thumbnail

World Leaders Quiz #1

For each country and time period, name the leader.
This is NOT intended to be a comprehensive list
Next update: January 2025
Quiz by Quizmaster
Rate:
Last updated: January 13, 2024
You have not attempted this quiz yet.
First submittedJuly 16, 2012
Times taken83,944
Average score55.9%
Rating4.03
5:00
Enter leader's name here:
0
 / 34 guessed
The quiz is paused. You have remaining.
Scoring
You scored / = %
This beats or equals % of test takers also scored 100%
The average score is
Your high score is
Your fastest time is
Keep scrolling down for answers and more stats ...
Position
Years
Leader
U.S. President
2021–
Joe Biden
2017–2021
Donald Trump
2009–2017
Barack Obama
Mexican President
2018–
Andrés Manuel
López Obrador
2000–2006
Vicente Fox
Canadian P.M.
2015–
Justin Trudeau
2006–2015
Stephen Harper
British P.M.
2022–
Rishi Sunak
2019–2022
Boris Johnson
1997–2007
Tony Blair
South African
President
2009–2018
Jacob Zuma
1994–1999
Nelson Mandela
Australian P.M.
2022–
Anthony Albanese
Italian P.M.
2022–
Giorgia Meloni
2001–2006
2008–2011
Silvio Berlusconi
German Chancellor
2021–
Olaf Scholz
2005–2021
Angela Merkel
1998–2005
Gerhard Schröder
Position
Years
Leader
North Korean leader
2011–
Kim Jong–un
Israeli P.M.
2009–2021,
2022–
Benjamin Netanyahu
French President
2017–
Emmanuel Macron
2007–2012
Nicolas Sarkozy
1995–2007
Jacques Chirac
Afghan President
2004–2014
Hamid Karzai
Cuban leader
1959–2011
Fidel Castro
Japanese P.M.
2006–2007
2012–2020
Shinzō Abe
Zimbabwean leader
1987–2017
Robert Mugabe
Iranian
Supreme Leader
1989–
Ali Khamenei
Russian leader
(de–facto)
2000–
Vladimir Putin
Russian President
1991–1999
Boris Yeltsin
Syrian leader
2000–
Bashar al–Assad
Indian P.M.
2014–
Narendra Modi
2004–2014
Manmohan Singh
Chinese leader
2012–
Xi Jinping
+7
Level 81
Jan 11, 2017
I'll gladly lose the point for refusing to recognize any president succeeding Obama. The person taking that office doesn't deserve any respect or acknowledgement.
+1
Level 57
Jan 12, 2017
+1
+2
Level 56
Mar 10, 2021
and its finally over...
+1
Level 48
Jan 11, 2017
I didn't do great anyway - but also lost 3 due to spelling
+1
Level 62
Jan 11, 2017
You need to update Renzi's entry
+4
Level ∞
Jan 11, 2017
Updated! Every time you turn around, Italy has a new Prime Minister...
+2
Level 56
Jan 11, 2017
Why is Bush's term given as 2001-2009 while Obama's is 2009-2016, instead of 2017? The transitions between Bush, Obama and Trump happened/will happen on the exact same date, 20th January. What I'm saying is the quiz should be consistent.
+1
Level ∞
Jan 11, 2017
Fixed
+2
Level 62
Jan 11, 2017
I think it would make much more sense to include Jean Chrétien (1993-2003) than Paul Martin for a third PM of Canada - Chrétien is a far more significant figure in Canadian political history, not least for winning all but one seat in Ontario, a nigh-impossible feat, in the 1993 federal election.
+5
Level 23
Jan 12, 2017
Syrian dictator? Really? Yeah, one reason not to do this quiz. Please, if you don't know the definition of a word, don't use it. Its pathetic to apply such title to the leader of a country who doesn't even meet the standards that are required to carry said title.
+1
Level 72
Jan 12, 2017
The presidencial turn for Felipe Calderón in Mexico is missing. it is between Fox and Peña Nieto.
+1
Level 53
Jan 24, 2017
Not every country has all of the leaders within the time period; I know nothing about Mexican politics, but I would assume that Fox was more significant than the missing president. If the quiz had every Australian leader from even the past ten years, it would be Howard, Rudd, Gillard, Rudd, Abbott, Turnbull... or something like that.
