Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin Named Above Joe Biden on 'Most Admired' List 2021

Facing a slump in popularity polling numbers in the U.S., President Joe Biden has been outshone by Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in a global survey of 2021's "most admired" people.

In the online poll, YouGov asked 42,000 people across more than three dozen countries to rank the public figures they most admired. At the end of his first year as president, Biden was ranked the 20th most admired man.

He was a new entry to the annual list but he trailed behind his Oval Office predecessor Donald Trump, who in 13th finished two places higher than in 2020.

Further up the rankings, Russian President Vladimir Putin in ninth—up three places from 2020—while ex-President Obama retained his top place, having ousted the long-time incumbent Bill Gates in 2020, with the Microsoft man second this time round.

Chinese President Xi Jinping retained his third place, while footballer Cristiano Ronaldo moved up two places to fourth.

Space X founder Elon Musk, who has just been named Time magazine Person of the Year for 2021, moved up three places to sixth. The billionaire investor and philanthropist Warren Buffett was a new entry at 11th.

The methodology involved YouGov asking panellists in 38 countries the question, "thinking about people alive in the world today, which [man or woman] do you most admire?"

Lists of 20 men and 20 women who had been nominated in at least four countries were compiled, with up to 10 local figures added to the group for certain countries.

After the shortlists were drawn up, respondents could make a number of selections when asked "who do you truly admire?" and one choice when asked, "who do you most admire?"

Both numbers were combined to come up with the results which YouGov says was a snapshot of opinion from countries that constitute more than 70 percent of the world's population.

"By asking respondents two questions, we can understand both the breadth (i.e. global reach) and the intensity of a person's support," YouGov said in its press release.

Former first lady Michelle Obama retained her top position in the women's list, ahead of actor and activist Angelina Jolie and Queen Elizabeth II who in second and third, kept their 2020 positions.

Angela Merkel, who has just stepped down as German chancellor was up four places in eighth. Meanwhile Vice President Kamala Harris was a new entry at number 11, one place ahead of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Another former first lady, Melania Trump was 16th, up three places from 2020, while rounding out the top 20 was new entry, New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern.