New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday became the first world leader and politician to cross 100 million followers on Instagram, marking a significant milestone in his global digital presence.

Having joined the Meta-owned platform in 2014, Modi has steadily built one of the largest online followings among political leaders worldwide. With this achievement, he has widened the gap between himself and other heads of state and government on the social media platform.

Wider lead over global leaders

According to publicly available data, Modi now has more than twice the followers of US President Donald Trump, who stands second among political leaders with 43.2 million followers.

Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto has around 15 million followers, while Brazil’s president has 14.4 million. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has 11.6 million followers, and Argentine President Javier Milei has 6.4 million.

The combined follower count of these five leaders remains below Modi’s individual tally, underlining the scale of his digital reach.

Modi’s social media strategy has long focused on direct communication with citizens, sharing updates on government initiatives, diplomatic engagements, public addresses and personal moments. His posts often feature multilingual captions and visually rich content, contributing to high engagement levels.

Dominant presence within India

Within India, the Prime Minister’s lead over other political figures is similarly pronounced. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has 16.1 million followers on Instagram, while Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has around 12.6 million followers.

The substantial difference in follower counts reflects Modi’s early adoption of social media platforms and his consistent digital outreach over the past decade.

Political analysts note that social media has become a crucial tool in shaping public perception and political messaging, particularly among younger demographics and urban voters.

Global approval ratings

Separate international surveys also indicate that Modi enjoys high approval ratings compared to other global leaders.

As of December 2025, Modi held a 70 per cent approval rating, according to data compiled by Statista, placing him at the top among selected world leaders.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi ranked second with 63 per cent, followed by Argentina’s Javier Milei at 60 per cent. Donald Trump ranked 11th in the same list with a 43 per cent approval rating.

Data released by US-based business intelligence firm Morning Consult, based on surveys conducted between February 2 and February 8, 2026, showed Modi ranked first with a 67 per cent approval rating.

Czech Republic leader Andrej Babis stood second with 59 per cent. Sanae Takaichi ranked fifth with 56 per cent, while Trump was placed 11th with a 40 per cent approval rating.

Morning Consult’s 2025 data had also placed Modi at the top of its ‘Democratic Leader Approval Ratings’ list with a 75 per cent score, followed by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung at 59 per cent. Trump had ranked eighth in that survey with an approval rating under 45 per cent.

Digital leadership in a connected era

The milestone of 100 million followers underscores the growing role of digital platforms in political communication. With over 10 crore followers on Instagram alone, Modi’s online presence rivals that of global celebrities and sports personalities.

Observers point out that such digital reach allows leaders to bypass traditional media filters and communicate directly with both domestic and international audiences.

As social media continues to shape political discourse worldwide, Modi’s record-setting follower count highlights the importance of sustained digital engagement in modern governance.

The achievement not only reinforces his standing as one of the most-followed political figures globally but also reflects the increasing convergence of politics and digital influence in the 21st century.