21st Century Political Leaders

Vote for Your Favourite 21st Century Political Leaders

Right IconThis ranking is based on an algorithm that combines various factors, including the votes of our users and search trends on the internet.

 1 
Barack Obama
(44th President of the United States (2009-2017))
Barack Obama
365
Birthdate: August 4, 1961
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Honolulu, Hawaii, United States

Former President of the United States, Barack Obama, has the distinction of being the first African-American president of the nation. A civil rights attorney and an academic, he has been credited with bringing about a significant improvement in America’s reputation abroad. His efforts to strengthen international diplomacy was recognized with the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize.

 2 
Nelson Mandela
(Anti-Apartheid Activist Who Served as the First President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999)
Nelson Mandela
78
Birthdate: July 18, 1918
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Mvezo, South Africa
Died: December 5, 2013
Revered as the Father of the Nation by the South Africans, Nelson Mandela was a statesman who rose to become the country’s first black head of state. He reconciled a nation divided along racial lines and dismantled the legacy of apartheid.
 3 
Shinzō Abe
(Former Prime Minister of Japan)
Shinzō Abe
30
Birthdate: September 21, 1954
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Tokyo
Died: July 8, 2022

Shinzō Abe was a Japanese politician who became the longest-serving prime minister in the history of Japan after serving as prime minister of Japan from 2006 to 2007 and then from 2012 to 2020. Aged 52 at the time of assuming office as the prime minister, Abe was also the youngest Japanese post-war prime minister.

Recommended Lists:
 4 
Aung San Suu Kyi
(Former State Counsellor of Myanmar (2016 - 2021) and Winner of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize)
Aung San Suu Kyi
36
Birthdate: June 19, 1945
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Yangon, Myanmar (Burma)

Aung San Suu Kyi is a Burmese politician and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate. She is credited with co-founding the National League for Democracy, which eventually ended the rule of Myanmar's military junta. In 1999, she was named one of the Children of Gandhi by Time magazine for enduring almost 15 years of house arrest for the greater good of Myanmar.

 5 
Ronald Reagan
(40th President of the United States (1981-1989))
Ronald Reagan
90
Birthdate: February 6, 1911
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Tampico, Illinois, United States
Died: June 5, 2004

An actor turned union leader turned politician, Ronald Wilson Reagan served as the 40th president of America. Hailed for his public speaking and communication skills, Reagan is one of the most popular Presidents of USA, mainly due to his ‘America First’ economic policies which led to a decrease in inflation and unemployment rates during his tenure.

 6 
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
(Aerospace Scientist & 11th President of India)
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
18
Birthdate: October 15, 1931
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, India
Died: July 27, 2015
A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, India’s 11th president, had earlier been an aerospace scientist at DRDO and ISRO. Known as the “People’s President” and the “Missile Man of India,” he was instrumental in India's Pokhran-II nuclear tests. He died of a cardiac arrest while delivering a lecture at IIM Shillong.
 7 
Narendra Modi
(14th Prime Minister of India)
Narendra Modi
82
Birthdate: September 17, 1950
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Vadnagar, Gujarat, India

The 14th PM of India, Narendra Modi, created history when he became the first prime minister outside of the Congress party to win two consecutive terms with a full majority; he achieved this feat in 2019. From Bharatiya Janata Party worker to India’s PM, Modi’s journey is remarkable. However, he’s been plagued by controversies too, including the handling of 2002 Gujarat riots.

 8 
Helmut Kohl
(Former Chancellor of Germany)
Helmut Kohl
18
Birthdate: April 3, 1930
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Ludwigshafen
Died: June 16, 2017
Christian Democratic Union politician Helmut Kohl was the Chancellor of Germany from 1982 to 1998. He had also served as the chairman of the CDU earlier. His tenure witnessed the end of the Cold War, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the formation of the European Union.
 9 
Ron DeSantis
(46th Governor of Florida )
Ron DeSantis
45
Birthdate: September 14, 1978
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Jacksonville, Florida, United States

The current governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis became the youngest incumbent governor of a US state at the age of 42. Also an attorney and naval officer, Ron DeSantis was honored with the Bronze Star Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for his military service.

 10 
Rand Paul
(United States Senator from Kentucky)
Rand Paul
41
Birthdate: January 7, 1963
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

The son of former U.S. Representative Ron Paul, Rand Paul is currently the junior US Senator from Kentucky. Also a physician, he started practising ophthalmology in 1993 and has his own clinic. After recovering from the coronavirus disease, he started volunteering at a hospital. As a politician, he has focused on criminal justice reform.

 11 
Colin Powell
(The First African-American Secretary of State)
Colin Powell
15
Birthdate: April 5, 1937
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Harlem, New York, United States
Died: October 18, 2021

A veteran politician who served as the 65th United States Secretary of State, Colin Powell was the first African-American Secretary of State. A member of the Republican Party, he was an army man prior to entering politics. He was a  four-star general at the time of his retirement. After leaving politics, he pursued a career as a public speaker.

 12 
Angela Merkel
(First Female Chancellor of Germany (2005 - 2021))
Angela Merkel
76
Birthdate: July 17, 1954
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Hamburg, Germany

The current chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel is widely described as the world's most powerful woman. Also considered the de facto leader of the European Union (EU), Angela Merkel has played an important role in strengthening international trade agreements. In 2020, she was named in Time magazine's list of 100 Most Influential People.

 13 
Bob Dole
(United States Senator from Kansas from 1969 to 1996)
Bob Dole
22
Birthdate: July 22, 1923
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Russell, Kansas, United States
Died: December 5, 2021

Bob Dole is an American retired politician who remains active in public life. Before commencing his political career, Dole served in the United States Army during World War II. For his service in the army and later as a politician, Bob Dole has been honored with several prestigious awards, such as the Presidential Medal of Freedom and Presidential Citizens Medal.

 14 
Ben Carson
(U.S. Secretary of Housing & Urban Development (2017 – 2021))
Ben Carson
34
Birthdate: September 18, 1951
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, U.S.

Neurosurgeon Ben Carson is credited with many pioneering neurosurgical procedures. He became a Library of Congress “Living Legend” and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He later contested in the 2016 presidential primaries, has authored numerous books, was a Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and earned 60 honorary doctorates.

 15 
Sanna Marin
(The 46th Prime Minister of Finland)
Sanna Marin
9
Birthdate: November 16, 1985
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland

Finland’s 46th prime minister, Sanna Marin has also previously been the country’s minister of transport and communications. A Social Democratic Party member, she was dragged into a controversy after a video of her partying and dancing became viral in 2022, with critics accusing her of drug abuse.

 16 
Ron Paul
(Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas)
Ron Paul
20
Birthdate: August 20, 1935
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.

Ron Paul is a physician, author, and retired politician who has played an important role in promoting libertarian vision by delivering speeches on American college campuses. A doctor by profession, Ron Paul served in the U.S. Air Force as a flight surgeon from 1963 to 1968. His life and career inspired the 2012 film Ron Paul Uprising.

 17 
Mahathir Mohamad
(4th and 7th Prime Minister of Malaysia)
Mahathir Mohamad
10
Birthdate: July 10, 1925
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Alor Setar, Malaysia

Mahathir Mohamad is a Malaysian statesman, doctor, and author. He twice served as the prime minister of Malaysia and is widely regarded as one of the most popular Malaysian prime ministers of all time. Under his premiership, Malaysia underwent a period of rapid economic growth and modernization. Mahathir Mohamad is also credited with establishing strong foreign relations with many countries.

 18 
John Glenn
(Tthe First American to Orbit the Earth)
John Glenn
20
Birthdate: July 18, 1921
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Cambridge, Ohio, United States
Died: December 8, 2016

The first American to orbit the Earth, John Glenn was an astronaut, aviator, politician, and businessman. Beginning his career as an army man, he was a fighter pilot in World War II. He later joined NASA and was one of the Mercury Seven. Following his retirement from NASA, he became a politician and served in the US Senate.

 19 
Jacques Chirac
(President of France (1995 - 2007))
Jacques Chirac
16
Birthdate: November 29, 1932
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Paris, France
Died: September 26, 2019

Jacques Chirac was a French politician who served as France's prime minister on two occasions, first from 1974 to 1976 and then from 1986 to 1988. He also served as France's president from 1995 to 2007. Because of his long career in prominent government positions, Chirac was often caricatured or parodied. He was also depicted in films, such as W.

 20 
Jacinda Ardern
(40th Prime Minister of New Zealand)
Jacinda Ardern
36
Birthdate: July 26, 1980
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Hamilton, New Zealand

Jacinda Ardern is the current Prime Minister of New Zealand. In October 2017, at the age of 37, she became the world's youngest female head of government. Ardern was praised for the way she led her country after the Christchurch mosque shootings in March 2019 and handled the COVID 19 pandemic. She led her party to victory in 2020 general elections.

 21 
Mikhail Gorbachev
(Former General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union)
Mikhail Gorbachev
63
Birthdate: March 2, 1931
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Privol'noe, Russia
Died: August 30, 2022

Born into a poor peasant family, Mikhail Gorbachev went on to become one of the most influential figures of the Soviet Union. He served in various positions, most notably as the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. He is regarded as one of the most prominent personalities of the 20th century.

 22 
Trey Gowdy
(Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina's 4th district)
Trey Gowdy
12
Birthdate: August 22, 1964
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Greenville, South Carolina, United States
Trey Gowdy, former representative for South Carolina's 4th congressional district, has also been a federal prosecutor and a district attorney. He led the investigations into the Benghazi attack and Hillary Clinton's email server, and has chaired the House Oversight Committee. He now works for Fox News and a legal firm.
 23 
Vladimir Putin
(President of Russia (2000 - 2008, Incumbent Since 2012))
Vladimir Putin
124
Birthdate: October 7, 1952
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Saint Petersburg, Russia

The current President of Russia, Vladimir Putin is a popular politician, with the highest approval rating of any leader in the world as of July 2020. As a high-level politician who has the support of his citizens, he is a powerful figure in world politics. He has been accused by human rights organizations of persecuting political critics and activists.

 24 
Jeanine Pirro
(American Conservative Television Host and A Former New York State Judge)
Jeanine Pirro
14
Birthdate: June 2, 1951
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Elmira, New York, United States

Jeanine Pirro is an American TV host and author. Over the years, she has made important contributions to The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet, a syndicated morning talk show. As a former prosecutor and New York State judge, Jeanine Pirro played an important role in several cases involving crimes against the elderly and domestic abuse.

 25 
Stephen Harper
(Former Prime Minister of Canada (2006 - 2015))
Stephen Harper
10
Birthdate: April 30, 1959
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Leaside, Toronto, Canada

Stephen Harper is a Canadian politician and economist. From 2006 to 2015, Harper served as the prime minister of Canada. In 2019, he was made the Companion of the Order of Canada for his service to the nation and for his illustrious career in politics.

 26 
Andrés Manuel López Obrador
(65th President of Mexico)
Andrés Manuel López Obrador
11
Birthdate: November 13, 1953
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Tepetitán, Tabasco, Mexico
Andrés Manuel López Obrador has been serving as Mexico’s 58th president since December 2018. He led the Party of the Democratic Revolution from 1996 to 1999 and was elected Head of Government of Mexico City. He established the National Regeneration Movement in 2014 and led it till 2017.
 27 
Cyril Ramaphosa
(President of South Africa)
Cyril Ramaphosa
10
Birthdate: November 17, 1952
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Soweto

Cyril Ramaphosa is a politician and the current president of South Africa. Also the president of South Africa's popular political party African National Congress (ANC), Ramaphosa played a key role during the nation's transition to democracy during which he served as ANC's chief negotiator. He also played a crucial role in ending apartheid and was considered Nelson Mandela's political heir.

 28 
Michael Flynn
(24th United States National Security Advisor (Jan 2017 - Feb 2017))
Michael Flynn
13
Birthdate: December 24, 1958
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Fort Meade, Maryland, United States

Michael Flynn is a retired US Army lieutenant general who played a key role in dismantling insurgent networks in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. He also helped shape the US counterterrorism strategy in the wars. He also played a major role in the 2016 US presidential election, serving as Donald Trump's senior advisor throughout the latter's presidential campaign.

