Duterte’s Approval Ratings: Not Only the Philippines, but Among the World’s Highest

Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte did not only record historic approval ratings in the Philippines—his numbers also stood out globally when compared with other sitting world leaders during the same period.

International polling comparisons from 2020 to 2022 placed Duterte at or near the top among current global leaders in terms of domestic approval, meaning he was rated by his own citizens at levels rarely matched elsewhere.

In one widely circulated 2022 comparison, Duterte posted an 87% approval rating, surpassing leaders such as India’s Narendra Modi, Singapore’s Lee Hsien Loong, Indonesia’s Joko Widodo, Mexico’s Andrés Manuel López Obrador, and several Western leaders at the time.

It is important to clarify what these rankings mean. These were not global elections and not endorsements by other countries. Instead, each leader was rated within their own nation, making the comparison a measure of how strongly leaders connected with their people at home.

Political analysts attribute Duterte’s exceptional approval levels to a combination of decisive leadership, a direct communication style, and policies that resonated with voters who felt ignored by traditional political elites. While his presidency drew strong criticism internationally, surveys consistently showed that a large majority of Filipinos approved of his performance throughout his term.

Approval ratings are not historical verdicts, but they are powerful indicators of public trust at a specific time. In that sense, Duterte’s numbers remain a benchmark—both locally and globally—in discussions of leadership, popularity, and public confidence.

Bible Verse:
“Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips.” — Proverbs 27:2