List of honours of Italy awarded to heads of state and royalty
This article serves as an index – as complete as possible – of all the honorific orders or similar decorations awarded by Italy, classified by Monarchies chapter and Republics chapter, and, under each chapter, recipients' countries and the detailed list of recipients.
Italy
- President Giuseppe Saragat (1964–1971):
- Grand Master of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
- Grand Master of the Military Order of Italy
- Grand Master of the Order of Merit for Labour
- Grand Master of the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity
- Founding Grand Master of the Order of Vittorio Veneto (1968–1971)
- President Giovanni Leone (1971–1978):
- Grand Master of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
- Grand Master of the Military Order of Italy
- Grand Master of the Order of Merit for Labour
- Grand Master of the Order of the Star of Italy
- Grand Master of the Order of Vittorio Veneto
- President Sandro Pertini (1978–1985):
- Grand Master of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
- Grand Master of the Military Order of Italy
- Grand Master of the Order of Merit for Labour
- Grand Master of the Order of the Star of Italy
- Grand Master of the Order of Vittorio Veneto
- President Francesco Cossiga (1985–1992):
- Grand Master of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
- Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (29 April 1992)
- Grand Master of the Military Order of Italy
- Grand Master of the Order of Merit for Labour
- Grand Master of the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity
- Grand Master of the Order of Vittorio Veneto
- President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro (1992–1999):
- Grand Master of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
- Grand Master of the Military Order of Italy
- Grand Master of the Order of Merit for Labour
- Grand Master of the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity
- Grand Master of the Order of Vittorio Veneto
- President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi (1999–2006):
- Grand Master of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
- Grand Master of the Military Order of Italy
- Grand Master of the Order of Merit for Labour
- Grand Master of the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity
- Grand Master of the Order of Vittorio Veneto
- President Giorgio Napolitano (2006–2015):
- Grand Master of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
- Grand Master of the Military Order of Italy
- Grand Master of the Order of Merit for Labour
- Grand Master of the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity, now Order of the Star of Italy
- Grand Master of the Order of Vittorio Veneto
- President Sergio Mattarella (2015–incumbent):
- Grand Master of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
- Grand Master of the Military Order of Italy
- Grand Master of the Order of Merit for Labour
- Grand Master of the Order of the Star of Italy
- Grand Master of the Order of Vittorio Veneto
Monarchies
- European monarchies
United Kingdom
- Queen Elizabeth II: Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (1958)
Norway
See also decorations pages (mark °): Harald, Sonja, Haakon, Mette-Marit, Mârtha Louise, Astrid & Ragnhild
- Harald V of Norway: Knight Grand Cross (06/1965) with Collar (10/2001) of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
- Queen Sonja of Norway: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (19 October 2001)
- Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (September 2004)
- Mette-Marit, Crown Princess of Norway: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (September 2004)
Sweden
- Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden: Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (8 April 1991)
- Queen Silvia of Sweden: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (8 April 1991)
- Princess Christina, Mrs. Magnuson:Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (5 May 1998)
Denmark
See also decorations pages (click on "Decorations"): Margrethe – Henrik – Frederik – Mary – Joachim – Marie – Benedikte
- Margrethe II of Denmark: Dame Grand Cross (20 April 1964) with Collar (8 November 1977) of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
- Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (19 October 1993)
- Princess Benedikte of Denmark: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (20 April 1964)
Netherlands
- Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands: Knight Grand Cross (23 October 1973) with Collar (27 March 1985) of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
- Princess Margriet of the Netherlands: Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (23 October 1973)
- Pieter van Vollenhoven: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (23 October 1973)
Belgium
- King Albert II
: Knight Grand Cross (29 October 1973) with Collar (12 August 1998) of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
: Knight of the Order of the Most Holy Annunciation
: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus
- Queen Paola:
: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (12 May 1998)
Luxembourg
- Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg: Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (14 March 2003)
- Maria Teresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (30 January 2009)
- Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (30 January 2009)
