List of heads of state 1740

Great Britain and Ireland
- Head of State: King George II (1727–1760) (1727–1760 Elector of Braunschweig-Lüneburg)
- Head of Government: Prime Minister Robert Walpole (1721–1742)

Holy Roman Empire
- King and Emperor : Charles VI. (1711–1740) (1711–1740 King of Bohemia, 1706–1740 Duke of Milan, 1713–1735 King of Naples, 1711–1740 Archduke of Austria, 1735–1740 Duke of Parma, 1713–1720 King of Sardinia, 1720– 1735 King of Sicily, 1711–1740 King of Hungary)
- Electoral College
  - Archbishopric of Cologne
    - Elector : Clemens August von Bayern (1723–1761) (1724–1761 Bishop of Hildesheim, 1719–1761 Bishop of Münster, 1728–1761 Bishop of Osnabrück, 1719–1761 Bishop of Paderborn, 1716–1719 Bishop of Regensburg, 1732–1761 Grand Master of the Teutonic Order)
  - Archbishopric Mainz
    - Elector : Philipp Karl von Eltz-Kempenich (1732–1743)
  - Archbishopric Trier
    - Elector : Franz Georg von Schönborn (1729–1756) (1732–1756 Bishop of Worms, 1732–1756 Provost of Ellwangen)
  - Duchy of Bavaria
    - Elector : Karl I. Albrecht (1726–1745) (1742–1745 Emperor)
  - Kingdom of Bohemia
    - King : Charles II (1711–1740) (1711–1740 Emperor, 1706–1740 Duke of Milan, 1713–1735 King of Naples, 1711–1740 Archduke of Austria, 1735–1740 Duke of Parma, 1713–1720 King of Sardinia , 1720–1735 King of Sicily, 1711–1740 King of Hungary)
    - Queen: Maria Theresa (1740–1780) (1740–1780 Duchess of Milan, 1740–1780 Archduchess of Austria, 1740–1780 Duchess of Parma, 1740–1780 Queen of Hungary)
  - Margraviate of Brandenburg
    - Elector : Friedrich Wilhelm I (1713–1740) (1713–1740 King in Prussia)
    - Elector: Friedrich II. (1740–1786) (1740–1786 King of Prussia)
  - Duchy of Brunswick-Lueneburg
    - Elector : George II (1727–1760) (1727–1760 King of Great Britain and Ireland)
  - Palatine County near the Rhine
    - Elector : Charles III. Philipp (1716–1742) (1716–1742 Duke of Jülich and Berg)
  - Duchy of Saxony
    - Elector : Friedrich August II. (1733–1763) (1733–1763 King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania)
- spiritual imperial princes
  - Hochstift Augsburg
    - Bishop : Johann Franz Schenk von Stauffenberg (1737–1740) (1704–1740 Bishop of Konstanz)
    - Bishop: Joseph Ignaz Philipp of Hessen-Darmstadt (1740–1768)
  - Bamberg Monastery
    - Bishop : Friedrich Karl von Schönborn-Buchheim (1729–1746) (1729–1746 Bishop of Würzburg)
  - Hochstift Basel
    - Bishop : Jakob Sigismund von Reinach-Steinbrunn (1737–1743)
  - Prince Provost Berchtesgaden
    - Provost : Cajetan Anton Notthracht von Weißenstein (1732–1752)
  - Brixen monastery
    - Bishop : Kaspar Ignaz von Künigl (1702–1747)
  - Hochstift Chur (territory 1648 federal, bishop imperial class without immediate land)
    - Bishop : Joseph Benedikt von Rost (1728–1754)
  - Corvey Abbey
    - Abbot : Caspar II of Böselager-Honeburg (1737–1758)
  - Balleien of the Teutonic Order
    - Grand Master : Clemens August von Bayern (1732–1761) (1723–1761 Archbishop of Cologne, 1724–1761 Bishop of Hildesheim, 1719–1761 Bishop of Münster, 1719–1761 Bishop of Osnabrück, 1719–1761 Bishop of Paderborn, 1716–1719 Bishop of Regensburg)
  - Eichstätt Monastery
    - Bishop : Johann Anton II. Von Freyberg (1736–1757)
  - Prince Provost Ellwangen
    - Provost : Franz Georg von Schönborn (1732–1756) (1729–1756 Archbishop of Trier, 1732–1756 Bishop of Worms)
  - Hochstift Freising
    - Bishop : Johann Theodor von Bayern (1727–1763) (1744–1763 Bishop of Lüttich, 1719–1763 Bishop of Regensburg)
  - Fulda Abbey
    - Abbot : Amand von Buseck (1737–1756) (from 1752 bishop)
  - Hildesheim Monastery
    - Bishop : Clemens August von Bayern (1724–1761) (1723–1761 Archbishop of Cologne, 1732–1761 Grand Master of the Teutonic Order, 1719–1761 Bishop of Münster, 1728–1761 Bishop of Osnabrück, 1719–1761 Bishop of Paderborn, 1716– 1719 Bishop of Regensburg)
  - Prince Abbey of Kempten
    - Abbot : Anselm Reichlin von Meldegg (1728–1747)
  - Constance monastery
    - Bishop : Johann Franz Schenk von Stauffenberg (1704–1740) (1737–1740 Bishop of Augsburg)
    - Bishop: Damian Hugo Philipp von Schönborn-Buchheim (1740–1743) (1719–1743 Bishop of Speyer, 1719–1743 provost of Weißenburg)
  - Hochstift Lübeck (1555–1803 Protestant administrators)
