The largest royal family in the world is the Al-Saud Family of Saudi Arabia. The Saudi ruling dynasty has over 15000 family members in 2023.
Democracy, as a system of governance, has prevailed in the 21st century. However, the practice of selecting citizens to rule over themselves hasn’t been the case for most of human history.
In the past, people looked for authoritative figures to rule over them and rarely considered them a form of oppression. Instead, people happily served their kings or rulers with great pride and even fought wars to protect their ruler’s interests.
While most countries today practice democracy, there are multiple royal families in the world. The royal families present in the west are mostly ceremonial; however, there are still a few countries where a king rules with an iron fist.
Today, we will discuss 10 existing royal families with the highest number of members.
1) Al-Saud Family of Saudi Arabia
The Al-Saud family of Qatar is the largest royal family in the world. According to Independent magazine, the House of Saud consisted of over 15 thousand members in 2012.
The family broke the Guinness World Record for the Largest Royal Family in 2002. Back then, the family consisted of more than four thousand royal princes and over 30 thousand relatives.
Established by King Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman in 1932, the clan is currently led by King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, aka Salman of Saudi Arabia.
King Salman took over the reign of the country on January 23, 2015. He became the ruler of Saudi Arabia after the death of his predecessor King Abdullah.
The Saudi King is the son of the late King Abdulaziz and one of his wives Hassa bint Ahmed Al Sudairi. He was born in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on December 31, 1985.
The current ruler of the Arab nation has been married thrice and had a minimum of 13 children, including a daughter and 12 sons. Among them, at least two of his children have passed away: Prince Fahd and Prince Ahmed.
The surviving kids of the Saudi monarch are:
- Prince Sultan bin Salman Al Saud [66-Year-Old]
- Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud [63]
- Prince Faisal bin Salman Al Saud [52]
- Princess Hassa bint Salman Al Saud [49]
- Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud [37]
- Prince Saud bin Salman Al Saud [36]
- Prince Turki bin Salman Al Saud [36]
- Prince Khalid bin Salman Al Saud [35]
- Prince Rakan bin Salman Al Saud [26]
The head of the Saudi royal family, King Salman, is currently 87 years old. His health has increasingly declined in recent years. His son Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is the Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia and will succeed his father’s throne after King Salman’s death.
Besides being one of the largest royal families, The House of Saud is also one of the richest. The net worth of the Saudi royal family is estimated to be over $1.4 trillion, as per a report by the House Of Saud.
However, many of the royal family members, including Basma Bint Saud Bin Abdul Aziz, have come forward claiming that the majority of the wealth is controlled by less than 2000 members of the family.
2) Thani Family of Qatar
The Thani family, or House of Thani, is the ruling dynasty of Qatar with more than eight thousand members.
The family is named after Thani bin Mohammed, the father of Islam founder Prophet Mohammed.
Their lineage can be traced back to their Arab ancestor Mudar ibn Nizar. The Thani tribe previously lived in the southern regions of Najd (currently Saudi Arabian territory). They moved to Qatar in the early 18th century and first settled in the city of Sikak.
The Thani clan is currently headed by Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the current Emir of Qatar. He was born in Doha, Qatar, on June 3, 1980, and is 42 years old.
Sheikh Tamim was declared the heir apparent to his father Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani’s royal throne in 2003. He eventually became the Emir of Qatar on June 25, 2013.
Emir Tamim has been married thrice and fathers 13 children from his three wives: six daughters and seven sons. The names of his children are:
- Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani [17]
- Sheikh Hamad bin Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani [14]
- Sheikha Naylah bint Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani [12]
- Sheikha Aisha bint Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani [12]
- Sheikh Jassim bin Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani [10]
- Sheikh Abdullah bin Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani [10]
- Sheikha Rodha bint Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani [9]
- Sheikh Joaan bin Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani [7]
- Sheikh Alqaqaa bin Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani [7]
- Sheikh Mohammed bin Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani [5]
- Sheikha Moza bint Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani [4]
- Sheikh Fahad bin Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani [4]
- Sheikha Hind bint Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani [3]
The Thani, or Al Thani, family is primarily divided into four major groups: Bani Ahmed, Bani Qassim, Bani Thamer, and Bani Jaber. While there are many minor factions of the Thani family, the earlier-mentioned groups are the most prominent ones.
