List of state leaders in 972

971 state leaders - Events of 972 - 973 state leaders - State leaders by year -----

Africa

*Fatimid Caliphate - unicode|Maˤād al-Muˤizz li Dīn Allāh, Caliph (953-975)
**Ifriqiya - Buluggin ibn Ziri, Zirid Viceroy (972-984)

Americas

Asia

*Byzantine Empire - John I Tzimiskes (Ιωάννης Α' Κουρκούας ο Τσιμισκής), Byzantine Emperor, 969 - 976
*China -
** Northern Song Dynasty - Taizu, Emperor of Song China (960-976)
** Dingnan - Li Kerui, Dingnan Jiedushi (967-978)
** Northern Han - Liu Jiyuan, Emperor of Northern Han (970-979)
** Pinghai - Chen Hongjin, Pinghai Jiedushi (963-978)
** Southern Tang - Li Houzhu, Ruler of Southern Tang (961-975)
** Wuyue - Qian Chu, King of Wuyue (947-978)
*Japan -
**Monarch - Emperor En'yū, emperor of Japan (969-984)
**Regent (Sessho; Kampaku) -
**#Fujiwara no Koretada, Sessho (970-972)
**#Fujiwara no Kanemichi, Kampaku (972-977)
*Korea (Goryeo Dynasty) - Gwangjong, King of Goryeo (949-975)
*Liao (Khitan Empire) - Jingzong, Emperor of Liao (969-982)
*Byzantine Empire - John I Tzimisces, Byzantine Emperor (969-976)

Europe

*Al-Andalus - Al-Hakam II (961-976)
*Bohemia
**Boleslaus I, Duke of Bohemia (935-972)
**Boleslaus II, Duke of Bohemia (972-999)
*Bulgaria
**Boris II, Tsar of Bulgaria (969-972)
**Interregnum Comitopuli brothers (David, Moses, Aron, Samuil) (972-976)
*Byzantine Empire - John I Tzimiskes (Ιωάννης Α' Κουρκούας ο Τσιμισκής), Byzantine Emperor, 969 - 976
*Denmark - Harold I, King of Denmark (c.958-986)
*England - Edgar, King of England (959-975)
*Germany - Otto I, King of Germany and Holy Roman Emperor (936-973)
**Bavaria - Henry II the Quarrelsome, Duke of Bavaria (955-976)
**Saxony - Hermann. Duke of Saxony (961-973)
**Swabia - Burchard III, Duke of Swabia (954-973)
*Hungary - Géza, Fejedelem of the Magyars (c.940-997)
*Norway - Harald Greyhide, King of Norway (961-976)
*Papal States - John XIII, Pope (965-972)
* Poland - Mieszko I, Duke of Poland (ca 960-992)
*Scotland - Kenneth II, King of Scots (971-995)
*Sweden
**Eric the Victorious, King of Sweden (970-995)
**Olof (II) Björnsson, King of Sweden (970-975) (co-ruler)
*Venice - Pietro IV Candiano, Doge of Venice (959-976)
*Western Francia - Lothair, King of Western Francia (954-986)
**Anjou - Geoffrey I Greymantle, Count of Anjou (958-987)
**Aquitaine - William IV Iron Arm, Duke of Aquitaine (963-995)
**Burgundy - Otto-Henry, Duke of Burgundy (965-1002)
**Normandy - Richard I, Duke of Normandy (942-996)
**Provence - Rotbold III, Count of Provence (961-1008)

Middle East

*Abbasid Caliphate - Al-Muti, Caliph (946-974)
*Byzantine Empire - John I Tzimiskes (Ιωάννης Α' Κουρκούας ο Τσιμισκής), Byzantine Emperor, 969 - 976
*Persia
**Fars (Buwayhids) - 'Adud al-Daula, Emir (949-983)
**Iraq (Buwayhids) - 'Izz al-Daula, Emir (967-978)
**Mazandaran (Ziyarids) - Bisutun, Emir (967-976)
**Jibal (Buwayhids) - Rukn al-Daula, Emir (935-976)
**Samanids - Mansur I (961-976)
**Seistan (Saffarids) - Wali-ud-Dawlah Khalaf I (963-1003)