Millennials in charge: Who are the world’s youngest state leaders?

After Chile elected Gabriel Boric, the youngest-ever president of the country, with a convincing majority, we take a look at some of the other young leaders currently holding office across the world -- some by popular vote, some by force

Updated On: 2021-12-21 03:12 PM IST

Photos: AFP

Gabriel Boric

Elected this week as Chile’s youngest ever president, the 35-year-old leftist is a former student leader who edged out his right-wing opponent by promising to protect democracy and curtail neoliberal economy.

Photo: AFP

Giacomo Simoncini 

Only 27, as of 2021, this Captain Regent of San Marino is currently the lone head of state below the age of 30. That also makes him the youngest world leader. He holds his title jointly with the other Captain Regent, 50-year-old Francesco Mussoni (left of pic).

Photo: AFP

Sanna Marin

In 2019, at 34 years old, Finland’s Marin became the youngest prime minister in the world. Now 36, she leads a centre-left coalition government.

Photo: AFP

Mahamat Deby

In April 2021, the 37-year-old became Chad’s president tasked with leading a military transition until the elections were set to take place 18 months later. The transitional leader is the son of the country’s former president, late Idriss Deby.

Photo: AFP

Kim Jong Un

The controversial North Korean leader took charge in 2011 at 27, soon after his father Kim Jong-il’s death. He has singularly focused on building the country’s nuclear weapons programme. Little is known about the 38-year-old's life and work, apart from limited appearances in state media where he mainly does factory inspections.

Photo: AFP

Assimi Goita

A transitional president, the 37-year-old has taken the position twice in 2021 through coups that were condemned internationally. His second seizure of power came when former interim leaders President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane did not name him vice president after a cabinet reshuffle.

Photo: AFP

Irakli Garibashvili

The current Prime Minister of Georgia, 39, had served in the same position for a period in 2013-2015. At 31 then, he was the youngest person to become PM.

Photo: AFP

Nayib Bukele

Current president of El Salvador, the 40-year-old right wing leader is said to rule with an authoritarian hand. He controversially pushed for bitcoin, making it an official currency. Elected in 2019, the populist politician has been attracting criticism and protests from some quarters.

Photo: AFP

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