Famous 21st Century Presidents

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 1 
Barack Obama
(44th President of the United States (2009-2017))
Barack Obama
116
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 
Ronald Reagan
(40th President of the United States (1981-1989))
Ronald Reagan
27
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.

 3 
Donald Trump
(45th President of the United States (2017 - 2021))
Donald Trump
103
Birthdate: June 14, 1946
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: New York, United States

The former President of the United States, Donald Trump was arguably the most controversial president in the American history. He has been characterised as racist and his actions and policies divided America like never before. He lost his bid for re-election to Joe Biden in a bitterly fought election .

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 4 
Nelson Mandela
(Anti-Apartheid Activist Who Served as the First President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999)
Nelson Mandela
25
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.
 5 
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
(Aerospace Scientist & 11th President of India)
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
22
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.
 6 
George H. W. Bush
(President of the United States (1989-93))
George H. W. Bush
33
Birthdate: June 12, 1924
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Milton, Massachusetts, United States
Died: November 30, 2018

The 41st president of the U.S, George H.W. Bush also twice served as the vice president of the country and held various other important political positions before assuming the presidency. During his presidency, he led successful military operation against Panama and Iraq which made him popular, but domestic issues prevented him from winning a second term at the office.

 7 
Mikhail Gorbachev
(Former General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union)
Mikhail Gorbachev
23
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.

 8 
Jimmy Carter
(39th President of the United States (1977 -1981))
Jimmy Carter
26
Birthdate: October 1, 1924
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Plains, Georgia, United States

Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of USA, is one of the rare Presidents whose legacy continues even after leaving office. He is known as a champion of human rights and a mediator of peace efforts across the world. His humanitarian works earned him the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.

 9 
Rodrigo Duterte
(President of Philippines)
Rodrigo Duterte
20
Birthdate: March 28, 1945
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Maasin, Philippines

The current president of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte took office at age 71, making him the oldest president of the country. His war on drugs has had a major impact in the Philippines. Known for his straightforward attitude in public, Duterte has admitted to killing three men in 1988 in an attempt to save a girl from being raped.

 10 
George W. Bush
(43rd President of the United States)
George W. Bush
39
Birthdate: July 6, 1946
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: New Haven, Connecticut, United States

The 43rd president of the United States, George W. Bush served two consecutive term in the top office beginning 2001 and led his country post the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He later ordered the invasion of Iraq. Before this, he was twice elected as the governor of Texas and had even helped his father, George H. W. Bush—the 41st president, in his presidential campaigns.

 11 
Volodymyr Zelenskiy
(6th President of Ukraine (Since 2019))
Volodymyr Zelenskiy
16
Birthdate: January 25, 1978
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine
Volodymyr Zelensky is the incumbent president of Ukraine. A qualified lawyer, he initially owned a production company. He also played the Ukrainian president in the series Servant of the People and was a comedian, screenwriter, director, and producer. His secret phone call with Donald Trump led to Trump’s first impeachment.
 12 
Bill Clinton
(42nd President of the United States)
Bill Clinton
32
Birthdate: August 19, 1946
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Hope, Arkansas, United States

Bill Cinton was the 42nd president of the United States who served for two terms from 1993 to 2001. He was the third-youngest president in the American history and presided over the longest period of peacetime economic expansion in American history. The second-term of his presidency was rocked by the infamous Monica Lewinsky sex-scandal for which he was impeached and later acquitted.

 13 
Andrés Manuel López Obrador
(65th President of Mexico)
Andrés Manuel López Obrador
62
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.
 14 
Joko Widodo
(President of Indonesia)
Joko Widodo
14
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."
 15 
Hu Jintao
(Former General Secretary of the Communist Party of China)
Hu Jintao
11
Birthdate: December 21, 1942
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Taizhou

President of the People's Republic of China (PRC) from 2003 to 2013, Hu Jintao is believed to have given shape to the belligerent China that Xi Jinping unleashed on the world. He was conservative with political reforms and reintroduced state control in several sectors. Known for his reserved and modest leadership style, his tenure marked consensus based rule and collective leadership.

