Throughout the world; leadership is often the preserve of the old. The youngest prime ministers in the world are some of the energetic young minds who have been handed the mantle of leadership in their countries because they have shown uncommon capacity and vision.
Countries are keener on handing young people the privilege of serving as prime ministers than they are of handing over the title of President. Traditionally, prime ministers have always been younger than Presidents. This may be because in some countries the Prime Minister is appointed or selected by an individual, or a smaller group of people.
Young prime ministers have rarely given the public any reason to regret their selection; they often perform well. These are those who currently represent that category of politicians.
20 Youngest Prime Ministers In The World
1. Sanna Marin
Prime Minister of Finland
The beautiful Sanna Marin (37) is prime minister of Finland; a position she has held since 2019. She is a member of the social democrats; and has previously been minister of transport and communication.
She is the youngest person to take the office; assuming the position at the age of 34. Sanna Marin has taken a young approach to governance; she is free, social, and witty.
In 2020 she was selected among the list of the BBC’s 100 women. In the same year she was chosen by Forbes in The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women. The World Economic Forum gave her a similar accolade.
2. Dritan Abazović
Prime Minister of Montenegro
Dritan Abazović (37) is the Prime Minister of Montenegro; so he has been since 2022. He was 36 years old when he ascended to this office; and he got there on the back of stellar academic performances. He holds a Master’s degree in International relations from the University of Bosnia and Herzegovina; and he also holds a PhD in political science from the University of Sarajevo.
He had previously served as a deputy prime minister, and he is also the leader of the United Reform Action Party.
3. Mohammed Bin Salman
Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia
Mohammed Bin Salman Al Saud (37) is the Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia; he has been in this position since 2022. He is the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, and is the de facto ruler of the country, having been given a free hand to run the affairs of the country by his father; His Majesty King Salman Al Saud.
He has also proven himself as an investor; he was put in charge of the Riyadh Competitive Council, and was made special advisor to the chairman of the board for the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives.
He controls the Saudi Investment fund; and has started vehicle manufacture among other things. He is the most powerful man in the country; and is seen by the west as a despot.
4. Irakli Garibashvili
Prime Minister of Georgia
Irakli Garibashvili (40) is a Georgian politician, who despite his young age was also a business executive. He was once the second youngest leader of a nation was he was first Prime Minister of Georgia in 2013 at age 31- until stepping down in 2015.
He is once again the prime minister of Georgia, and has been serving since 22 February 2021. He is a member of the Georgian Dream party, and has previously served his country as Defense Minister, and also as Minister of Internal Affairs.
Before that, he worked at the logistics division of the construction company Burji, and then he became Director General of the Charity Foundation Cartu in 2005, and then he was appointed to become a member of the supervisory board of Cartu Bank, and then director of the Record Label Georgian Dream. All the businesses above are owned by his associate Bidzina Ivanishvili.
5. Rishi Sunak
Prime Minister of Britain
Rishi Sunak (43) became the youngest ever prime minister of the United Kingdom when he assumed office at 41 years old, back in 2022. He has also been the leader of the Conservative Party for the same length of time.
He has been a Member of Parliament for Richmond since 2015, and he previously held two cabinet positions under Boris Johnson.
Before, joining politics, Rishi Sunak had a career in finance. Immediately after graduating, he worked for Goldman Sachs and later as a partner for The Children’s Investment Fund Management as well as Theleme Partners- both of which are hedge funds.
Rishi Sunak is an orator; he gives compelling speeches, and may have great potential in defining the financial future of the country.
6. Xavier Espot Zamora
Prime Minister of Andorra
Xavier Espot Zamora (43) is the prime minister of Andorra; a position he has held since 2019. He has already had a distinguished political career despite his young age; he had previously served the country as minister of social affairs, justice and interior.
He then resigned his ministerial appointment voluntarily, to help him prepare for the candidacy that led to his emergence as prime minister.
He has a background in business administration and management, and also has a degree in philosophy.
7. Giorgia Meloni
Prime Minister of Italy
Giorgia Meloni (46) is the Prime Minister of Italy; and so she has been since 2022. She represents change in every respect; she is the first woman to hold that position, one of the youngest ever, and she leans towards the Right; which indicates that Italy’s politics could be shifting towards a more conservative approach.
