Prime Minister Narendra Modi has crossed 100 million followers on Instagram, becoming the first world leader and politician to reach the milestone on the platform. The milestone reinforces his position not only as India’s most followed political figure online, but also as the most digitally influential elected leader globally.
The achievement comes during a two-day official visit to Israel, where Modi was awarded Israel’s parliament’s highest honor, underscoring the convergence of digital prominence and diplomatic visibility.
Modi’s Instagram Surge: A Global First
PM Modi joined Instagram in 2014, the same year he first assumed office as Prime Minister
PM Modi joined Instagram in 2014, the same year he first assumed the office of Prime Minister. Over the past decade, his account has evolved into a carefully curated feed that combines administration updates, foreign policy engagements, cultural events and personal moments.
Crossing the 100 million mark puts him well ahead of other global political leaders on the platform. His number of followers is more than double that of US President Donald Trump, who currently has 43.2 million followers.
The cumulative total of the other five most-followed world leaders remains lower than Modi’s individual total — a telling indicator of his global digital reach.
Politicians with the most followers on Instagram
Among current world leaders, the ranking illustrates the sharp decline after the Indian prime minister:
- Donald Trump – 43.2 million followers
- Prabowo Subianto – 15 million followers
- Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva – 14.4 million followers
- Recep Tayyip Erdogan – 11.6 million followers
- Javier Milei – 6.4 million followers
In India, the difference is just as stark. The second highest following among Indian political leaders is Yogi Adityanath with around 16.1 million followers, followed by Rahul Gandhi with around 12.6 million.
State visit to Israel and honor of the Knesset
The social media milestone coincides with a high-profile visit to Israel, where Modi addressed the Knesset, Israel’s parliament.
Israel’s parliament awarded the “Knesset Speaker’s Medal” – its highest honor – in recognition of what officials described as Modi’s “outstanding contribution through his personal leadership” to strengthening strategic ties between India and Israel.
The medal was presented after his speech to lawmakers, which drew a standing ovation and sustained applause. After the speech, Knesset members gathered around the prime minister for photos and selfies, a scene that mixed parliamentary ceremony with the informality of the social media age.
Emphasis on historical and civilizational ties
In his speech, PM Modi highlighted the depth of historical connections between the two nations and referred to ancient texts that underscored the long-standing ties.
“There is great admiration in India for Israel’s determination, courage and achievements.
“Long before we related to each other as modern states, we were linked by ties that go back more than two thousand years. The Book of Esther refers to India as Hoda. The Talmud records trade with India in ancient times,” he said.
The remarks framed the current strategic partnership within a broader civilizational narrative, a rhetorical approach that has become a hallmark of Modi’s foreign policy speeches.
