Prime Minister Narendra Modi has become the first world leader and politician in history to cross 100 million followers on Instagram, marking an unprecedented milestone in global political digital presence. According to officials, Modi’s Instagram following now stands well above that of other prominent world leaders, including Donald Trump, whose follower count is around 43.2 million.
The combined follower totals of the next five most-followed leaders still do not match Modi’s individual count. The milestone coincides with his ongoing official state visit to Israel, where he was awarded the highest honour by the Israeli Parliament, highlighting both diplomatic and digital achievements.
Down the Numbers and Statements
On Thursday, the Prime Minister’s official Instagram account surpassed the 100 million follower mark, a feat no other serving world leader has achieved to date. According to data tracked by media outlets, Modi’s profile now boasts more than twice the followers of US President Donald Trump, who remains second globally with 43.2 million.
Following Trump are Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto (15 million), Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (14.4 million), Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (11.6 million) and Argentine President Javier Milei (6.4 million). The combined total of these five leaders is still less than Modi’s individual follower count, highlighting the scale of his reach.
Officials from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) described this milestone as indicative of “deepening engagement between leadership and citizens,” noting that Instagram a visual-first platform helps project governance highlights, foreign visits, cultural moments and outreach campaigns directly to millions of users. Modi’s use of Instagram’s photos, reels and stories has, according to analysts, helped cultivate a large and active international audience, extending beyond India’s borders.
Domestic comparisons further underline Modi’s dominance on the platform. Among Indian political figures, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s Instagram account has around 16.1 million followers, while Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has approximately 12.6 million figures that pale in comparison to Modi’s tally. This gulf reflects both his national leadership role and a focused digital communication strategy.
From 2014 to 100 Million: The Journey and Broader Context
Narendra Modi first joined Instagram in 2014, shortly after assuming office as India’s Prime Minister. Over the past decade, his digital presence on the Meta-owned platform has steadily grown, transforming from a supplementary communication channel into a central element of his outreach apparatus.
Initially used to share snapshots of official engagements and public addresses, his feed now spans diplomatic tours and bilateral engagements, cultural celebrations, government programme highlights, and occasional personal reflections.
Political communication experts point out that Instagram’s visual storytelling format is particularly effective in reaching younger demographics a key segment of the electorate that increasingly turns to social media for political information. By combining official updates with behind-the-scenes glimpses of state visits and cultural moments, Modi’s account has maintained high engagement as well as broad international visibility.
The milestone also arrives against the backdrop of Modi’s official visit to Israel, where he was recently presented with the “Speaker of the Knesset Medal” the highest honour conferred by the Israeli Parliament in recognition of his contributions to strengthening India-Israel relations.
Reports note that his address to the Israeli legislature drew sustained applause, and he engaged informally with lawmakers, including in shared photographs and selfies. The juxtaposition of this diplomatic success alongside a social media milestone underscores how political influence today increasingly spans both physical and digital arenas.
Scholars of digital politics have observed that Modi’s Instagram strategy reflects broader shifts in the communication landscape. Traditional media, while still vital, now operates alongside social channels that offer direct, unfiltered access to vast audiences. In this context, leaders who cultivate strong social media presences can shape narratives, mobilise support, and amplify policy messaging more rapidly than in previous eras.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Numbers alone cannot capture the profound impacts positive and negative of political communication in the digital age. Prime Minister Modi’s achievement on Instagram illustrates the transformative potential of social media in democracies: enabling leaders to communicate directly with citizens, share governance priorities, and showcase national achievements to global audiences.
Yet with great reach comes great responsibility. Digital platforms can foster positive civic engagement when used to inform, educate and promote dialogue, but they also risk amplifying polarisation, misinformation and echo chambers when content is not anchored in transparency and respectful discourse.
