# 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.

## Awards
### 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
#### 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
** Republic of Italy : Knight Grand Cross (29 October 1973) with Collar (12 August 1998) of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
** House of Savoy : Knight of the Order of the Most Holy Annunciation
** House of Savoy : Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus
* Queen Paola:
** Republic of Italy : 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)

#### Malaysia
##### 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
### Former 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
#### 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)