Barack Obama is the most admired man in the world

President Obama is the most admired man in the world according to US citizens, a Gallup poll has found.

The results, based on a 7-11 December poll, shouldn't surprise many - incumbent presidents have won the honour 58 times of the 70 that Gallup has run the annual survey.

Obama was the top choice for 22 per cent of the poll respondents, his best score since 2012.

Barack Obama and Dwight Eisenhower in 1952 were the only presidents-elect to earn the distinctions.

Fifty per cent of Democrats named Obama as their most admired, while only 34 per cent of Republicans chose Donald Trump.

Hillary Clinton was found to be the most admired woman in the world for the 15th consecutive year.

Since 1993 she has topped the list every year but 1995 and 1996, when she finished behind Mother Theresa, and 2001, behind Laura Bush.

However, this year's results reveal Clinton's lowest percentage since 2002.

The poll was conducted among a random sample of 1,028 adults aged 18 and over, living in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

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