Spain
- Juan Carlos I of Spain: Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (26 May 1980)
- Queen Sofía of Spain: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (27 June 1996)
- Felipe, Prince of Asturias: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (27 June 1996)
- Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (27 June 1996)
Monaco
- Albert II, Prince of Monaco: Knight Grand Cross with Grand Cordon of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (12 December 2005)
- Charlene, Princess of Monaco: Grand Cross of the Order of the Star of Italy (20 February 2014)
- African monarchies
Morocco
- King Mohammed VI of Morocco (1999–incumbent): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (11 April 2000)
- Middle East monarchies
Jordan
- Queen Noor of Jordan: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (26 November 1983)
- Abdullah II of Jordan: Knight Grand Cross (15 January 1987) with Grand Cordon (9 February 2001) of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
- Queen Rania of Jordan: Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (19 October 2009)
- Prince Hamzah bin Al Hussein, son of Queen Noor of Jordan, half-brother of Abdullah II of Jordan: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (14 February 2001)
- Prince Muhammad bin Talal, eldest younger brother of King Hussein I of Jordan: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic (26 November 1983)
- Prince Hassan bin Talal, youngest brother of King Hussein I of Jordan: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (26 November 1983)
- Late members
- Hussein of Jordan: Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (26 November 1983)
Kuwait
- Emir Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah of Kuwait (2006–incumbent): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (26 April 2010)
Oman
- Qaboos bin Said al Said: Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
Qatar
- Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani (1995–2013): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (26 April 2000)
Saudi Arabia
- King Fahd of Saudi Arabia (1982–2005): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (19 July 1997)
- King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia (2005–incumbent): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (30 October 2007)
- Asian monarchies
Thailand
- Queen Sirikit of Thailand: Dame Grand Cross of The Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (22 September 1960)
Perlis
- Sultan Sirajuddin of Perlis (as Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia, December 2001 – December 2006):
- Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (9 June 2003)
- Tuanku Fauziah (Sultan Sirajuddin of Perlis's wife):
- Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (9 June 2003)
Japan
- Emperor Akihito: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (9 March 1982)
- Crown Prince Naruhito: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (9 March 1982)
- Prince Akishino: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (12 April 1998)
- Oceanan monarchies
Iran
- Mohammad Reza Pahlavi: Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (26 August 1957)
- Farah Pahlavi: Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (15 December 1974)
- Crown Prince Cyrus-Reza Pahlavi: Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (15 December 1974)
Order of Malta
- Fra' Andrew Bertie (1988–2008): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (22 May 1990)
- Fra' Matthew Festing (2008–): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (27 October 2008)
Republics
- Republics of Europe
Albania
- President Sali Berisha (1992–1997): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (23 April 1996)
Austria
- President Thomas Klestil (1992–2004): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (27 January 1993)
- President Heinz Fischer (2004–incumbent): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (8 June 2007)
- President Georgi Parvanov (2002–2012): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (5 April 2005)
Croatia
- President Stjepan Mesić (2000–2010): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (5 October 2001)
- President Ivo Josipović (2010–incumbent): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (6 July 2011)
Czech Republic
- President Václav Havel (1993–2003): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (27 March 2002)
Estonia
- President Lennart Meri (1992–2001): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (22 May 1997)
- President Arnold Rüütel (2001–2006): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (8 April 2004)
Finland
- President Mauno Henrik Koivisto (1982–1994): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (14 September 1993)
- President Martti Ahtisaari (1994–2000): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (28 January 1997)
- President Tarja Halonen (2000–2012): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (1 September 2008)
France
- President René Coty (1954–1959): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (6 December 1954)
- President Charles de Gaulle (1959–1969): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (16 June 1959)
- President Georges Pompidou (1969–1974): Knight Grand Cross (19 February 1964) with Collar (1 October 1973) of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