 16 
Jiang Zemin
(Former President of China)
Jiang Zemin
4
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. 

 17 
Dmitry Medvedev
(Prime Minister of Russia from 2012 to 2020 and President of Russia from 2008 to 2012)
Dmitry Medvedev
6
Birthdate: September 14, 1965
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Saint Petersburg, Russia

Dmitry Medvedev, the Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, has also been the prime minister and president of Russia. Born to teacher parents, he was an intelligent child and began studying his father’s encyclopedia in third grade. He is known for his support of the nuclear disarmament treaty.

 18 
Tsai Ing-wen
(7th President of the Republic of China)
Tsai Ing-wen
5
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.

 19 
Xi Jinping
(General Secretary of the Communist Party of China)
Xi Jinping
29
Birthdate: June 15, 1953
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Beijing, China

Xi Jinping, President of China since 2013, is said to be the most powerful Chinese leader since Chairman Mao Zedong. He is an authoritarian leader and his reign is marked by an increase in censorship and deterioration in human rights . Also, China’s foreign policy under Xi has been more assertive, leading to a deterioration of relations with many countries.

 20 
Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
(2nd President of UAE (2004–2022))
Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
13
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.

 21 
Cyril Ramaphosa
(President of South Africa)
Cyril Ramaphosa
16
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.

 22 
José Mujica
(Former President of Uruguay)
José Mujica
5
Birthdate: May 20, 1935
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Montevideo

José Mujica is an Uruguayan retired politician. From 2010 to 2015, Mujica served as the president of Uruguay. A well-known philanthropist, Mujica won the hearts of many for his donation of 90 percent of his monthly salary to charities. Due to his generosity and austere lifestyle, José Mujica has often been referred to as the world's humblest head of state.

 23 
Vladimir Putin
(President of Russia (2000 - 2008, Incumbent Since 2012))
Vladimir Putin
60
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 Anez
(Politician)
Jeanine Anez
4
Birthdate: August 13, 1967
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: San Joaquin, Bolivia
 25 
Yoweri Museveni
(9th President of Uganda)
Yoweri Museveni
5
Birthdate: September 15, 1944
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Ntungamo, Uganda

Ugandan politician, Yoweri Museveni, has been serving as the president of Uganda since 1986. He played a key role in a series of rebellions that overpowered Ugandan political leaders Idi Amin and Milton Obote before capturing power in the 1980s. Under his presidency, Uganda has achieved significant success in fighting HIV/AIDS. The country has also experienced relative peace under Museveni.

 26 
Lech Walesa
(Former President of Poland)
Lech Walesa
7
Birthdate: September 29, 1943
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Popowo, Gmina Tłuchowo, Poland

Lech Walesa is a Polish dissident and statesman. From 1990 to 1995, Walesa served as the first elected president of Poland. A Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Walesa was adjudged Time Person of the Year in 1981. In 1999, he was named in the magazine's most important people of the 20th century list. 

 27 
Uhuru Kenyatta
(President of Kenya)
Uhuru Kenyatta
5
Birthdate: October 26, 1961
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Nairobi

The incumbent Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta is the leader of the Jubilee Party of Kenya. Son of Kenya’s first president, Jomo Kenyatta, he was dragged into a controversy after sweeping the 2017 re-elections by winning 98% of the total votes. However, a Supreme Court ruling dismissed all charges against him.

 28 
Jacques Chirac
(President of France (1995 - 2007))
Jacques Chirac
13
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.

 29 
Michael Higgins
(President of Ireland)
Michael Higgins
4
Birthdate: April 18, 1941
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Limerick

Irish politician, Michael Higgins, took office as the ninth president of Ireland in November 2011. Previously, he served as minister for arts, culture, and the Gaeltacht and mayor of Galway. As the president, he has actively addressed issues related to justice, social equality, social inclusion, anti-sectarianism, and anti-racism. He is also a poet, writer, and sociologist.