According to SCMP, the Qatar royal family currently has an estimated net worth of $355 billion as of 2023. The family has made investments worth billions of dollars worldwide, including owning the famous French football club Paris Saint-Germain FC.
3) Sabah Family of Kuwait
The Sabah family, or the House of Sabah, is the ruling family of the middle eastern nation Kuwait.
Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, aka Emir Nawaf I, is the head of the family and the ruler of Kuwait. Born on June 25, 1937, he is currently 85 years old.
Nawaf I was appointed as the Emir of Kuwait after the death of his half-brother Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in 2020. Previously, he held administrative positions like the Governor of Hawally, Minister of Interior, Minister of Defense, Deputy Chief of Kuwait National Guard, Deputy Prime Minister of Kuwait, and more.
The current Emir is married to Sharifa Sulaiman Al-Jasem Al-Ghanim. Together, they have a daughter and four sons.
- Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah [67]
- Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah [65]
- Faisal Hmoud Al Malek Al-Sabah [59]
- Sheikha Hussa Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah
- Abdullah Al-Sabah
Emir Nawaf appointed his eldest son Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah as the Prime Minister of Kuwait on July 24, 2022.
Reportedly, the Kuwait royal family has around 1000 members along with total assets worth $360 billion.
4) Dlamini Family of Eswatini
The House of Dlamini refers to the royal family of the Kingdom of Eswatini, a Southern African nation bordered by South Africa and Mozambique.
Mswati III, aka Makhosetive Dlamini, is the current head of the family and the King of Eswatini. Born in Manzini, Swaziland, on April 19, 1968, he is currently 54 years old.
Mswati III was crowned as the king of Eswatini on April 25, 1986. He succeeded his father Sobhuza II, who ruled the nation for over 60 years.
The current ruler has been married to 15 wives, among whom two have left him and two have died. Therefore, he has only 11 wives now. Further, the 54-year-old has 36 children.
The names of his kids are as follows:
- Prince Sicalo [36]
- Princess Sikhanyiso Dlamini [36]
- Princess Temaswati Dlamini [35]
- Prince Lindani Dlamini [34]
- Prince Bandzile [33]
- Prince Majahonkhe [32]
- Prince Makhosini “Omari” Dlamini [32]
- Princess Tiyandza Dlamini [31]
- Princess Temtsimba Dlamini [31]
- Princess Tebukhosi Dlamini [29]
- Princess Temashayina Sibahle [27]
- Prince Buhlebenkhosi [26]
- Princess Sakhizwe Dlamini [2]
- Princess Sentelweyinkhosi [23]
- Prince Mcwasho [21]
- Princess Sibusisezweni [20]
- Princess Nkhosiyenzile [20]
- Prince Saziwangaye [19]
- Princess Makhosothando [18]
- Prince Betive [16]
- Princess Sihlalosemusa Buhlebetive [16]
- Princess Nikudumo Dlamini [14]
- Princess Mahemalanini Temave [14]
- Princess Wesive Mazwezulu Dlamini [11]
- Princess Sabusiswa Dlamini [11]
- Princess Mphilwenhle Dlamini [11]
- Princess Lomabheka [10]
- Prince Mehluli Dlamini [9]
- Princess Ntsandvweni [8]
- Princess Nolikhwa [6]
- Princess Mpandzese [5]
- Princess Lomchele [4]
- Prince Mkhandlo [2]
- Prince Lusuku
- Prince Maveletiveni
- Prince Sinawonkhe
It is common for a Swazi king to have multiple wives. Mswati III’s father Sobhuza II had over 125 wives and 210 children. The king was born Sobhuza II’s marriage to Queen Ntfombi, the joint head of Eswatini.
Under their culture, a woman is called a king’s wife only after she becomes pregnant with his child. Until then, she is considered a concubine, or liphovela. Moreover, the King is normally expected to marry at least one bride from each of the tribes in Eswatini.
The Dlamini royal family reportedly has a net worth of $10 billion; whereas, King Mswati III has a personal fortune of $100 million.
5) Bolkiah Family of Brunei
The Bolkiah family is the ruling family of Brunei, a nation located in Southern Asia.
Also called the House of Bolkiah, the family is currently headed by Hassanal Bolkiah ibni Omar Ali Saifuddien III, the King and Prime Minister of Brunei. He took over the throne after his father abdicated on October 5, 1967.
