Key Highlights
- Ten heads of state or government recorded the highest public endorsement scores in January 2025, with India’s Narendra Modi leading at 75%.
- Women leaders feature prominently: Mexico’s Claudia Sheinbaum and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni rank among the top ten.
- Economic recovery, climate initiatives, and diplomatic outreach emerged as the dominant drivers of popularity.
- In contrast, leaders in South Korea, France, and the Czech Republic experienced stark drops in approval.
Detailed Insights
The Morning Consult survey, conducted between 21 and 27 January 2025, applied a seven‑day simple moving average to gauge adult opinion across 30 countries. The resulting list underscores how policy outcomes shape political legitimacy.
Narendra Modi (India, 75%) retained his top position thanks to sustained GDP growth, large‑scale infrastructure roll‑outs, and social‑welfare schemes targeting historically underserved groups.
Claudia Sheinbaum (Mexico, 66%) gained momentum through progressive climate legislation, middle‑class‑oriented fiscal reforms, and a proactive North‑American diplomatic agenda.
Javier Milei (Argentina, 65%) attracted support by curbing inflation, liberalising markets, and positioning Argentina as an active trade partner.
Karin Keller‑Sutter (Switzerland, 56%) benefitted from prudent financial governance, constructive EU engagement, and reinforced public‑service provisions.
Donald Trump (United States, 52%) saw his resurgence linked to job‑creation programs, stringent immigration controls, and a hawkish foreign‑policy stance.
Other notable figures—Anthony Albanese, Dick Schoof, Donald Tusk, Giorgia Meloni, and Ulf Kristersson—hovered between 38% and 46%, reflecting mixed but still favorable public sentiment.
Conversely, Yoon Suk Yeol (South Korea), Emmanuel Macron (France), and Petr Fiala (Czech Republic) recorded sharply negative ratings, driven by legal controversies, unpopular snap elections, and faltering economic policies.