 30 
Evo Morales
(President of Bolivia)
Evo Morales
7
Birthdate: October 26, 1959
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Orinoca Canton
Evo Morales was the Bolivian president from 2006 to 2019. Known for his campaign for coca plantations, which some attribute to the growth of illegal cocaine production, he earned the nickname World Hero of Mother Earth. He leads the Movement for Socialism party and is a champion for indigenous rights.
 31 
Helmut Kohl
(Former Chancellor of Germany)
Helmut Kohl
9
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.
 32 
Halimah Yacob
(8th President of Singapore)
Halimah Yacob
3
Birthdate: August 23, 1954
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Queen Street, Singapore

Singaporean politician and former lawyer Halimah Yacob is the eighth and incumbent President of Singapore.  She ran for the 2017 presidential election as an independent and won an uncontested election thus becoming the first female President of Singapore. She earlier served as Member of Parliament during 2001-17 as member of People's Action Party and also as parliament Speaker during 2013-17.   

 33 
Olusegun Obasanjo
(Former President of Nigeria)
Olusegun Obasanjo
3
Birthdate: March 5, 1937
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Abeokuta, British Nigeria
Initially a teacher, Olusegun Obasanjo had joined the army as he could not afford college. The People’s Democratic Party leader became the military ruler of Nigeria in 1976 but later handed over his powers to a democratic government. He also became the president 2 decades later. 
 34 
Emmerson Mnangagwa
(3rd President of Zimbabwe)
Emmerson Mnangagwa
5
Birthdate: September 15, 1942
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Zvishavane, Zimbabwe
Nicknamed The Crocodile, the current Zimbabwean president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, has been one of the harshest rulers his country has seen. Roughly 20,000 people lost their lives during his tenure as the security minister in the 1980s. Once Mugabe’s right hand, he later fell out with him and launched a coup.
 35 
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
(24th President of Liberia (2006 - 2018))
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
6
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.

 36 
Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow
(Politician)
Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow
3
Birthdate: June 29, 1957
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Babarap, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
 37 
William Ruto
(Deputy President of Kenya)
William Ruto
4
Birthdate: December 21, 1966
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Uasin Gishu County

William Ruto is a Kenyan politician and the current Kenyan deputy president. Between 6 and 8 October 2014, Ruto served as the acting president when President Uhuru Kenyatta was in the Netherlands at the International Criminal Court. Apart from being a politician, William Ruto also owns an interest in several real estate developments, including the Weston Hotel in Kenya.  

 38 
Alberto Fujimori
(Former President of Peru)
Alberto Fujimori
8
Birthdate: July 28, 1938
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Lima

Alberto Fujimori is a Peruvian politician who served as the President of Peru from 1990 to 2000. He is a controversial figure accused of several charges of human rights abuses and corruption. He has also been proclaimed guilty of murder, causing bodily harm, and kidnapping. In 2009, he was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

 39 
Goodluck Jonathan
(14th President of Nigeria)
Goodluck Jonathan
4
Birthdate: November 20, 1957
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Otuoke, Nigeria

Initially a teacher, Nigerian former president Goodluck Jonathan, boasts of a PhD in zoology and has also headed an oil-oriented government agency. He plunged into politics with the PDP, and his tenure as the president witnessed major acts of terror by the jihadist group Boko Haram.

 40 
Ilham Aliyev
(4th President of Azerbaijan)
Ilham Aliyev
3
Birthdate: December 24, 1961
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Baku, Azerbaijan
Ilham Aliyev, son of former president of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev, is the incumbent Azerbaijani president. He owned SOCAR, the state-run oil company that made major negotiations with the West. He abolished the presidential consecutive term limit and enjoys a lavish lifestyle, amid allegations of corruption, nepotism, and human rights violations. 
 41 
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
(35th President of Brazil)
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
23
Birthdate: October 27, 1945
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Caetés, State of Pernambuco, Brazil

Former Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, popularly known as Lula, was born into a working-class family and had to abandon his studies to work as a show-shiner and metalworker as a young boy. His fortune changed after he stepped into trade unionism. He later led the Worker’s Party of Brazil.

