TIME magazine has included Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in its list of five world leaders who the publication claims are less popular than United States (US) President Donald Trump.

The "risk report" published on its website claimed that despite an approval rating of under 40 percent, Trump was "sitting pretty" compared to the five.

Apart from Najib, the others were Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Brazilian President Michel Temer, South African President Jacob Zuma and Prime Minister of Greece Alexis Tsipras.

However, it is unclear how the magazine arrived at the conclusion that the five were less popular than Trump.

On Najib, the magazine cited the 1MDB scandal, which has courted international media coverage and investigations, as well as the US$2.6 billion in the prime minister's personal account.

Noting that Najib had described the sum as a donation from a Saudi royalty, the report stated:

"He was backed up by Malaysia's attorney-general, who reported that the money constituted a legal donation, and that 'most' of it was returned. Unsurprisingly, his current approval rating is at record lows."

On the same note, the report said Najib is not losing sleep over this as he retains firm control of Umno.

"He has systematically sidelined opponents within the party, and his main adversaries outside the party have been jailed on what critics say are politicised charges.

"Who needs popularity when you have political power and money in the bank?" it added.

Although the report did not quote any approval rating with regard to Najib to substantiate its claim, a recent study by a Selangor government think-tank claimed that the findings of its poll indicated that Najib is the most unpopular prime minister in the nation's history.

The prime minister has denied abusing public funds for personal gain, and blamed such allegations on those conspiring to topple him from power.