A list of the most intelligent prime ministers will make for very interesting reading; it is something that has attracted curiosity for years. The problem is that intelligence tests are not always agreed upon as a means of determining intelligence- which has so many facets and forms.
Competence in office would ordinarily supersede as the best yardstick; but sometimes the positive or negative effects of policies cannot be seen or measured until decades later. Therefore a prime minister may be vilified as an idiot today, only for the same people to hail him as a hero later.
In the absence of a clear metric; eloquence will have to be used. These world leaders will have to be ranked according to the intelligent speeches they make.
Top 20 Most Intelligent Prime Ministers In The World
1. Benjamin Netanyahu
Prime Minister of Israel
Benjamin Netanyahu is the Prime Minister of Israel; a position he has held for over 15 years. He is rumored to have an IQ of 120, and he is one of the most intelligent political speakers in the world.
To be fair to other Prime Ministers, Benjamin Netanyahu has had too much time to practice and perfect the art of public speaking; which explains why his speeches can rouse or douse tension- depending on the intention.
Mr. Netanyahu is one of the most popular and influential persons in the world, and he is very charismatic- knowing how to rally the people behind even controversial decisions. Benjamin Netanyahu also knows how to defend even the policies and actions of government that are outrageous and condemnable by international standards. Perhaps these are some of the reasons why he is the longest serving Prime Minister in the history of the country.
2. Justin Trudeau
Prime Minister of Canada
Justin Trudeau is the Prime Minister of Canada, a position he has held since 2015. He is one of the most respected Prime Ministers in the world, and this can be attributed to his good use of intelligence.
Justin Trudeau is one of the most charismatic leaders out there, and he combines this with wit and eloquence, and with the capacity to hold intelligent conversations with other world leaders.
Justin Trudeau has been able to rally world leaders, and get their support to intervene in matters of global concern, and he has been known to call out one World Leader who was being reckless.
He is the second youngest person to hold this position, and interestingly, his father was also Prime Minister.
3. Li Qiang
Prime Minister of china
Li Qiang is the new premier of the People’s Republic of China. His meteoric rise to prominence is an example of what happens when ability meets opportunity. His abilities have helped him on the road, and so has his loyalty.
Li Qiang was a worker at an irrigation station during the late 70’s, and from there he went on to work at a tool factory. He then studied agricultural mechanization, and also sociology by correspondence at the private China Sociology Correspondence University. To crown it all, he studied at the Zhejiang University for on-the-job graduate studies.
His intelligence was always known to all; even from the early days of his career because he always rose to the top of the office and local political group he was in; right up to when he went national. For many years he was the confidant and associate of Xi Jingping who is the Paramount Leader of China.
4. Elizabeth Borne
Prime Minister of France
Elizabeth Borne is the Prime Minister of France; a position she has held since 2022. She was born in Paris in 1961. She attended high school at Lycée Janson-de-Sailly in Paris, and then the École Polytechnique. She then she obtained her Diplôme d’Ingénieur in civil engineering from the École nationale des ponts et chaussées, after which she obtained a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Collège des Ingénieurs.
Elizabeth Borne has been consistently elevated at her roles because she has shown intelligence and capacity; she has worked as an official of the French planning and works ministry, and then at the ministry of education, and then at the state owned railway company where she was a strategy director.
She continued to work her way up, until she was named President and CEO of RATP Group. From there she entered politics; and now she is the prime minister of France.
5. Giorgia Meloni
Prime Minister of Italy
Giorgia Meloni is the prime minister of Italy; a position she has held since 2022. She is the first woman to hold that position; and among her attributes are stunning good looks, proven intelligence, and very good organizational competence.
She was born in 1977, and started politics when she was much younger. Giorgia Meloni attended the l’Istituto tecnico professionale di Stato Amerigo Vespucci. However, the school is not very well recognized. Nevertheless, her intelligence is not proven by certificates; it is proven by the fact that she has been a vocal speaker for feminism and nationalism.
She has held many youth positions during her time, and she has often been the first woman to hold those positions. She is right wing politician; and she is one of the most rousing speakers in the country presently.
6. Xavier Bettel
Prime Minister of Luxembourg
Xavier Bettel is the Prime Minister of Luxembourg; a position he has held since 2013. He is also one of the most educated prime ministers in the world with multiple degrees in different fields, and also from different institutions.
Among his certifications include a Master’s degree in Public and European Law, obtained from the Nancy 2 University of France, and Master of Advanced Studies in Political science and Public law Maritime law, as well as in Canon law from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
Xavier Bettel has held many important positions over the course of his career; he has been a member of the chamber of deputies, and he has also previously been mayor of Luxembourg City.