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah was born on July 15, 1946, in the British Protectorate of Brunei; he is 76 years old as of 2023. He is the son of the former Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III and his wife Pengiran Anak Damit.
The Sultan has been married thrice; he wedded his first wife Pengiran Anak Saleha in 1965. He also got married to Marian Abdul Aziz in 1982 and to Arzinaz Mazhar Hakim in 2005. However, he divorced his second and third wives in 2003 and 2010, respectively.
King Bolkiah fathered12 children from his three marriages, including:
- Hajah Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah [53]
- Hajah Muta-Wakkilah Hayatul Bolkiah [51]
- Al-Muhtadee Billah bin Hassanal Bolkiah [49]
- Hajah Majeedah Nuurul Bolkiah [47]
- Hajah Hafizah Sururul Bolkiah [43]
- Abdul Malik [40]
- Haji Abdul Azim [38*]
- Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah [38]
- Fadzillah Lubabul Bolkiah [37]
- Abdul Mateen [31]
- Abdul Wakeel [16]
- Ameerah Wardatul Bolkiah [15]
Among his 12 children, King Hassanal Bolkiah’s second-born son Haji Abdul Azim passed away on October 24, 2020. He died of multiple organ failures caused by the autoimmune disorder systemic vasculitis at the age of 38.
Besides his wife and 11 surviving children, the Brunei Sultan has 18 grandchildren and nine siblings. The Bolkiah family is also one of the richest royal families. The king alone has a net worth of nearly $30 billion, as per Celebrity Net Worth.
6) Chakri Family of Thailand
The Chakri family rules the Southeast Asian nation of Thailand.
Maha Vajiralongkorn is the head of the family and the King of Thailand. Currently 70 years old, he was born as the only son of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej and his wife Sirikit.
Vajiralongkorn was crowned as the King after his father’s death in 2016. However, his official coronation happened after nearly three years in 2019.
The Thai ruler has been married four times in his lifetime. He was married to Soamsawali Kitiyakara from 1977 to 1991, Sujarinee Vivacharawongse from 1994 to 1996, Srirasmi Suwadee from 2001 to 2014, and Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana in 2019.
King Vajiralongkorn fathers seven children from his four wives; he has five sons and two daughters, namely:
- Princess Bajrakitiyabha [44]
- Juthavachara Vivacharawongse [43]
- Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse [41]
- Chakriwat Vivacharawongse [39]
- Vatchrawee Vivacharawongse [37]
- Sirivannavari Nariratana [36]
- Dipangkorn Rasmijoti [17]
Vajiralongkorn’s youngest son Prince Dipangkorn is the heir presumptive to the Thai King’s throne. He is the only officially recognized son of the ruler.
The Chakri dynasty can be traced back to 1782 when the family took over Thailand from King Taksin. Rama I is the first King to rule from the Chakri Dynasty; he was initially a military leader for the Ayutthaya Kingdom.
King Vajiralongkorn currently has an estimated net worth of $30 billion, according to Celebrity Net Worth. The king has faced multiple criticisms for his non-traditional lifestyle and lavish spending despite the country suffering from various financial crises.
7) Tupou Family Of Tonga
The Tupou family is the reigning family of Tonga, a Polynesian country consisting of over 170 islands in the South Pacific.
Tupou family has ruled the nation for more than two centuries now. George Tupou I is the first ruler of Tonga from the Tupou family; his reign lasted nearly 48 years from 1845 to 1893.
The present ruler Tupou VI is the youngest son of Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV. After his father’s death in 2006, his elder brother George Tupou V became the king. Tupou VI was appointed the Monarch of Tonga after George passed away in 2012.
King Tupou VI got married to Nanasipauʻu Tukuʻaho in 1982. Nanasipauʻu is the King’s second cousin and the daughter of the former Prime Minister of Tonga, Baron Vaea. Together, the couple has three children, namely:
- Princess Lātūfuipeka Tukuʻaho [39]
- Prince Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukalala [37]
- Prince Ata [34]
Other than his wife and children, King Tupou VI has four grandchildren and a surviving sister named Pilolevu Tuita in his family.
8) Mountbatten-Windsor Family Of Britain
Mountbatten-Windsor is the lesser-known last name of the British royal family.
The family is headed by King Charles III; he took over the British royal throne in 2022. He was crowned after the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II, who rules the British empire for nearly 70 years.