    - Bishop : Adolf Friedrich von Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf (1727–1750) (1751–1771 King of Sweden)
  - Liège Monastery
    - Bishop : Georg Ludwig von Berghes (1724–1743)
  - Monastery of Münster
    - Bishop : Clemens August von Bayern (1719–1761) (1723–1761 Archbishop of Cologne, 1724–1761 Bishop of Hildesheim, 1728–1761 Bishop of Osnabrück, 1719–1761 Bishop of Paderborn, 1716–1719 Bishop of Regensburg, 1732–1761 Grand Master of the Teutonic Order)
  - Hochstift Osnabrück (1662–1802 alternating between Catholic and Lutheran bishops)
    - Bishop : Clemens August von Bayern (1728–1761) (1723–1761 Archbishop of Cologne, 1724–1761 Bishop of Hildesheim, 1719–1761 Bishop of Münster, 1719–1761 Bishop of Paderborn, 1716–1719 Bishop of Regensburg, 1732–1761 Grand Master of the Teutonic Order)
  - Paderborn Monastery
    - Bishop : Clemens August von Bayern (1719–1761) (1723–1761 Archbishop of Cologne, 1724–1761 Bishop of Hildesheim, 1719–1761 Bishop of Münster, 1728–1761 Bishop of Osnabrück, 1716–1719 Bishop of Regensburg, 1732–1761 Grand Master of the Teutonic Order)
  - Passau bishopric
    - Bishop : Joseph Dominikus von Lamberg (1723–1761)
  - Regensburg Monastery
    - Bishop : Johann Theodor von Bayern (1719–1763) (1727–1763 Bishop of Freising, 1744–1763 Bishop of Liège)
  - Archbishopric Salzburg
    - Archbishop : Leopold Anton von Firmian (1727–1744)
  - Speyer Monastery
    - Bishop : Damian Hugo Philipp von Schönborn-Buchheim (1719–1743)
  - Stablo-Malmedy Abbey
    - Abbot : Deodat Drion (1737–1741)
  - Strasbourg Monastery
    - Bishop : Armand I. Gaston Maximilien de Rohan-Soubise (1704–1749)
  - Hochstift Trento
    - Bishop : Dominikus Anton von Thun (1730–1758)
  - Hochstift Worms
    - Bishop : Franz Georg von Schönborn (1732–1756) (1729–1756 Archbishop of Trier, 1732–1756 Provost of Ellwangen)
  - Würzburg Monastery
    - Bishop : Friedrich Karl von Schönborn-Buchheim (1729–1746) (1729–1746 Bishop of Bamberg)
- secular imperial princes
  - Principality of Anhalt
    - Anhalt-Bernburg
      - Prince : Viktor II. Friedrich (1721–1765)
    - Principality of Anhalt-Dessau
      - Prince : Leopold I (1693–1747) (1693–1698 under guardianship)
    - Principality of Anhalt-Köthen
      - Prince : August Ludwig (1728–1755)
    - Anhalt-Zerbst
      - Prince : Johann August (1718–1742)
  - Arenberg
    - Duke : Leopold Philipp (1691–1754)
  - to bathe
    - Margrave : Ludwig Georg Simpert (1727–1761)
  - Margraviate of Baden
    - Baden-Baden
      - Margrave : Ludwig Georg Simpert (1707–1761) (1707–1727 under guardianship)
    - Baden-Durlach
      - Margrave : Karl Friedrich (1738–1771) (1738–1746 under guardianship) (1771–1803 Margrave of Baden, 1803–1806 Elector of Baden, 1806–1811 Grand Duke)
      - Regent: Karl August von Baden-Durlach (1738–1746)
  - Brandenburg-Ansbach
    - Margrave : Karl Wilhelm Friedrich (1723–1757)
  - Brandenburg-Bayreuth
    - Margrave : Friedrich III. (1735–1763)
  - Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel
    - Duke : Charles I (1735–1780)
  - Hessen-Darmstadt
    - Landgrave : Louis VIII (1739–1768)
  - Hessen-Kassel
    - Landgrave : Frederick I (1730–1751) (1720–1751 King of Sweden)
      - Governor: Wilhelm von Hessen-Kassel (1730–1751) (1751–1760 Landgrave)
  - Hohenzollern-Hechingen
    - Prince : Friedrich Ludwig (1735–1750)
  - Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen
    - Prince : Joseph Friedrich Ernst (1715–1769) (until 1720 under guardianship)
  - Jülich and Berg
    - Duke : Karl Philipp (1716–1742) (1716–1742 Elector of the Palatinate, 1716–1742 Duke of Palatinate-Neuburg)
  - Liechtenstein
    - Prince : Johann Nepomuk Karl (1732–1748) (1732– / 1745 under guardianship)
    - Regent: Josef Wenzel (1732–1745) (1712–1718, 1748–1772 Prince of Liechtenstein)
  - Mecklenburg
    - Mecklenburg-Schwerin
      - Duke : Christian Ludwig II. (1728–1756)
    - Mecklenburg-Strelitz
      - Duke : Adolf Friedrich III. (1708–1752)
  - Nassau
    - Ottonian line
      - Nassau-Diez
        Prince : Wilhelm IV. (1711–1751) (1722–1729 governor of Drenthe, 1729–1751 governor of Friesland and Groningen, 1747–1751 governor of Holland, Overijssel, Utrecht and Zeeland, 1747–1751 governor of the Netherlands)
      - Nassau-Siegen (Catholic line)
        Prince : Wilhelm Hyacinth (1699–1743)
    - Walramic line
      - Nassau-Saarbrücken
        