 42 
Moon Jae-in
(Former President of South Korea)
Moon Jae-in
31
Birthdate: January 24, 1953
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Geoje, South Korea

Moon Jae-in is a South Korean politician and the current president of South Korea. Although he was raised in poverty, Moon worked hard during his early years and went on to become a prominent politician. In 2018, he was named in Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People list.

 43 
Frank-Walter Steinmeier
(President of Germany (Since 2017))
Frank-Walter Steinmeier
5
Birthdate: January 5, 1956
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Detmold, Germany

Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the current president of Germany, has also been his nation’s Vice-Chancellor and Minister of Foreign Affairs. A Social Democratic Party of Germany member, he went from being a factory worker’s son to studying law and politics and then eventually stepping into politics. He has also worked for the German military.

 44 
Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović
(President of Croatia (2015 - 2020))
Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović
6
Birthdate: April 29, 1968
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Rijeka, Croatia
Best known as the first female president of her country, politician Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović also became the youngest Croatian to assume presidency, at 46. The former Fulbright scholar made headlines during the 2018 FIFA World Cup, when she went to Russia in economy class to cheer her team.
 45 
Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.
(President of Philippines)
Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.
4
Birthdate: September 13, 1957
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Santa Mesa, Manila, Philippines

Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. is a Filipino politician and the current president of the Philippines. A prominent political figure, Marcos also served as a senator of the Philippines from 2010 to 2016. Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. is also currently serving as the Secretary of Agriculture. 

 46 
Nana Akufo-Addo
(Fifth President of Ghana)
Nana Akufo-Addo
3
Birthdate: March 29, 1944
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Accra, Ghana

Nana Akufo-Addo is a Ghanaian politician and the current President of Ghana. An important politician, Akufo-Addo also served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1 April 2003 to 1 July 2007. In 2017, Nana Akufo-Addo was honored by the Africa-America Institute with the prestigious National Achievement Award.

 47 
Joe Biden
(46th President of the United States (Since 2021))
Joe Biden
46
Birthdate: November 20, 1942
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Scranton, Pennsylvania, United States

Joe Biden is the president-elect of the United States and will become the 46th president when he will assume the charge on 20 January 2021. Biden is the oldest person ever elected to the White House. One of the youngest senators in the US history and Delaware’s longest-serving senator, Joe Biden served as the 47th vice president of the United States from 2009 to 2017.

 48 
B. J. Habibie
(Third President of Indonesia)
B. J. Habibie
5
Birthdate: June 25, 1936
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Parepare, Indonesia
Died: September 11, 2019

B. J. Habibie was an Indonesian politician best remembered for his service as the President of Indonesia from 21 May 1998 to 20 October 1999. An important political figure, Habibie also served as the Vice President of Indonesia in 1998. From 1978 to 1998, he served as the Minister of Research and Technology.

 49 
Robert Mugabe
(Former PM & President of Zimbabwe)
Robert Mugabe
12
Birthdate: February 21, 1924
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Harare, Zimbabwe
Died: September 6, 2019

Robert Mugabe was a Zimbabwean revolutionary. He played a major role in the Rhodesian Bush War, which eventually led to the Lancaster House Agreement, resulting in the creation of the Republic of Zimbabwe. Subsequently, Mugabe served as the first prime minister of Zimbabwe and later as its president. A controversial figure, Mugabe is also often criticized for his tyrannical ways.

 50 
Muhammadu Buhari
(7th and 15th President of Nigeria)
Muhammadu Buhari
11
Birthdate: December 17, 1942
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Daura, Nigeria

Muhammadu Buhari is a Nigerian politician and the current president of Nigeria. Since becoming the president, Buhari has introduced many social welfare programs that address unemployment and poverty. The programs were mainly introduced to help increase economic development in the country.