The family’s lineage can be traced back to the 16th century when James I united Scotland and England. Over the centuries, many Kings have ruled over the empire, including Henry II, Henry III, Charles I, William II, William III, and more.
The British empire expanded exponentially in the 17th and 18th centuries. At one point, it was the largest empire in the world, reigning in America, Africa, and Asia.
While Mountbatten-Windsor is not the official last name of the British royal family, it has been used by several members of the family. As per a 1960 declaration made by the Privy Council, male members of the royal family without any royal titles would use the last name Mountbatten-Windsor. But, over the years other members of the family have also used the last name.
King Charles III has married twice; he first exchanged his vows with Diana Spencer, aka Princess Diana. The former couple was married from 1981 to 1996 during which they welcomed to two sons: Prince William and Prince Harry. The King later Camilla Parker Bowles, current Queen Consort, in 2005.
The British royal family has a net worth of $28 billion as of 2023. While they may not be the richest royal family, they certainly are one of the most influential families in the world.
9) Khalifa Family Of Bahrain
The Khalifa family is the ruling family of Bahrain, a middle eastern country located in the Persian Gulf.
Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa is the head of the Khalifa family and the Emir of Bahrain. He was born in Riffa, Bahrain, on January 28, 1950, and is currently 73 years old. He was crowned the Emir of Bahrain after his father Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa’s death on March 6, 1999.
King Hamad has married four wives: Sheikha Sabika bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Sheikha Sheia bint Hassan Al Khrayyesh Al Ajmi, Sheikha Hessa bint Faisal bin Muhammad bin Shuraim Al Marri, and Sheikha Manal bint Jabor Al Naimi.
He has also fathered a total of 12 kids, including five daughters and seven sons. The names of his children are:
- Sheikh Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa [53]
- Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa [47]
- Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Khalifa [45]
- Sheikha Najla bint Hamad Al Khalifa [41]
- Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa [35]
- Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa [33]
- Sheikha Munira bint Hamad Al Khalifa [32]
- Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad Al Khalifa [14*]
- Sheikha Noura bint Hamad Al Khalifa [29]
- Sheikh Sultan bin Hamad Al Khalifa [25]
- Sheikha Rima bint Hamad Al Khalifa [20]
- Sheikha Hessa bint Hamad Al Khalifa
Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad Al Khalifa, King Hamad’s second child from his third wife Sheikha Hessa bint Faisal bin Muhammad bin Shuraim Al Marri, passed away at the age of 14 on January 12, 2006.
The prince died in a car accident near Safriya, Manama when his car crashed into a bus. He was buried at the Al Rifa’a Cemetery a day after his death.
The Khalifa family, aka the House of Khalifa, was started over 257 years ago by Khalifa bin Mohammed in 1766. The family came to power in 1783 after Ahmed ibn Muhammad ibn Khalifa defeated the former ruler Sheikh Nasr Al-Madhkur.
The Bahrain royal family is also a multi-billionaire family with King Hamad’s net worth alone reaching almost $5 billion.
10) Nahyan Family Of Abu Dhabi
The Nahyan family, aka the House of Nahyan, is a ruling family of UAE (United Arab Emirates).
The house was founded by Sheikh Nahyan bin Falah love 262 years ago in 1761. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is the current ruler of Abu Dhabi and the President of UAE.
Born in Al Ain, UAE, on March 11, 1961, the Abu Dhabi King is 61 years old. He is the son of the former Abu Dhabi ruler Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and his third wife Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi.
After Sheikh Zayed passed away in 2004, his eldest son Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed succeeded the royal throne. Sheikh Mohamed was appointed the King after his elder half-brother suffered a stroke in 2014.
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed has been married to Sheikha Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan since 1980. Together, they have nine biological children: five daughters and four sons, namely:
- Sheikha Mariam bint Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
- Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan [41]
- Sheikha Shamsa bint Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan [39]
- Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
- Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
- Sheikha Fatima bint Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
- Sheikha Shamma bint Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan [31]
- Sheikh Zayed bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan [27]
- Sheikha Hessa bint Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Apart from his biological kids, the Abu Dhabi ruler has two adopted daughters named Amina and Salha. The King also has 16 grandchildren and multiple siblings.
Despite ruling over a comparatively small area of 972 km², the Nahyan family is extremely wealthy. The Abu Dhabi royal family reportedly has a net worth of over $300 billion; the King has a personal fortune of about $30 billion.