        Prince : Wilhelm Heinrich (1735–1768) (until 1741 under guardianship)
        
        Regent: Karl von Nassau-Usingen (1738–1741)
      - Nassau-Usingen
        Prince : Karl (1718–1775) (until 1733 under guardianship)
      - Nassau-Weilburg
        Prince : Karl August (1719–1753)
  - Austria
    - Archduke : Charles II (1711–1740) (1711–1740 Emperor, 1711–1740 King of Bohemia, 1706–1740 Duke of Milan, 1713–1735 King of Naples, 1735–1740 Duke of Parma, 1713–1720 King of Sardinia , 1720–1735 King of Sicily, 1711–1740 King of Hungary)
    - Archduchess: Maria Theresa (1740–1780) (1740–1780 Queen of Bohemia, 1740–1780 Duchess of Milan, 1740–1780 Duchess of Parma, 1740–1780 Queen of Hungary)
  - Ostfriesland
    - Prince : Carl Edzard (1734–1744)
  - Pfalz-Neuburg
    - Duke : Charles III. Philipp (1716–1742) (1716–1742 Elector Palatinate, 1716–1742 Duke of Jülich and Berg)
  - Pfalz-Sulzbach
    - Duke : Karl Theodor (1733–1799) (1742–1777 Elector Palatinate, 1777–1799 Elector Palatinate-Bavaria, 1742–1799 Duke of Palatinate-Neuburg, 1742–1794 / 99 Duke of Jülich and Berg)
  - Pfalz-Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld
    - Duke : Christian IV (1735–1775)
  - Duchy of Saxony
    - Saxony-Coburg-Saalfeld (joint government)
      - Duke : Christian Ernst (1729–1745)
      - Duke: Franz Josias (1729–1764)
    - Saxony-Eisenach
      - Duke : Wilhelm Heinrich (1729–1741)
    - Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
      - Duke : Friedrich III. (1732–1772)
    - Saxony-Hildburghausen
      - Duke : Ernst Friedrich II. (1724–1745) (1724–1728 under guardianship)
    - Saxony-Meiningen
      - Duke : Karl Friedrich (1729–1743) (1729–1733 under guardianship)
    - Saxe-Weimar
      - Duke : Ernst August I (1707–1741) (1741–1748 Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach)
  - Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt
    - Prince : Friedrich Anton (1718–1744)
  - Schwarzburg-Sondershausen
    - Prince : Günther I. (1720–1740)
    - Prince: Heinrich (1740–1758)
  - Waldeck
    - Prince : Karl August Friedrich (1728–1763)
  - Württemberg
    - Duke : Karl Eugen (1737–1793)
- other imperial estates (selection)
  - lip
    - Lippe-Biesterfeld
      - Count : Friedrich Karl August (1736–1781)
    - Lippe-Detmold
      - Count : Simon August (1734–1782)
    - Lippe-Biesterfeld-Weißenfeld
      - Count : Ferdinand Ludwig (1736–1781)
  - Ortenburg
    - Count : Karl III. (1725–1776) (1725–1739 under guardianship)
  - Reuss
    - Reuss older line
      - Reuss overburden
        Count : Heinrich XI. (1723–1768) (1768–1778 Count of Reuss-Greiz, 1778–1800 Prince of Reuss older line)
      - Reuss undergrowth
        Count : Heinrich III. (1733–1768)
    - Reuss younger line
      - Reuss-Ebersdorf
        Count : Heinrich XXIX. (1711–1747)
      - Reuss-Gera
        Count : Heinrich XXV. (1735–1748)
      - Reuss-Lobenstein
        Count : Heinrich II. (1739–1782)
      - Reuss-Schleiz
        Count : Heinrich I (1726–1744)
  - Schaumburg-Lippe
    - Count : Albrecht Wolfgang (1728–1748)

