Statsoverhoder
| Emirer (fra 1926 konger) | |
| 1842–63 | Dost Muhammad khan |
| 1863–78 | Shar Ali khan |
| 1878–79 | Yaqub khan |
| 1879–1901 | Abdurrahman khan |
| 1901–19 | Habibullah khan |
| 1919–29 | Amanullah khan |
| 1929–33 | Nadir (Muhammad Nadir khan) |
| 1933–73 | Zahir (Muhammad Zahir khan) |
| Presidenter* | |
| 1973–78 | Sardar Muhammad Daud |
| 1978–79 | Muhammad Nur Taraki |
| 1979 | Hafizullah Amin |
| 1979–87 | Babrak Karmal |
| 1987–92 | Muhammad Najibullah |
| 1992 | Sibghatullan Mujadidi |
| 1992–96 | Burhanuddin Rabbani |
| 2001 | Burhanuddin Rabbani |
| 2001– | Hamid Karzai |
*Under Taliban-styret (27. sep. 1996–13. nov. 2001) ble Afghanistan de facto ledet av Taliban-lederen mulla Mohammad Omar.