+3
Level 57
Jan 12, 2017
Please ditch Cameron's photo, but DO NOT replace with May. Put Obama up, so we can remember the good times before The Evil One. And what's an Irani? And give credit to Medvedev.
+1
Level 80
Jan 20, 2021
It might be time to ditch Cameron's pic, given that he's not now one of the answers.
+2
Level 83
Mar 11, 2021
I mean they haven't replaced it with May but they have somehow gone one worse
+3
Level 70
Jul 8, 2017
Maybe add Emmanuel Macron?
+1
Level 33
Nov 3, 2017
Julia Gillard is the sexiest PM
+1
Level 31
Mar 23, 2018
And also one of the worst in Aussie history.
+1
Level 45
Dec 21, 2017
Robert Mugabe has been booted out/resigned earlier this year; the date should be updated to reflect that.
+1
Level ∞
Dec 21, 2017
Fixed
+1
Level 82
Mar 21, 2018
Zuma's gone.
+4
Level 37
May 18, 2018
Pretty sure 'dictator' isn't an actual title anyone actually has. It's a bit needlessly judgemental, however dubious by US standards their appointment may seem.
+1
Level 49
Jun 3, 2018
Jinping should be accepted for Xi Jinping
+7
Level ∞
Nov 15, 2018
Not his family name.
+10
Level 62
Jan 21, 2021
I remember an Indian news anchor calling him "Jinping the 11th" where he was here for an official visit. She was fired.
+1
Level 52
Sep 2, 2018
Turnbull is out - Morrison is in
+1
Level 67
Oct 12, 2018
Turnbull is no longer PM in Australia and has been replaced by Scott Morrison. Pena Nieto is on the way out in Mexico too, soon to be replaced by Andres Obrador.
+3
Level 76
Nov 16, 2018
Raúl Castro was replaced as Cuba's president by Miguel Díaz-Canel in April 2018.
+4
Level ∞
Nov 16, 2018
Surprised I didn't hear about this, but it turns out it doesn't matter. Castro is still the First Secretary of the Communist Party, which is where the power lies. Cuba is not a democracy.
+2
Level 76
Apr 20, 2021
Miguel Díaz-Canel has been elected First Secretary as well, on 19 April 2021 - the first time that a Castro has not been in charge of the country for several decades.
+2
Level 67
Nov 16, 2018
Wasn't Gordon Brown prime minister for 3 years before Cameron? I'm American, but I watch a lot of Mock the Week.
+1
Level 72
Nov 16, 2018
Great quiz but you really need to lighten up on the spelling. A lot of those names are blinking tricky to spell, especially with the time being quite tight. I spent more time trying to correctly spell answers I knew than I did thinking of the answers that I didn't get straight off.
+1
Level 89
Nov 19, 2018
Hmm...I was guessing Italy would be least known.
+1
Level 82
Dec 27, 2018
If you'd like I can update my World Leaders 2 Quiz. Meant to before, didn't get around to it.
+4
Level 74
Dec 27, 2018
Why is François Hollande (France) excluded from this quiz? Did I miss something?
+1
Level 67
Jul 30, 2019
Yea, that slowed me down too, tried a lonng time spelling variations before I looked him up and looked at his dates before I saw those dates werent on the quiz... Somehow I figured all periods were consecutive.
+1
Level 41
Dec 27, 2018
Why has Gordon Brown been left off the list of British P.Ms? he was Prime Minister between 2007 and 2010
+2
Level 63
Dec 27, 2018
Miguel Diaz Canel is the leader of Cuba now
+1
Level 78
Jan 4, 2019
Abe was previously PM of Japan in 2006-2007, that might be useful to include.
+2
Level 41
Jan 9, 2019
Raul Castro is not the president anymore (and he isn't a dictator, he governed by the constitution and was elected by mp's elected by the people in elections)
+5
Level ∞
Jan 10, 2019
I'll update the quiz once a year or so, but lol if you think Castro's election was democratic.