Italian states
- Genoa
  - Doge : Costantino Balbi (1738-1740)
  - Doge: Nicolò Spinola (1740–1742)
- Guastalla
  - Duke : Giuseppe Gonzaga (1729–1746)
- Papal States
  - Pope : Clement XII. (1730-1740)
  - Pope: Benedict XIV (1740–1758)
- Milan (1706–1800 to Austria)
  - Duke : Emperor Charles VI. (1706–1740) (1711–1740 Emperor, 1711–1740 King of Bohemia, 1713–1735 King of Naples, 1711–1740 Archduke of Austria, 1735–1740 Duke of Parma, 1713–1720 King of Sardinia, 1720–1735 King of Sicily, 1711–1740 King of Hungary)
  - Duchess: Maria Theresa (1740–1780) (1740–1780 Queen of Bohemia, 1740–1780 Archduchess of Austria, 1740–1780 Duchess of Parma, 1740–1780 Queen of Hungary)
    - Governor : Otto Ferdinand von Abensperg and Traun (1736–1743)
- Massa and Carrara
  - Duchess : Maria Teresa Cybo-Malaspina (1731–1790) (until 1744 under guardianship)
  - Regent: Ricciarda Gonzaga (1731–1744)
- Modena and Reggio
  - Duke : Francesco III. d'Este (1737–1780) (1754–1771 Governor of Milan)
- Naples (1735–1806 personal union with Sicily)
  - King : Charles VII (1735–1759) (1731–1735 Duke of Parma and Piacenza, 1735–1759 King of Sicily, 1759–1788 King of Spain)
- Parma and Piacenza
  - Duke : Charles II (1735–1740) (1711–1740 Emperor, 1711–1740 King of Bohemia, 1706–1740 Duke of Milan, 1713–1735 King of Naples, 1711–1740 Archduke of Austria, 1713–1720 King of Sardinia , 1720–1735 King of Sicily, 1711–1740 King of Hungary)
  - Duchess: Maria Theresa (1740–1780) (1740–1780 Queen of Bohemia, 1740–1780 Duchess of Milan, 1740–1780 Archduchess of Austria, 1740–1780 Queen of Hungary)
- Piombino
  - Princess : Maria Eleonora Boncompagni Ludovisi (1733–1745)
- Sardinia (since 1720 part of Savoy)
  - King : Karl Emanuel III. (1730–1773) (1720–1730 and 1732–1773 Duke of Savoy)
    - Viceroy : Francesco Luigi d'Alligne (1738–1741)
- Savoy
  - Duke : Charles Emanuel III. ( 1720–1730 , 1732–1773) (1730–1773 King of Sardinia)
- Sicily (1735–1806 in personal union with Naples)
  - King : Charles V (1735–1759) (1735–1759 King of Naples, 1731–1735 Duke of Parma and Piacenza, 1759–1788 King of Spain)
    - Viceroy : Bartolomeo Corsini (1737–1747)
- Tuscany
  - Grand Duke : Franz Stephan (1737–1765) (1745–1765 Emperor, 1729–1736 Duke of Lorraine)
- Venice
  - Doge : Alvise Pisani (1735–1741)

