Top 5 World Leaders of 2025: Impact and Reforms

Criteria for World Leader Selection

• 💡 Experts from The Telegraph evaluated world leaders based on their domestic record, including economic transformation and reforms.
• 🌍 International records were also considered, focusing on whether leaders stood up for the international order.
• 🎯 The goal was to identify leaders who made the greatest positive contribution in 2025.

#5: Hakainde Hichilema (Zambia)

• 🇿🇲 President Hichilema inherited a country in default and economic mess, with significant debt to China.
• 📈 He has restructured Zambia's debts and implemented significant economic reforms, making the country more credible.
• ⚠️ Concerns exist regarding a controversial constitutional review, potentially designed to entrench the ruling party, which he has deferred under pressure.

#4: Al-Sharaa (Syria)

• 🇸🇾 A new leader emerged in Syria, described as a triumph of pragmatism and a moderating force compared to the previous regime.
• 🕊️ He has respected freedom of worship to a degree and resisted provocation from Israel.
• 🤔 Doubts remain due to his past connections with Islamist fundamentalism, but he has so far proven to be a statesman.

#3: Javier Milei (Argentina)

• 🇦🇷 President Milei has implemented drastic cuts to public spending and the state, a change Argentina needed.
• ✂️ He has kept his promises regarding painful economic medicine, with slow signs of it working.
• ⚠️ A concern is that hacking back the state, including hospitals and police forces, could leave the country vulnerable in a future disaster.

#2: Giorgia Meloni (Italy)

• 🇮🇹 Prime Minister Meloni has worked to reduce migrant crossings by clamping down on NGO boats and forming deals with North African nations.
• 📉 She has brought stability and prudence to Italy, slowly reducing borrowing and debt.
• 🇺🇦 She has also reigned in her party's pro-Moscow instincts, showing herself to be a friend of Ukraine and standing up for Zelensky.

#1: Maia Sandu (Moldova)

• 🇲🇩 President Sandu is highlighted for her heroic stance on Europe's border, facing significant pressure from Russia.
• 🗳️ She successfully withstood Russian disinformation campaigns and pressure during a critical election.
• 🇪🇺 Her clear goal is to ensure Moldova becomes a proper European democracy and integrates with NATO and the EU, pursuing these goals with dignity.