+2
Level 50
Jul 27, 2019
I guess Boris Johnson will be replacing Tony Blair on this quiz
+3
Level 67
Jul 30, 2019
I hope he gets a new hairdresser that goes with his new appointment ;)
+2
Level 71
Oct 29, 2019
As a Dane, getting Shinzō Abe is pretty easy, as his last name means monkey in Danish.
+1
Level 57
Oct 20, 2020
Shinzo Abe resigned, you might wanna add Yoshihide Suga in or remove Shinzo Abe
+1
Level 91
Jan 21, 2021
Man oh man, it's hard to remember that second Indian PM's name.
+1
Level 71
Jan 21, 2021
Hollande seems to be missing, also the new Japanese guy as mentioned in an earlier comment
+2
Level 84
Jan 21, 2021
Apparently none of the 500 spellings I tried for Khamenei matched the regex.
+1
Level 70
Jan 25, 2021
Is there a reason why you call (exclusively) all non pro-American head of states "leaders" (except Rouhani)? Smells like politically motivated...
+1
Level 65
Jan 28, 2021
QM is socialist?
+2
Level 74
Mar 9, 2021
Khomeini is also an accepted spelling for the Iranian Ayatollah.
+3
Level 88
Mar 9, 2021
Actually they are two different people.
+2
Level 67
Mar 9, 2021
The Cuban president is Miguel Díaz-Canel, and the PM is Manuel Marerro Cruz. Raúl does not have any position of leadership in the Cuban government.
+2
Level 78
Mar 9, 2021
The quiz asks for the leader, not specifically for the president or PM. If I'm nost mistaken Raúl Castro's position as First Secretary of the Communist Party makes him the de facto leader of the country. Not that you even need to have the highest official position to be the actual leader, see Deng Xiaoping.
+3
Level ∞
Mar 9, 2021
Yes, and I suppose you believe that Vyacheslav Molotov was the leader of the Soviet Union during the 1930s, not Stalin.
+3
Level 83
Mar 9, 2021
Italian PM needs updating. It's now Mario Draghi.
+8
Level 78
Mar 9, 2021
Whenever you refresh the site, Jeff Bezos has gained another billion and Italy has a new PM.
+1
Level 71
Mar 9, 2021
lol
+1
Level 72
Mar 9, 2021
I feel like this quiz could either use another minute, or a little more flexibility on spelling.
+1
Level 75
Mar 9, 2021
Not to be annoying, but what is Irani? I thought it was a typo for Iraqi at first.
+3
Level 59
Mar 9, 2021
Yeah the Iran demonym is Iranian
+1
Level 65
Mar 9, 2021
Raul Castro isn't president of Cuba since 2018. He was replaced with a guy named Miguel Diaz-Canel
+1
Level 59
Mar 9, 2021
How is Xi Jinping so low?
+1
Level 61
Feb 20, 2024
My guess is because its the last question, people gave up/didnt see
+1
Level 38
Mar 9, 2021
only got US, Russia, and N Korea
+1
Level 43
Mar 9, 2021
Mario Draghi is the current pm of Italy. I don't blame you, it's hard to keep up with Italian government.
+1
Level 72
Jul 4, 2021
Needs updated, Netanyahu is no longer Israeli PM, Iran recently held Presidential elections and will have a new President soon, if not already. Additionally, Australia had two PM’s in 2018, so you should probably allow both as type ins, unless you want to be specific on which one you want.
+1
Level 70
Jan 12, 2023
Guess who's back :)
+1
Level 72
Jan 12, 2023
He’s like a bad penny!
+1
Level 77
Aug 23, 2021
Spelling cost me on both Russia AND Iran.
+1
Level 57
Sep 24, 2021
Please update. Rouhani has been replaced by Ebrahaim Raisi, Netanyahu has been replaced by Naftali Bennett, Castro has been replaced by Miguel Diaz-Canel, and Merkel has declared her term will end in 2021
+1
Level 74
Nov 22, 2021
Please update the dates at least!
+2
Level 88
Jan 11, 2022
Italy has had 69 governments and changed Prime Minster 43 times since WW2.