Khanate of Crimea
- Khan : Meñli II. Giray ( 1724-1730 , 1737-1740)
- Khan: Selâmet II Giray (1740–1743)

Courland
- Duke : Ernst Johann von Biron (1737–1758, 1763–1769 )

Malta
- Grandmaster : Ramon Despuig (1736–1741)

Moldova (under Ottoman rule)
- Prince : Grigore II. Ghica ( 1726–1733, 1735–1739 , 1739–1741, 1747–1748 ) (1733–1735, 1748–1752 Prince of Wallachia)

Monaco
- Prince : Honoré III. (1732–1793)
  - Governor General: Antoine Grimaldi (1732–1784)

Netherlands
- Republic of the Seven United Provinces
  - Drenthe
    - Governor : William IV of Orange (1722–1747) (1711–1747 governor of Friesland, 1722–1747 governor of Geldern, 1718–1747 governor of Groningen, 1747 governor of Holland, Zealand, Utrecht and Overijssel, 1747–1751 heir to the Netherlands)
  - Friesland
    - Governor : William IV of Orange (1711–1747) (1722–1747 governor of Drenthe and Geldern, 1718–1747 governor of Groningen, 1747 governor of Holland, Zealand, Utrecht and Overijssel, 1747–1751 heir to the Netherlands)
  - Gelderland
    - Governor : William IV of Orange (1722–1747) (1722–1747 governor of Drenthe, 1711–1747 governor of Friesland, 1718–1747 governor of Groningen, 1747 governor of Holland, Zealand, Utrecht and Overijssel, 1747–1751 inheritor of the Netherlands)
  - Groningen
    - Governor : William IV of Orange (1718–1747) (1722–1747 governor of Drenthe and Geldern, 1711–1747 governor of Friesland, 1747 governor of Holland, Zealand, Utrecht and Overijssel, 1747–1751 heir to the Netherlands)
  - Holland and Zeeland
    - Governor : vacant (1702–1747)
  - Overijssel
    - Governor : vacant (1702–1747)
  - Utrecht
    - Governor : vacant (1702–1747)
- Austrian Netherlands (formally part of the Holy Roman Empire until 1714/95)
  - Lieuteness : Maria Elisabeth of Austria (1724–1741)

Ottoman Empire
- Sultan : Mahmud I (1730–1754)

Poland
- King : August III. (1733–1763) (1733–1763 Elector of Saxony)

Portugal
- King : John V (1706–1750)

Prussia
- King : Friedrich Wilhelm I (1713–1740) (1713–1740 Elector of Brandenburg)
- King: Friedrich II. (1740–1786) (1740–1786 Elector of Brandenburg)

Russia
- Empress : Anna (1730–1740) (1711–1730 regent of Courland)
- Emperor: Ivan VI. (1740–1741)

Sweden
- King : Friedrich (1720–1751) (1730–1751 Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel)

Spain
- King : Philip V ( 1700–1724 , 1724–1746) (1700–1706 Duke of Milan, 1700–1713 King of Naples, 1700–1713 King of Sardinia, 1700–1713 King of Sicily)

Hungary
- King : Charles III. (1711–1740) (1711–1740 Emperor, 1711–1740 King of Bohemia, 1706–1740 Duke of Milan, 1713–1735 King of Naples, 1711–1740 Archduke of Austria, 1735–1740 Duke of Parma, 1713–1720 King of Sardinia, 1720–1735 King of Sicily)
- Queen: Maria Theresa (1740–1780) (1740–1780 Queen of Bohemia, 1740–1780 Duchess of Milan, 1740–1780 Archduchess of Austria, 1740–1780 Duchess of Parma)

Wallachia (under Ottoman rule)
- Prince : Constantin Mavrocordat ( 1730, 1731–1733 , 1735–1741, 1744–1748, 1756–1758, 1761–1763 ) (1733–1735, 1741–1743, 1748–1749, 1769 Prince of Moldavia)