The UK has begun to close the gap with the United States on which country educates the most world leaders.
In 2017, when the first “soft power index” was collated, 58 of the world’s 358 leaders had received an education in the UK — more than any other country. However, Britain was swiftly overtaken by the US in 2018, which has held the lead ever since.
Last year the US widened the gap, having educated 67 world presidents and prime ministers compared to 55 had studied at British institutions, prompting experts to warn that Britain’s global influence would wane if the decline were to continue.
