A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine that accurately incorporates demands related to various capabilities of the internal combustion engine. A demand output unit outputs various capability demands of the internal combustion engine, expressed in terms of either torque, efficiency, or an air-fuel ratio data. A torque mediation unit collects only the demand values expressed in terms of torque, and mediates the torque demand values into one. An efficiency mediation unit collects the demand values expressed in terms of efficiency and mediates the efficiency demand values into one. An air-fuel ratio mediation unit collects the demand values expressed in terms of the air-fuel ratio and mediates the air-fuel ratio demand values into one. A control variable computing unit computes control variables of actuators, based upon the torque demand value, efficiency demand value, and air-fuel ratio demand value output from the mediation units.