- President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing (1974–1981), when minister: Grand Officer (19 February 1964) and Knight Grand Cross (1 October 1973) of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
- President François Mitterrand (1981–1995): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (5 July 1982)
- Danielle Mitterrand, his wife: Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (26 January 1990)
- President Jacques Chirac (1995–2007): Knight Grand Cross (1 October 1973) with Collar (21 October 1999) of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
- President François Hollande (2012–incumbent): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (15 November 2012)
Germany
- President Karl Carstens (1979–1984): Grand Officer (19 December 1959), Knight Grand Cross (8 August 1965) with Collar (18 September 1979) of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
- President Richard von Weizsäcker (1984–1994): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
- Marianne von Weizsäcker, his wife: Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (24 April 1986)
- President Roman Herzog (1994–1999): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (20 April 1997)
- President Johannes Rau (1999–2004): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (22 March 2002)
- Christina Rau, his wife: Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (12 April 2002)
- President Horst Köhler (2004–2010): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (15 March 2006)
- Eva Köhler, his wife: Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (21 March 2006)
- President Joachim Gauck (2012–incumbent): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (20 February 2013)
Greece
- President Konstantinos Karamanlis (1980–85, 1990–95): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (18 November 1980)
- President Konstantinos Stephanopoulos (1995–2005): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (23 January 2001)
- President Karolos Papoulias (2005–incumbent): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (18 January 2006)
Hungary
- President Árpád Göncz (1990–2000): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (15 July 1991)
- President Ferenc Mádl (2000–2005): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (17 June 2002)
Iceland
- President Vigdís Finnbogadóttir (1980–1996): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (5 October 1987)
Ireland
- President Patrick Hillery (1976–1990): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (25 July 1986)
Latvia
- President Guntis Ulmanis (1993–1999): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (21 May 1997)
- President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga (1999–2007): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (8 April 2004)
Lithuania
- President Algirdas Brazauskas (1993–1998): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (20 May 1997)
- President Valdas Adamkus (1998–2003, 2004–2009): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (23 February 1999)
Malta
- President Ċensu Tabone (1989–1994): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (18 September 1991)
- President Ugo Mifsud Bonnici (1994–1999): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (16 November 1995)
- President Guido de Marco (1999–2004): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (16 January 2004)
- President Eddie Fenech Adami (2004–2009): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (11 May 2005)
- President George Abela (2009–incumbent): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (25 June 2010)
Poland
- President Wojciech Jaruzelski (1985–1990): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (12 May 1989)
- President Aleksander Kwaśniewski (1995–2005): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (28 May 1996)
- Bronisław Komorowski (2010–incumbent): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (10 June 2012)
Portugal
- President António Santos Ramalho Eanes (1976–1986): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (14 May 1980)
- President Mário Alberto Nobre Lopes Soares (1986–1996): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (5 April 1989)
- President Jorge Sampaio (1996–2006): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (27 November 2001)
Romania
- President Ion Iliescu (1989–96, 2000–04): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, (15 October 2003)
- President Traian Băsescu (2004–incumbent): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (7 September 2011)
Russia
- President Boris Yeltsin (1991–1999): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (19 December 1991)
San Marino
- Adalmiro Bartolini, Captain Regent (1 April – 1 October 1990): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (11 June 1990)
- Ottaviano Rossi, Captain Regent (1 April – 1 October 1990): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (11 June 1990)
- Luigi Mazza, Captain Regent (1 October 1997 – 1 April 1998): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (3 March 1998)
- Marino Zanotti, Captain Regent (1 October 1997 – 1 April 1998): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (3 March 1998)
- Alberto Cecchetti, Captain Regent (1 October 2001 – 1 April 2002): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (11 March 2002)
- Gino Giovagnoli, Captain Regent (1 October 2001 – 1 April 2002): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (11 March 2002)
Serbia and Montenegro
- President Vojislav Koštunica (2000–2003): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (14 January 2002)
Slovakia
