10 Youngest World Rulers – 2021 Compiled List

Ruling a nation is no easy task and usually requires a wealth of experience. There is a widely accepted belief that to become a president or prime minster, one must be well advanced in age. However, it might interest you to know that there are a couple of world leaders who are relatively young.

In recent years, there has been a surge of politicians in their 30s winning leadership roles. They have risen through the ranks to become the head of their countries. It seems it’s the moment of the youth.

These young leaders come from all parts of the Earth – from monarchies to democracies and dictatorships. Their reigns are a signal of the gradual revolution of the young generation of leaders around the world.

Contained in the list below is a list of the world’s youngest presidents, prime ministers – heads of state in general:

1. Sanna Marin
Country: Finland
Office Held: Prime Minister
Age: 34

34-year old Sanna Marin was, in December 2019 sworn in as Finland’s prime minister, becoming the world’s youngest prime minister in the process. She is Finland’s third female Prime minister.

Before she was elected to become Finland’s prime minister, Marin was the country’s minister of transport and communications. Her appointment came after the resignation of former Prime Minister, Anti Rinne.

2. Oleksiy Honcharuk
Country: Ukraine
Office Held: Prime Minister
Age: 34

Lawyer, Oleksiy Honcharuk was only 34 years old when he was named Ukrainian Prime minister by President, Volodymyr Zelensky, himself aged 45 in August 2019.
Interestingly, before his appointment, Honcharuk had just three months of government experience. He once headed a NGO that focused on reforms and was a one-time advisor for Ukraine’s ministry of Ecology.

3. Kim Jong Un
Country: North Korea
Office Held: Supreme Leader
Age: 35

The Supreme Leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Un had been groomed for power for most of his life before he assumed office in 2011, aged 30.

A diehard basketball fan and Manchester United F.C supporter, Kim was educated at a private school in Switzerland. Since he became supreme leader, Kim has taken stringent measures to repress opposition and has escalated testing of Nuclear missiles.

His nuclear ambitions, characteristic aggression and speaking prowess have ensured he occupies a place on the world stage completely out of proportion with his nation’s power and status.

4. Nayib Bukele
Country: El Salvador
Office Held: President
Age: 38

Avid social media user and former businessman, Nayib Bukele recorded a landslide victory in El Salvador’s Presidential elections held in February 2019. He is also a one-time mayor of El Salvador.

His victory ended the dominance of El Salvador’s two major political parties: the FLMN and ARENA.

5. Jacinda Ardern
Country: New Zealand
Office Held: Prime Minister
Age: 39

Jacinda Ardern emerged as Prime Minister of New Zealand in October, 2017 after a closely contested election. She was just 37 years old at the time.

Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party, Arden’s rise through the ranks was rapid, becoming Prime Minister just one year after entering Parliament.

Her reforms and views have been widely applauded and she recently welcomed a daughter.

6. Fritz-William Michel
Country: Haiti
Office Held: Prime Minister
Age: 39

Michel has been Haiti’s acting Prime Minister since July 2019. His appointment as Prime Minister by President Jovenel Moise took many by surprise, as relatively little was known about him then.

7. Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani
Country: Qatar
Office Held: Emir of Qatar
Age: 39

Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani is the eighth and current Emir of the State of Qatar. He was 33 when he took over as Emir following His father’s abdication.

His elder brother, Jasim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani was initially billed to inherit the throne, but he renounced his claim in 2003, clearing the path for him.

8. Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck
Country: Bhutan
Office Held: Druk Gyalpo (Dragon King)
Age: 39

Jigme Khesar is the fourth Dragon King of Bhutan. He assumed office aged 26 when his father, Jigme Singye Wangchuk abdicated the throne.

9. Carlos Alvarado Quesada
Country: Costa Rica
Office Held: President
Age: 39

Alvaro Queseda became President of Costa Rica in 2018 after winning the presidential election.

In his younger years, he sang in a college rock band and worked at a sports gambling call center. He earned his master’s degree at a university in Britain and he has published four books.

10. Xavier Espot Zamora
Country: Andorra
Office Held: Prime Minister
Age: 40

In May 2019, the politician-cum-lawyer became the Prime Minister of Andorra. He was, before his appointment, the country’s Minister of Social Affairs, Justice and Interior.