Here is a quiz for international figures concerned about public approval ratings: what is the best way to earn the admiration of people round the world?
Should one (a) bomb innocent civilians in support of one of the world’s more repellent despots; or (b) lead a life of blameless Christian probity and help to restore relations between two states that have been at loggerheads for half a century? The answer, as if there were ever any doubt, is the former.
The person who has risen the highest in YouGov rankings of the world’s most admired men is President Putin, who has crawled up six places to fifth.
This is despite Russia’s military intervention in Syria — or, given that YouGov carried out its research across 30 countries, because of it — and the Panama papers revelation that, although not named, Mr Putin was linked to offshore deals and loans worth £1.4 billion.
In contrast the biggest faller was the Pope, who brokered the deal that enabled Barack Obama to become the first US president to visit Cuba since 1928 but who dropped seven places to 13th in the list of the most admired men.
Advertisement
His is not the only example where virtue has proved to be its own reward. Malala Yousafzai, the youngest person ever to win the Nobel peace prize, dropped five places to seventh in the women’s list, while the French extreme right-wing politician Marine Le Pen made her first appearance in the top 20.
Bill Gates and Angelina Jolie were again the world’s most admired people. The Queen was the second most admired woman, followed by Hillary Clinton. Donald Trump is a new entry on the men’s list, at 18th.
Freddie Sayers, of YouGov, said: “It’s a unique window on to the shared values of humanity in 2016.”
Most admired men and women
Men (% share of admiration and change in rank)
1. Bill Gates 11.3 =
2. Barack Obama 7.1 =
3. Xi Jinping 6.2 =
4. Jackie Chan 5.3 =
5. Stephen Hawking 5.1 +4
6. Vladimir Putin 4.4 +5
7. Mark Zuckerberg 4.4 NEW
8. Dalai Lama 4.3 -1
9. Narendra Modi 3.8 -4
10. Jack Ma 3.7 -2
Women
1. Angelina Jolie 9.1 =
2. Queen Elizabeth II 6.7 +2
3. Hillary Clinton 5.8 =
4. Oprah Winfrey 4.9 UP +3
5. Michelle Obama 4.5 =
6. Celine Dion 4.0 =
7. Malala Yousafzai 4.0 -5
8. Angela Merkel 4.0 +2
9. Aung San Suu Kyi 3.6 =
10. Sandra Bullock 3.0 NEW