- President Michal Kováč (1993–1998): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (13 November 1997)
- President Rudolf Schuster (1999–2004): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, (28 June 2002)
- President Ivan Gašparovič (2004–incumbent): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, (20 February 2007)
Slovenia
- President Danilo Türk (2007–2012): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (11 January 2011)
Turkey
- President Fahri Korutürk (1973–1980): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (29 April 1978)
- President Süleyman Demirel (1993–2000): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (7 October 1996)
- President Abdullah Gül (2007–incumbent): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, (30 October 2009)
Ukraine
- President Leonid Kuchma (1994–2005): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (3 May 1995)
Yugoslavia (1992–2006)
- President Josip Broz Tito (1953–1980): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (2 October 1969)
- President Cvijetin Mijatović (1980–1981): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (17 December 1980)
- Republics of the Middle East
Lebanon
- President Elias Hrawi (1989–1998): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (5 November 1997)
- President Michel Suleiman (2008–incumbent): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, (14 October 2008)
Palestinian Authority
- President Yasser Arafat (1994–2004): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (19 February 1999)
- Republics of the Far East
Kazakhstan
- President Nursultan Nazarbayev (1990–incumbent): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (4 May 1997)
Philippines
- President Corazon Aquino (1986–1992): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (16 June 1988)
South Korea
- President Kim Dae-jung (1998–2003): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (2 March 2000)
- President Lee Myung-bak (2008–2013): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, (2 September 2009)
Uzbekistan
- President Islam Karimov (1990-incumbent): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (2 May 1997)
- Republics of the Americas
Argentina
- President Raúl Alfonsín (1983–1989): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (11 March 1985)
- President Carlos Menem (1989–1999): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (5 October 1992)
- President Fernando de la Rúa (1999–2001): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (7 March 2001)
Brazil
- President Fernando Henrique Cardoso (1995–2003): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (24 June 1995)
Chile
- President Patricio Aylwin Azócar (1990-1994): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (17 April 1991)
- President Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle (1994–2000): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (19 July 1995)
- President Ricardo Lagos (2000-2006): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (3 March 2000)
- Mme President Michelle Bachelet (2006–2010): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, (9 October 2007)
Colombia
- President Julio César Turbay Ayala (1978–1982): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (1 April 1981)
Costa Rica
- President Rodrigo Carazo Odio (1978–1982): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (30 March 1981)
- President Luis Alberto Monge (1982–1986): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (20 June 1984)
Dominican Republic
- President Leonel Fernández (1996–2000, 2004–12): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (19 January 1999)
Mexico
- President Luis Echeverría (1970–1976): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (8 February 1974)
- President José López Portillo (1976–1982): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic ()
- President Ernesto Zedillo (1994–2000): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (26 March 1996)
Peru
- President Alejandro Toledo (2001–2006): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, (4 December 2002)
Uruguay
- President Julio María Sanguinetti (1985–1990, 1995–2000): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (21 July 1995)
- President Jorge Batlle Ibáñez (2000-2005): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (7 March 2001)
Venezuela
- President Carlos Andrés Pérez (1974–1979, 1989–1993): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (17 November 1976)
- President Jaime Lusinchi (1984–1989): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (6 June 1988)
- President Rafael Caldera (1994–1999): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (29 June 1995)
- Republics of Africa
Algeria
- President Abdelaziz Bouteflika (1999–incumbent): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (15 November 1999)
Egypt
- President Anwar Sadat (1970–1981): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (6 April 1976)
- President Mohamed Hosni Mubarak (1981–2011): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (30 January 1982)
Gabon
- President Omar Bongo (1967–2009): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (21 November 1973)
Ghana
- President John Kufuor (2001–2009): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, (11 October 2006)
Mozambique
- President Samora Machel (1975–1986): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (14 October 1981)
South Africa
- President Thabo Mbeki (1999–2008): Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (6 March 2002)