | SDSM | Multi-party | |
Northern Mariana Islands | An independent or non-partisan politician is a politician not affiliated with any political party or... | 2022 | Independent | Multi-party |
Norway | 2021 | Labour Party | Multi-party | |
Oman | General elections were held in Oman on 27 October 2019. A total of 637 candidates contested the elec... | 2019 | Political parties outlawed | No parties (Political parties outlawed) |
Pakistan | 2018 | PTI | Multi-party | |
Palau | An independent or non-partisan politician is a politician not affiliated with any political party or... | 2020 | Independent | No parties |
Palestine | 2006 | Hamas | Multi-party | |
Panama | 2019 | Democratic Revolutionary Party | Multi-party | |
Papua New Guinea | 2022 | Pangu | Multi-party | |
Paraguay | 2018 | Colorado Party | Multi-party | |
Peru | On 7 December 2022, President of Peru Pedro Castillo attempted to dissolve Congress in the face of i... | 2022 | Free Peru | Multi-party |
Philippines | 2022 | PFP | Multi-party | |
Poland | An independent or non-partisan politician is a politician not affiliated with any political party or... | 2020 | Independent | Multi-party |
Portugal | 2022 | Socialist Party | Multi-party | |
Puerto Rico | 2020 | PNP | Two-party | |
Qatar | 2021 | Political parties outlawed | No parties (Political parties outlawed) | |
Republic of the Congo | 2021 | Congolese Party | Dominant-party | |
Reunion | 2022 | Renaissance (RE) | Multi-party | |
Romania | 2019 | PNL | Multi-party | |
Russia | 2018 | United Russia | Dominant-party | |
Rwanda | 2017 | RPF | Dominant-party | |
Saint Kitts and Nevis | 2022 | Saint Kitts and Nevis Labour Party | Multi-party | |
Saint Lucia | 2021 | Saint Lucia Labour Party | Two-party | |
Saint Martin | 2022 | Rassemblement Saint-Martinois | Multi-party | |
Saint Pierre and Miquelon | 2022 | Archipelago Tomorrow | Two-party | |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 2020 | Unity Labour Party | Two-party | |
Samoa | 2021 | HRPP | Two-party | |
San Marino | 2019 | Sammarinese Christian Democratic Party | Multi-party | |
Sao Tome and Principe | 2021 | Independent Democratic Action | Multi-party | |
Saudi Arabia | On 27 September 2022, Mohammed was appointed as prime minister of Saudi Arabia by King Salman. Tradi... | No elections | No Political Parties | No parties (monarchy) |
Senegal | 2019 | APR | Dominant-party | |
Serbia | 2022 | SNS | Dominant-party | |
Seychelles | 2020 | SNP | Two-party | |
Sierra Leone | 2018 | SLPP | Two-party | |
Singapore | 2020 | People's Action Party | Dominant-party | |
Sint Maarten | 2020 | National Alliance | Multi-party | |
Slovakia | 2020 | Ordinary People | Multi-party | |
Slovenia | 2022 | Freedom Movement | Multi-party | |
Solomon Islands | An independent or non-partisan politician is a politician not affiliated with any political party or... | 2019 | Independents | Multi-party |
Somalia | 2022 | UPD | Multi-party | |
South Africa | 2019 | African National Congress | Dominant-party | |
South Korea | 2022 | People Power Party | Multi-party | |
South Sudan | 2010 | Sudan People's Liberation Movement | Dominant-party | |
Spain | 2019 | PSOE | Multi-party | |
Sri Lanka | 2022 | UNP | Multi-party | |
Sudan | 2022 | National Congress | Provisional government | |
Suriname | 2020 | VHP | Multi-party | |
Sweden | 2022 | Social Democrats | Multi-party | |
Switzerland | 2019 | Swiss People's Party | Multi-party | |
Syria | 2020 | Ba'ath Party | Dominant-party | |
Taiwan | 2020 | Democratic Progressive Party | Two-party | |
Tajikistan | 2020 | People's Democratic Party | Dominant-party | |
Tanzania | 2020 | Chama Cha Mapinduzi | Dominant-party | |
Thailand | 2019 | Palang Pracharath | Multi-party | |
Togo | 2020 | Union for the Republic | Dominant-party | |
Tokelau | General elections were held in Tokelau on 23 January 2020 | 2020 | No Political Parties | No parties |
Tonga | 2021 | Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands | Two-party | |
Trinidad and Tobago | 2020 | People's National Movement | Two-party | |
Tunisia | An independent or non-partisan politician is a politician not affiliated with any political party or... | 2019 | Independent | Multi-party |
Turkey | 2023 | Justice and Development Party | Multi-party | |
Turkmenistan | 2023 | Democratic Party of Turkmenistan | Dominant-party | |
Turks and Caicos Islands | 2021 | Progressive National Party | Two-party | |
Tuvalu | An independent or non-partisan politician is a politician not affiliated with any political party or... | 2019 | Independent | No parties |
Uganda | 2021 | National Resistance Movement | Dominant-party | |
Ukraine | 2019 | Servant of the People | Multi-party | |
United Arab Emirates | 2019 | Political parties outlawed | No parties (Political parties outlawed) | |
United Kingdom | 2019 | Conservative Party | Multi-party | |
United States | 2020 | Democratic Party | Two-party | |
United States Virgin Islands | 2020 | No Political Parties | Multi-party | |
Uruguay | 2019 | National Party | Multi-party | |
Uzbekistan | 2021 | Liberal Democratic Party | Multi-party | |
Vanuatu | 2022 | Vanua'aku Pati | Multi-party | |
Vatican City | The Pope is the ruler of both the Vatican City State and the Holy See. The Holy See, as the supreme ... | No Political Parties | No parties | |
Venezuela | 2020 | United Socialist Party of Venezuela | Dominant-party | |
Vietnam | 2021 | Communist Party of Vietnam | One-party | |
Wallis and Futuna | Wallis and Futuna has a multi-party system with numerous political parties, in which no one party of... | 2022 | No Political Parties | No parties |
Western Sahara | 2020 | Polisario Front | One-party | |
Yemen | 2003 | General People's Congress | Dominant-party | |
Zambia | 2021 | United Party for National Development | Multi-party | |
Zimbabwe | 2023 | Zimbabwe African National Union | Dominant-party |