 29 
Gary Johnson
(Politician)
Gary Johnson
11
Birthdate: January 1, 1953
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Minot, North Dakota, United States
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 30 
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
29
Birthdate: July 15, 1949
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Dubai

Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is the current prime minister and vice president of the United Arab Emirates. He has also been serving as the ruler of the Emirate of Dubai since 2006. He is credited with turning Dubai into a global city; he has overseen the development of several projects, such as the Palm Islands and Burj Khalifa

 31 
John Kennedy
(Senator)
John Kennedy
6
Birthdate: November 21, 1951
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Centreville, Mississippi, United States
 32 
Vitali Klitschko
(Ukrainian Politician and Former Boxer)
Vitali Klitschko
10
Birthdate: July 19, 1971
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Belovodskoe, Kyrgyzstan

Retired Ukrainian boxer Vitali Klitschko, who is now a politician and the current mayor of Kyiv, is also known for his 6’7” frame. He was once the World Boxing Council world heavyweight title winner and earned the nickname Dr. Ironfist. He also holds a PhD from the physical science department of Kyiv University.

 33 
Devin Nunes
(Member of the U.S. House of Representative from California (2003 – 2022))
Devin Nunes
8
Birthdate: October 1, 1973
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Tulare, California, United States
Devin Nunes is a dairy farmer-turned-politician who is the incumbent U.S. representative from California’s 22nd congressional district and a Ranking Member of the House Intelligence Committee. He earlier established the Congressional Hispanic Conference and also released the Nunes Memo, accusing the FBI of conspiring against Donald Trump.
 34 
Joko Widodo
(President of Indonesia)
Joko Widodo
7
Birthdate: June 21, 1961
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Surakarta
Joko Widodo, the current president of Indonesia, has previously been the mayor of Surakarta and the governor of Jakarta. He initially owned a furniture business and later joined the Democratic Party of Struggle. He introduced universal healthcare as Jakarta’s governor. Fortune named him one of "The World's 50 Greatest Leaders."
 35 
Fred Thompson
(Former United States Senator from Tennessee (1994 - 2003))
Fred Thompson
8
Birthdate: August 19, 1942
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Sheffield, Alabama, United States
Died: November 1, 2015

Fred Thompson was an American politician, lobbyist, attorney, columnist, radio personality, and actor. From 1994 to 2003, Thompson served as the United States Senator from Tennessee. As an actor, he played important roles in several films and TV series, such as Law & Order and Barbarians at the Gate.

 36 
Lee Hsien Loong
(Third Prime Minister of Singapore)
Lee Hsien Loong
7
Birthdate: February 10, 1952
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Singapore

Lee Hsien Loong is a politician who has been serving as the current prime minister of Singapore since 2004. He has also been serving as the People's Action Party's secretary-general since 2004. Lee is credited with supervising Singapore's economic recovery after the 2008 financial crisis. A former army general, Lee served in the Singapore Armed Forces from 1971 to 1984. 

 37 
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela
(Politician, Anti-Apartheid Activist)
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela
12
Birthdate: September 26, 1936
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Bizana, Eastern Cape
Died: April 2, 2018
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela had first met legendary anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela at a bus stop when she was barely 22. They ended up getting married the following year. Winnie’s journey was marred by bans and harassment by the South African government, but the determined social worker revolutionized South African politics.
 38 
Malcolm Turnbull
(29th Prime Minister of Australia (2015 - 2018))
Malcolm Turnbull
12
Birthdate: October 24, 1954
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Sydney, Australia

Malcolm Turnbull is a retired Australian politician. From 2015 to 2018, Turnbull served as the 29th prime minister of Australia. He also served as the leader of the Liberal Party on two occasions. For his service to the Parliament of Australia, Turnbull was awarded Companion of the Order of Australia during the 2021 Australia Day Honours

 39 
Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
(2nd President of UAE (2004–2022))
Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
12
Birthdate: January 25, 1948
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Al Ain, Trucial States
Died: May 13, 2022

Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, son of the UAE’s first president, Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, is the reigning president of the UAE and the emir of Abu Dhabi. He heads the UAE Armed Forces and the Supreme Petroleum Council. In 2011, he was the world’s fourth-wealthiest monarch.

 40 
Jiang Zemin
(Former President of China)
Jiang Zemin
8
Birthdate: August 17, 1926
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Yangzhou, Jiangsu
Died: November 30, 2022

Chinese politician, Jiang Zemin, served as General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party from 1989 to 2002. Qualified as an engineer, he joined the Chinese Communist Party when he was in college. Rising through the ranks, he eventually became a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, Minister of Electronic Industries. 