7. Dritan Abazović
Prime Minister of Montenegro
Dritan Abazović is the Prime Minister of Montenegro; a position he has held since 2022. He is one of the highest read persons in a similar position, and that is at least some testament to the fact that he is mentally capable of the demands of his office.
He attended the University of Sarajevo where he obtained a PhD in Political science, after he had obtained a Master’s degree in International relations from the University of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
He had previously served as a deputy prime minister, and he is also the leader of the United Reform Action Party; a position he has attained despite being so young. He has gained influence, respect and admiration throughout the country; and he is one of the most important political figures in the country.
8. Dimitar Kovačevski
Prime Minister of North Macedonia
Dimitar Kovačevski is the prime minister of North Macedonia; a position he has held since 2022. He exudes confidence; owning to his capacity to discharge his duties of office because he is naturally smart, and also well educated.
He attended Ss. Cyril and Methodius University of Skopje, as well as the University of Montenegro where he obtained a Master of Economics degree, and a Doctorate of Economics respectively.
He has previously served as deputy finance minister, and before that he had been an assistant professor at two private universities in his country. He cofounded a company that produces solar panels; production is done there in his country as well. He not just brilliant; he is forward thinking as well.
9. Mohammad Shtayyeh
Prime Minister of Palestine
Mohammad Shtayyeh is the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority; a position he has held since 2019. He attended Birzeit University in Palestine, and then the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom; where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Business administration, and a Doctorate in Economic development respectively.
As an astute economist he was named director of administration and finance of the Palestinian Economic Council for Development and Reconstruction (PECDAR), which is a $1.6 billion public investment fund. In 1996 he was then named minister of the same fund.
Shtayyeh worked as a professor of economic development from 1989 to 1991 at Birzeit University. He then left academics to hold the position of Secretary-General of the Central Elections Commission of Palestine. He has been the minister for works and housing; and he is still governor for the Islamic Bank.
10. Mateusz Morawiecki
Prime Minister of Poland
Mateusz Morawiecki is the prime minister of Poland; a position he has held since 2017. He attended the University of Wrocław in Poland, as well as the Wroclaw University of Technology, and the Wrocław University of Economics- all in Poland, as well as the University of Hamburg in Germany, and the University of Basel, in Switzerland.
He studied for degrees such as Bachelor of Arts in History, and MBA Master of Advanced Studies.
Growing up he started political activism at an early age; and as a result he suffered beatings and other forms of intimidation. During his activism days he printed and circulated anticommunist publications; and he learnt something from that.
He established two publishing firms; and co-founded a magazine, which he later became the editor in chief. He co published text books; and did macro research for banks. He proved himself in the business world before going into politics; and in his usual fashion he has excelled at that too; going on to become Prime Minister of Poland.
The following is a more extensive list of the 20 most intelligent prime ministers in the world.
| Rank | Name | Country | Region |
| 1 | Benjamin Netanyahu | Israel | Western Asia |
| 2 | Justin Trudeau | Canada | Americas |
| 3 | Li Qiang | China | Asia |
| 4 | Elizabeth Borne | France | Western Europe |
| 5 | Giorgia Meloni | Italy | Western Europe |
| 6 | Xavier Bettel | Luxembourg | Europe |
| 7 | Dritan Abazović | Montenegro | Europe |
| 8 | Dimitar Kovačevski | North Macedonia | Europe |
| 9 | Mohammad Shtayyeh | Palestine | Western Asia |
| 10 | Mateusz Morawiecki | Poland | Europe |
| 11 | Ariel Henry | Haiti | Caribbean |
| 12 | Anatole Collinet Makosso | Republic of Congo | Central Africa |
| 13 | Kyriakos Mitsotakis | Greece | Europe |
| 14 | Abiy Ahmed | Ethiopian | Africa |
| 15 | Mostafa Madbouly | Egypt | North Africa |
| 16 | Sanna Marin | Finland | Europe |
| 17 | Mark Phillips | Guyana | South America |
| 18 | Arturs Krišjānis Kariņš | Latvia | Europe |
| 19 | Daniel Risch | Liechtenstein | Europe |
| 20 | Édouard Ngirente | Rwanda | Africa |
Related:
- Most Educated Presidents In The World
- Most Educated Prime Ministers In The World
- Most Educated Countries In The World
Closing
While perusing the list of the most intelligent prime ministers in the world, it is important to bear in mind that while intelligence and education are not the same; they are quite closely related. The best measure of a man’s intelligence is not what he says, but what he does. The things people do may sometimes take years to come to fruition- a luxury we do not have- which is why speech and academics have been chosen.