Top 10 Most Popular Global Political Leaders in 2025 (Latest Approval Ratings)

Amid geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, and shifting global power dynamics, public approval of political leaders offers a clear window into how citizens evaluate leadership. Factors such as economic management, foreign policy decisions, domestic stability, and crisis handling play a crucial role in shaping public opinion.

As 2025 draws to a close, the latest Morning Consult global approval ratings, based on surveys conducted between December 8 and 14, 2025, reveal significant changes in global leadership rankings. While some leaders have strengthened their popularity, others—especially in Europe—are facing declining approval.

This article provides a detailed and exam-relevant overview of the Top 10 most popular global political leaders in 2025, an important topic for current affairs preparation, essays, and interviews.

PM Narendra Modi Remains the World’s Most Popular Leader

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has once again secured the top position globally, maintaining his dominance in international approval rankings for another year.

With a 71% approval rating, PM Modi remains far ahead of other world leaders. Although this figure is slightly lower than the 75% recorded in January 2025, his popularity continues to reflect strong domestic support, driven by economic reforms, infrastructure expansion, and India’s growing global influence.

Asia Strengthens Its Presence in Global Leadership Rankings

One of the most notable trends in 2025 is the rise of Asian leaders in public approval rankings.

• Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi climbed to second place, marking a major political shift in East Asia.
• South Korea’s President Lee Jae-myung secured the third position, highlighting public confidence in his governance and reform agenda.

Together, they replaced leaders from Argentina and Switzerland who had ranked higher earlier in the year.

Europe Faces Declining Public Trust

In contrast, many European leaders are struggling with low approval ratings. According to the survey:

• French President Emmanuel Macron ranked last globally, with disapproval nearing 80%.
• UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz recorded approval ratings in the 30% range.
• Several Nordic leaders also faced declining public confidence.

This trend reflects voter dissatisfaction over inflation, migration challenges, and political instability across Europe.

US President Donald Trump Slips in Rankings

Re-elected US President Donald Trump fell from fifth position earlier in 2025 to ninth place in December. His approval and disapproval ratings are almost evenly split, highlighting a deeply polarized American electorate.

Meanwhile, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who was previously in the top 10, dropped to 11th place, narrowly missing the list.

Top 10 Global Political Leaders by Approval Ratings – December 2025

Based on the Morning Consult Survey (Dec 8–14, 2025), here are the world’s most popular leaders:

1. Narendra Modi (India) – Prime Minister

• Approval: 71%
• Disapproval: 22%

2. Sanae Takaichi (Japan) – Prime Minister

• Approval: 61%
• Disapproval: 26%

3. Lee Jae-myung (South Korea) – President

• Approval: 56%
• Disapproval: 35%

4. Javier Milei (Argentina) – President

• Approval: 55%
• Disapproval: 41%

5. Mark Carney (Canada) – Prime Minister

• Approval: 48%
• Disapproval: 41%

6. Anthony Albanese (Australia) – Prime Minister

• Approval: 47%
• Disapproval: 43%

7. Claudia Sheinbaum (Mexico) – President

• Approval: 45%
• Disapproval: 49%

8. Karin Keller-Sutter (Switzerland) – President

• Approval: 43%
• Disapproval: 30%

9. Donald Trump (United States) – President

• Approval: 43%
• Disapproval: 51%

10. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Brazil) – President

• Approval: 42%
• Disapproval: 54%