 41 
Lyudmila Putina
(Ex-Wife of Russian President Vladimir Putin)
Lyudmila Putina
13
Birthdate: January 6, 1958
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Kaliningrad, Russia
Lyudmila Putina was married to Russian president and former prime minister Vladimir Putin from 1983 to 2013. Their divorce was publicly announced on national TV, during the intermission of a ballet performance. She has been associated with programs developing the Russian language and was previously a flight attendant for Aeroflot.
 42 
Juan Guaidó
(Politician)
Juan Guaidó
7
Birthdate: July 28, 1983
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: La Guaira, Venezuela

Juan Guaidó is a Venezuelan politician who proclaimed himself the acting president of Venezuela with the support of the National Assembly. Since 2019, Guaidó has been influential in the ongoing Venezuelan presidential crisis, which started when the National Assembly refused to recognize Nicolas Maduro's inauguration to a second presidential term. In 2019, Guaidó was named in the Time 100 list.

 43 
Mark Kelly
(United States Senator from Arizona)
Mark Kelly
11
Birthdate: February 21, 1964
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Orange, New Jersey, United States

Mark Kelly is a businessman, politician, retired U.S. Navy captain, and former astronaut. He is the current junior US Senator from Arizona. As a naval aviator, he played a major role during the Gulf War where he flew combat missions after which he was chosen as a NASA Space Shuttle pilot. In 2008, he commanded the Space Shuttle mission STS-124.

 44 
Kenneth Kaunda
4
Birthdate: April 28, 1924
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Chinsali, Awemba North, Northern Rhodesia
Died: June 17, 2021

Kenneth Kaunda is a Zambian former politician. He served as the first president of Zambia from 1964 to 1991. A major figure in Zambia’s struggle for independence from British rule, he became the first president of independent Zambia. As the president, he implemented many educational and economic reforms to accelerate the rate of modernization in the country.

 45 
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
(24th President of Liberia (2006 - 2018))
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
11
Birthdate: October 29, 1938
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Monrovia, Liberia

Liberian politician, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, served as the 24th President of Liberia from 2006 to 2018. She was the first elected female head of state in Africa. An alumnus of the Harvard University, she began her political career in the 1970s and rose through the ranks with time. She is the recipient of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize.

 46 
Abiy Ahmed
(Prime Minister of Ethiopia)
Abiy Ahmed
8
Birthdate: August 15, 1976
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Beshasha, Ethiopia

Abiy Ahmed is an Ethiopian politician and the current prime minister of Ethiopia. Since becoming the prime minister, Abiy Ahmed has been lauded for launching a wide program of economic and political reforms in Ethiopia. He also played a major role in ending the 20-year Eritrean–Ethiopian War for which he was honored with the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize.

 47 
Paul Kagame
(4th President of Rwanda)
Paul Kagame
6
Birthdate: October 23, 1957
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Ruanda-Urundi
Paul Kagame has been the president of Rwanda since 2000. He has previously been the chairperson of the African Union, and the vice president and the defense minister of Rwanda. As part of the Rwandan Patriotic Front, he helped put an end to the Rwandan Genocide by the Hutu extremists.
 48 
Dan Crenshaw
(United States Representative)
Dan Crenshaw
34
Birthdate: March 14, 1984
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Aberdeen, Scotland

Former US Navy Seal officer Dan Crenshaw is now a Republican politician and a US Representative from Texas’s 2nd District. The Harvard alumnus now wears an eye patch, having lost his right eye in an explosion in Afghanistan. In late 2021, he came under fire for stating his party had liars.

 49 
Tsai Ing-wen
(7th President of the Republic of China)
Tsai Ing-wen
9
Birthdate: August 31, 1956
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Taipei, Taiwan

Taiwanese politician and academic, Tsai Ing-wen, is currently serving as the seventh president of the Republic of China (Taiwan). She has been in office since 2016. She is a member of the Democratic Progressive Party and the first female president of Taiwan. As the president, she has taken steps to fund green energy initiatives and supports LGBTQA+ rights.

 50 
Martin Luther King III
(Human Rights Activist)
Martin Luther King III
9
Birthdate: October 23, 1957
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Montgomery, Alabama
The American civil rights activist has continued his legendary father Martin Luther King Jr.’s struggle for racial equality. Martin Luther King III headed the Southern Christian Leadership Conference founded by his father and endorsed Barack Obama’s nomination for American presidency. King fought against police brutality, but he also denounced capital punishment, saying he did not belive in retributional justice.