How many Prime Minsters will Italy have by the next update. :D

+1
Level 63
Jan 24, 2022
We could change another in a few days (if the current PM is elected as President of the Republic). More in general, the PM in Italy is weak by design.
+2
Level 95
Jan 11, 2022
I know it says in the description that it isn't meant to be a comprehensive list, but it seems odd not to include the current leaders of all of the countries included.
+1
Level 62
Jan 12, 2022
Harriet Jone, Prime Minister!
+4
Level 76
Jan 12, 2022
Time to include Jacinda Ardern?
+2
Level 76
Jan 13, 2022
Why, though? Just curious as NZ isn't exactly a "big player".
+4
Level 74
Jan 18, 2022
But Ardern personally is disproportionately consequential on the world stage, simply because she's so competent and charismatic.
+1
Level 67
Jan 18, 2022
I'd be interested to examine the politics of a place like New Zealand and see how they compare to my own country's (the US). Surely it's not as chaotic as here, but I feel like Americans have such a starry-eyed view of Kiwis. I wonder whether there is any degree of the mudslinging and general chicanery that overwhelms US politics down there. It feels like it's endemic to politics anywhere. Yet New Zealand seems to have things figured out...
+2
Level 82
Jan 10, 2023
While I'd say the US, is worse, it's a matter of degrees. Any democratic polity will see a degree of partisan mudslinging.
+2
Level 65
Jan 18, 2022
Please accept "Winnie The Pooh" for Xi Yinpin ^^
+3
Level 16
Jan 18, 2022
there's a mistake in your quizz francois hollande was the french president before emmanuel macron and sarkozy was president before francois hollande
+1
Level 66
Jan 18, 2022
Surprised that the Mexican guy is not called Gonzales
+2
Level 77
Jan 18, 2022
Any rationale behind the years you used? It seems very arbitrary.
+2
Level 71
Apr 6, 2022
Boris should be an acceptable type in! No one refers to him as Johnson
+2
Level 79
Jan 11, 2023
Bojo should be accepted
+5
Level 65
May 27, 2022
Should update because Morrison is no longer PM of Australia.
+5
Level 52
May 29, 2022
Australia needs an update for the 2022 election.
+1
Level 77
Oct 19, 2022
I would suggest adding Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan's former PM who was Assassinated in 2007.
+10
Level 68
Jan 10, 2023
Didn't even include Liz Truss.
+6
Level 82
Jan 10, 2023
Might have blinked at the wrong time and was thus unaware she was PM.
+11
Level 79
Jan 10, 2023
Where is Liz Truss, surely her most important achievement was to become important on quizzes such as this one!
+5
Level 84
Jan 10, 2023
Could maybe relax the spelling on Khamenei a bit. I tried it a hundred different ways and never got it. There's nothing more frustrating than knowing the answer and not being able to get it. I could have sworn it was usually spelled "Khomeini", but it turns out that that was the preferred spelling for Ruhollah Khomeini (pronounced /xɒˈmeɪni/), compared to Khamenei being pronounced xɒːmeneˈʔiː. That massive difference in pronunciation certainly warrants a distinction in spelling as well, right?
+5
Level 84
Jan 11, 2023
I understand this is not an all inclusive quiz. But Liz Truss technically should work because under the answer "2022 -" she technically fits. Granted it probably should be written as:

September - October 2022

+2
Level 79
Jan 11, 2023
The Johnson-Sunak transition was most interesting!
+1
Level 72
Jan 11, 2023
For Chinese leader, tried Winnie the Pooh, Pooh Bear, Winny the Pooh, and none of them worked. :(
+2
Level 55
Jan 12, 2023
Good to see that Albo is a fill in for Anthony Albanese
+2
Level 71
Jan 12, 2023
Boris should be an acceptable type in. He is almost universally referred to as Boris. Plus, Bibi is featured as an acceptable type in!
+2
Level 72
Jan 12, 2023
Fair play for not removing the two bit banana republic that had three Prime Ministers in the year 2022.
+5
Level 85
Jan 13, 2023
Are we just going to ignore Liz Truss? I mean I'm fine with that.
+1
Level 19
Feb 20, 2024
Israel is an apartheid state, so I personally wouldn't include that on here but good quiz mate.