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Yasser Arafat (1929-2004) -

The former president of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and founding member of the Fatah political party, Yasser Arafat was also a short leader. He was only 5 ft 2 in. (158 cm).

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Nikita Khrushchev (1894-1971) -

The leader of the Soviet Union after Stalin's death, Nikita Khrushchev wasn't blessed with height. In fact, he was only 5 ft 3 in. (161 cm).

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Silvio Berlusconi (1936-2023) -

The media tycoon and former prime minister of Italy was 5 ft 5 in. (167 cm).

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Winston Churchill (1874-1965) -

The former British Prime Minister might have looked tall, but he was actually 5 ft 6 in. (170 cm). 

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Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) -

One of the tallest of the shortest world leaders, the French military leader and emperor was 5 ft 6 in. (170 cm). 

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Kim Jong Il (1941-2011) -

The second supreme leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Il was 5 ft 3 in. (161 cm). 

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Vladimir Putin -

At an estimated 5 ft 7 in. (173 cm), Putin is often labeled as having a "Napoleon complex," a theory that short men compensate for their height through their behavior. 

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Benito Mussolini (1883-1945) -

The Italian dictator, who founded and led the National Fascist Party (PNF), was also 5 ft 6 in. (170 cm). 

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Joseph Stalin (1878-1953) -

Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin was the longest-serving leader of the Soviet Union, from 1924 until his death in 1953. At 5 ft 5 in. (167 cm), he was also surprisingly small in stature. 

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Alexander the Great (356-323 BCE) -

It has been estimated by historians that Alexander the Great was around 5 ft 6 in. (170 cm).

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Queen Victoria (1819-1901) -

Queen Victoria is known for being the second-longest-reigning English royal in history, topped only by her great-great-granddaughter Queen Elizabeth II. At 5 ft (152 cm), she was a very petite woman. 

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James Madison (1751-1836) -

One of the Founding Fathers and the fourth president of the US, James Madison was only 5 ft 4 in. (164 cm). 

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Benito Juárez (1806-1872) -

Benito Juárez served as the 26th president of Mexico from 1858 until his death in office in 1872. Of Zapotec ancestry, he was the first and only indigenous president of Mexico. He was 4 ft 6 in. (140 cm). 

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Francisco Franco (1892-1975) -

The Spanish military general and dictator was only 5 ft 4 in. (164 cm)

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Deng Xiaoping (1904-1997) -

China's leader from 1978 to 1989, Deng Xiaoping was surprisingly only 4 ft 11 in. (125 cm). 

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Vladimir Lenin (1870-1924) -

The founder of the Russian Communist Party, and first head of the Soviet state, was 5 ft 5. in (167 cm). 

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Hirohito (1901-1989) -

Emperor of Japan from 1926 until his death in 1989, Hirohito was 5 ft 5 in. (167 cm). 

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Cleopatra VII (70/69-30 BCE) -

The last ruler of Ptolemaic Egypt, Cleopatra is one of the most fascinating women in history, What many don't know is that she was only 5 ft (152 cm).

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Engelbert Dollfuss (1892-1934) -

Engelbert Dollfuss served as Chancellor of Austria between 1932 and 1934. He was only 4 ft 11 in. (125 cm).

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Kim Jong Un -

Just like his father and predecessor, Kim Jong Un isn't a very tall man. In fact, he's estimated to be between 5 ft 4 in. (164 cm) and 5 ft 7 in. (173 cm). 

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Amenhotep I (1525-1504 BCE) -

The second Pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty of Egypt, Amenhotep I, is believed to have been 5 ft 4 in. (164 cm). 

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David Ben-Gurion (1886-1973) -

The primary national founder of the State of Israel, as well as its first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion was 5 ft (152 cm). 

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Mahmoud Ahmadinejad -

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad served as the Iranian president from 2002 to 2013, and is only 5 ft 2 in. (158 cm). 

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Nicolae Ceaușescu (1918-1989) -

The general secretary of the Romanian Communist Party from 1965 to 1989, Nicolae Ceaușescu was the second and last communist leader of Romania. He was 5 ft 5 in. (167 cm).

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Dmitry Medvedev -

The former president and former vice president of Russia is only 5 ft 4 in. (164 cm). 

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Louis XIV (1638-1715) -

Having reigned for 72 years and 110 days, the longest of any sovereign, this French king was also short. He was only 5 ft 4 in. (164 cm). 

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Yasuo Fukuda -

Yasuo Fukuda a Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan from 2007 to 2008. He's 5 ft 6 in. (170 cm). 

Sources: (Ranker) (The Times) (The Week) (Business Insider) 

See also: World leaders with the longest reigns

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