Giorgia Meloni has previously served as minister for youth, and she has previously been the leader of the youth front; which is a branch of the Italian socialist movement.
Her rise to prominence came by criticizing the government’s handling of the Covid 19 Pandemic; she rose in the opinion polls, and led the opposition.
8. Dimitar Kovačevski
Prime Minister of North Macedonia
Dimitar Kovačevski (48) is the prime minister of North Macedonia; a position he has held since 2022. For some reason he looks a lot older than his age- he is 48 years but appears to be in his late 50’s. He is highly educated, and rose to prominence on the back of his track record of academic excellence.
Before becoming prime minister he had previously served as deputy finance minister, and he had also been assistant professor at two private universities in North Macedonia.
On the business front, he co founded a company that produces solar panels. He has a background in economics.
9. Xavier Bettel
Prime Minister of Luxembourg
Xavier Bettel (50) is the Prime Minister of Luxembourg; he has held the position since 2013. He has previously served his country as a member of the Chamber of Deputies, and also as the Mayor of Luxembourg City.
He is a member of the Democratic Party; and traces his roots to Poland and Russia. His father was a wine merchant, and he learnt the rudiments of business from his father.
Apart from his training in business, he also studied law in France and Greece.
10. Justin Trudeau
Prime Minister of Canada
Justin Trudeau (51) is the Prime Minister of Canada, a position he has held since 2015. When he rose to this office, he was just 44 years of age. His father was also prime minister of Canada; so he received stellar diplomatic training.
He is one of the most respected Prime Ministers in the world; and he is also one of the most eloquent speakers presently.
His party is the Liberal Party of Canada; and he enjoys the support of most of his countrymen because the people of Canada are largely liberal.
11. Mateusz Morawiecki
Prime Minister of Poland
Mateusz Morawiecki (55) is the prime minister of Poland; a position he has held since 2017. When he rose to this office he was 49 years of age; and even now he is considered quite young by the standards of some countries.
He was already quite an accomplished person before joining politics; he had established two publishing firms; and co-founded a magazine. He had done plenty of research work for banks and financial institutions, and he had published text books.
He looked like he was going to have a great career in academics before politics came calling; and today he is the Prime Minister of Poland.
The following is a more extensive list of the youngest prime ministers.
Rank | Name | Country | Age |
1 | Sanna Marin | Finland | 37 |
2 | Dritan Abazović | Montenegro | 37 |
3 | Mohammed Bin Salman Al Saud | Saudi Arabia | 37 |
4 | Irakli Garibashvili | Georgian | 40 |
5 | Rishi Sunak | united kingdom | 43 |
6 | Xavier Espot Zamora | Andorra | 43 |
7 | Giorgia Meloni | Italy | 46 |
8 | Dimitar Kovačevski | North Macedonia | 48 |
9 | Xavier Bettel | Luxembourg | 50 |
10 | Justin Trudeau | Canada | 51 |
11 | Mateusz Morawiecki | Poland | 55 |
12 | Ana Brnabić | Serbian | 55 |
13 | Édouard Ngirente | Rwanda | 50 |
14 | Katrín Jakobsdóttir | Iceland | 47 |
15 | Andrew Michael Holness | jamaica | 51 |
16 | Abiy Ahmed Ali | Ethiopian | 47 |
17 | Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón | Spanish | 51 |
18 | Maeen Abdulmalik Saeed | Yemen | 47 |
19 | Mette Frederiksen | Danish | 46 |
20 | Robert Abela | Malta | 46 |
21 | Lotay Tshering | Bhutan | 54 |
Related:
- Youngest Presidents In The World
- Most Intelligent Prime Ministers In The World
- Most Educated Prime Ministers In The World
Closing
The youngest prime ministers in the world have an age range of 30 to 50; but there are prime ministers serving into their late 80’s. Age is hardly of any consequence; whether a candidate is young or old does not usually have any bearing on performance. What matters is the personal integrity of the candidate; and whether he can hold true to the beliefs upon which he was elected.