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World Leaders On Twitter: 15 Heads Of State Who Tweet (PHOTOS)

First Posted: 05/18/10 06:12 AM ET   Updated: 05/25/11 04:50 PM ET

The rise of social media in politics is no secret, and more and more world leaders are turning to Twitter, according to a new report.

Digital Daya notes in its new study "Real Leader's Tweet" (PDF) that 15 percent of the world's 163 countries are now represented by their political leaders or governments on Twitter.

Among its findings was that "'fragile' nations - those with a high degree of political instability - are likely to consider social media as a threat," Governing People reports.

President Barack Obama actively used Twitter during his presidential campaign and after a short hiatus, returned to the service in March 2009. Obama doesn't personally update his account, however, as he noted in November.

Here are 15 world leaders you can find on Twitter, and apparently "democracy" is not a requirement as two of the leaders live in autocratic or anocratic societies.

We've sorted them from least followers to most. Let us know which of these leaders you believe are worth following and which ones you'd pass on.

Latvia Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis
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Follow Dombrovskis' Twitter feed at @VDombrovskis. (1,700 followers)
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The rise of social media in politics is no secret, and more and more world leaders are turning to Twitter, according to a new report. Digital Daya notes in its new study "Real Leader's Tweet" (PDF)...
The rise of social media in politics is no secret, and more and more world leaders are turning to Twitter, according to a new report. Digital Daya notes in its new study "Real Leader's Tweet" (PDF)...
Filed by Craig Kanalley  | 
 
 
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10:31 AM on 05/09/2010
Hugo Chavez, the president of Venezuela has also joined Twitter at http://twitter.com/chavezcandanga.
11:42 AM on 04/12/2010
Two more World leaders join the list of heads of state who tweet. The Croatian President is now using Twitter http://twitter.com/ivojosipovic as well as the Prime Minister of Greece http://twitter.com/primeministergr.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
chedet
Le Panda
04:21 AM on 03/19/2010
Najib, go do your work!!
03:42 PM on 03/18/2010
There is no threat of me flirting with POTUS. However, I think I'll pass on following Queen Abullah.
11:57 AM on 03/18/2010
Thanks much for the story, there were eight of the ID's I had not yet added to the directory of government using Twitter over at http://GovTwit.com
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
BradleeA
11:42 AM on 03/18/2010
What about the Dalai Lama?
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HUFFPOST BLOGGER
Craig Kanalley
An editor at HuffPost
02:57 PM on 03/18/2010
This list was for heads of state only.
11:00 AM on 03/18/2010
If you use twitter, you're a child.
HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
Jaskoen
11:23 AM on 03/18/2010
hip you are not, hip dibler.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
henrypapillon
Put a Psychiatrist in every NRA meeting.
09:51 AM on 03/18/2010
I'd tweet for R Queen Rania. heck, I'd go on a birdseed diet. I'd sit in trees. i'd lay eggs.
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
KJLSanDiego
12:28 PM on 03/18/2010
She really is beautiful!