List of state leaders in 1562

Africa

China (Ming Dynasty) - Jiajing Emperor (1521–1566)
Japan (Sengoku period)
- Monarch - Emperor Ōgimachi (1557–1586)
- Shogun (Ashikaga) - Ashikaga Yoshiteru (1546–1565)
Korea (Joseon Dynasty) - Myeongjong (1545–1567)
Mughal Empire - Akbar (1556–1605)
Ryūkyū Kingdom - Shō Gen (1556–1572)
Sulu Sultanate - Sultan Nasir ud-Din I (1548–1568)
Tibet - Ngawang Tashi Drakpa, King of Tiber (1499–1564)
Kingdom of Tondo - Rajah Lakan Dula and Rajah Sulaiman II, joint rulers (1558–1571)

Kingdom of Denmark and Norway - Frederick II (1559–1588)
Kingdom of England - Elizabeth I (1558–1603)
Kingdom of France - Charles IX (1560–1574)
Holy Roman Empire - Ferdinand I (1558–1564)
Hungary -
- Royal Hungary - Ferdinand I (1526–1564)
- Eastern Hungarian Kingdom - John II Sigismund Zápolya (1540–1571)
Moldavia - Despot Voda, Voivode of Moldavia (1561–1563)
Kingdom of Navarre - Jeanne d'Albret (1555–1572)
Ottoman (Turkish) Empire - Suleiman the Magnificent (1520–1566)
Papal States - Pope Pius IV (1559–1566)
Kingdom of Poland - Sigismund II Augustus (1548–1572)
Kingdom of Portugal - Sebastian (1557–1578)
Russia - Ivan IV the Terrible, Tsar of Russia (1533/1547–1584)
Kingdom of Scotland - Mary, Queen of Scots (1542–1567)
Kingdom of Spain - Philip II (1556–1598)
Kingdom of Sweden - Eric XIV (1560–1568)
Republic of Venice - Giorolamo Priuli, Doge of Venice (1559–1567)
Principality of Wallachia - Petre cel Tanar, Voivode of Wallachia (1559–1568)