Barack Obama has said women are “indisputably better” than men and many global problems stem from men of older generations clinging on to power.

The former US president, who has repeatedly spoken about being a feminist, said living standards would substantially improve if women were in charge of every country in the world.

Obama, who left the White House in 2017, discussed what the world would look if it was ruled by women at a talk about leadership in Singapore.

He said: “Now women, I just want you to know, you are not perfect, but what I can say pretty indisputably is that you are better than us [men].

“I’m absolutely confident that for two years if every nation on earth was run by women, you would see a significant improvement across the board on just about everything... living standards and outcomes.”

The Obamas: A personal portrait Show all 10 1 /10 The Obamas: A personal portrait The Obamas: A personal portrait Providence, RI, March 1, 2008 Obama doing press interviews by phone between events. ‘When he saw me photographing his shoes, he said he had already had them resoled once since he entered the race. They were his lucky shoes...’ © Callie Shell, from Hope, Never Fear by Callie Shell The Obamas: A personal portrait Hyde Park, Chicago, IL, October 2, 2006 Obama and the girls get breakfast and wash the dishes. This morning he took the girls to school and Michelle Obama went to work © Callie Shell, from Hope, Never Fear by Callie Shell The Obamas: A personal portrait Muscatine, IA, November 7, 2007 Obama listens from a back stairwell as he is introduced. It was his second or third speech of the day © Callie Shell, from Hope, Never Fear by Callie Shell The Obamas: A personal portrait Super Tuesday, Hyatt hotel room, Chicago, IL, February 5, 2008 Michelle Obama looks over Obama's remarks to supporters before the Super Tuesday election night rally. In a surprise twist, Obama surpassed Hillary Clinton in delegate numbers © Callie Shell, from Hope, Never Fear by Callie Shell The Obamas: A personal portrait United States Capitol, Washington, DC, January 20, 2009 Obama waits in the wings to walk out and become the 44th President of the United States Callie Shell© Callie Shell, from Hope, Never Fear by Callie Shell The Obamas: A personal portrait Campaign bus, Butte, MT, July 4, 2008 Watching television before a campaign rally. They were together to celebrate Malia's tenth birthday © Callie Shell, from Hope, Never Fear by Callie Shell The Obamas: A personal portrait Limo en route to the White House, Washington, DC, January 19, 2010 One year into his presidency. Reading over the morning papers after an education event in Fairfax, Virginia © Callie Shell, from Hope, Never Fear by Callie Shell The Obamas: A personal portrait Noblesville, IN, May 3, 2008 Campaigning at a county picnic in the Forest Park © Callie Shell, from Hope, Never Fear by Callie Shell The Obamas: A personal portrait Columbia, SC, January 26, 2008 In a hotel room the morning of the South Carolina primary, which they won later © Callie Shell, from Hope, Never Fear by Callie Shell The Obamas: A personal portrait Yankee Kitchen Family Restaurant, Boardman, OH, August 30, 2008 The Obamas share breakfast with vice-president running mate Joe Biden and his wife, Jill. They were on a bus tour through Ohio © Callie Shell, from Hope, Never Fear by Callie Shell

Asked whether he would contemplate becoming a political leader again, he argued leaders must retreat when they have been in power for a long time.

He said: “If you look at the world and look at the problems it’s usually old people, usually old men, not getting out of the way.

“It is important for political leaders to try and remind themselves that you are there to do a job, but you are not there for life, you are not there to prop up your own sense of self-importance on your own power.”

Obama emphasised the importance of gender equality during his time in the White House, and was a keen proponent of women’s reproductive rights.

He wrote an essay for Glamour magazine in 2016 about the meaning of feminism and society’s obligation to make sure women and men are given equal opportunities.​

The ex-president and former first lady Michelle Obama have established a foundation which mentors young leaders across the world since departing the White House.