List of state leaders in 1879
State leaders in 1878 - Events of 1879 - State leaders in 1880 - State leaders by year
Africa
Asia
- Shir Ali Khan, Emir of Afghanistan (1868–1879)
- Mohammad Ya`qub Khan, Emir of Afghanistan (1879)
- Mohammad Jan, minister regent (1879)
-
- Ghazni
- Declared independence on 24 December
- Musa Jan Khan, Emir of Ghazni (1879–1880)
- Burma - Thibaw Min, King of Burma (1878–1885)
- Cambodia - Norodom, King of Cambodia (1860–1904)
- Champasak - Kham Suk, King of Champasak (1863–1900)
- China (Qing Dynasty) - Guangxu, Emperor of China (1875–1908)
- Indian Subcontinent, current day India, Pakistan and Bangladesh - Victoria, Empress of India (1876–1901)
- Japan - Monarch - Meiji Emperor, Emperor of Japan (1867–1912)
- Korea (Joseon Dynasty) - Gojong, King of Joseon (1864–1907, Emperor after 1897)
- Luang Phrabang - Unkham, King of Luang Phrabang (1868–1895)
- Nepal - Surendra Bikram Shah Deva, King of Nepal (1847–1881)
- Oman - Turki bin Said, Sultan of Oman (1871–1888)
- Siam - Chulalongkorn (Rama V), King of Siam (1868–1910)
- Vietnam (Nguyễn Dynasty) - Tự Đức, Emperor of Vietnam (1847–1883)
Europe
- Andorra - Patrice Mac-Mahon, duc de Magenta (President of France) and Josep Caixal i Estradé (Bishop of Urgel), co-Princes (1873–1879 and 1853–1879)
- Austria-Hungary - Franz Joseph I, Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary (1848–1916)
- Minister-President of Austria -
- Prince Adolf Wilhelm Daniel von Auersperg, Minister-President of Austria (1871–1879)
- Count Eduard von Taaffe, Minister-President of Austria (1879–1893)
- Belgium
- Bulgaria - Alexander I Joseph, King of Bulgaria (1879–1886)
- Kingdom of Denmark
- France -
- Germany -
- Greece -
- Holy See - Pope Leo XIII, Pope (1878–1903)
- Italy
- Liechtenstein - Johann II, Prince of Liechtenstein (1858–1929)
- Luxembourg
- Monaco - Charles III, Prince of Monaco (1856–1889)
- Montenegro - Nicholas I, Prince of Montenegro (1860-1910/1918/1921)
- Netherlands -
- Norway - United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway - Oscar II, King of Norway (1872–1905)
- Ottoman (Turkish) Empire
- Kingdom of Portugal - Luis I (1861–1889)
- Romania - Carol I, Prince of Romania (1866-1881/1914)
- Russia - Alexander II, Tsar of Russia (1855–1881)
- San Marino - Camillo Bonelli and Pietro Berti, Captains Regent (1878–1879)
- Principality of Serbia - Milan II (1868-1882/1889)
- Kingdom of Spain -
- Monarch - Alfonso XII of Spain (1875–1885)
- Antonio Cánovas Del Castillo, Prime Minister of Spain (1874–1875, 1875–1879, 1879–1881, 1884–1885, 1890–1892, 1895–1897)
- Arsenio Martínez-Campos y Antón, Prime Minister of Spain (1879)
- Antonio Cánovas del Castillo, Prime Minister of Spain (1874–1875, 1875–1879, 1879–1881, 1884–1885, 1890–1892, 1895–1897)
- Sweden - United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway
- United Kingdom -
Middle East and North Africa
North America and the Caribbean
Oceania
South America
- Argentina - Nicolás Avellaneda, President of Argentina (1874–1880)
- Bolivia - Hilarión Daza, Provisional President of Bolivia (1876–1879)
- Brazil - Pedro II, Emperor of Brazil (1831–1889)
- Chile - Aníbal Pinto, President of Chile (1876–1881)
- Colombia - Julián Trujillo Largacha, President of Colombia (1878–1880)
- Ecuador - Ignacio de Veintemilla, Supreme Chief of Ecuador (1876-1878/1883)
- Paraguay - Cándido Bareiro, President of Paraguay (1878–1880)
- Peru -
- Mariano Ignacio Prado, President of Peru (1876–1879)
- ???
- Uruguay -
- Lorenzo Latorre, President of Uruguay (1876–1879)
- Francisco Antonino Vidal, President of Uruguay (1879)
- Lorenzo Latorre, President of Uruguay (1879–1880)
- Venezuela - Jacinto Gutiérrez Martínez, acting President of Venezuela (1878–1879)