Father of the Nation is a term used by many countries to describe a political or symbolic leader seen as a founding father of the nation. He may also be key figure from the nation's history whose perceived heroism and moral authority make him a source of patriotic inspiration and worthy of respect or veneration. His image is often elevated to that of a national symbol and is likely to be featured on items such as banknotes, stamps and national memorabilia. In some countries, a cult of personality may also be established about him.

Not all "Fathers of the Nation" are retained, especially when historical research indicates they were not all they seemed. During his period of rule in the Soviet Union, for example, Joseph Stalin was promoted and seen by millions of Soviet citizens as a father figure and a father of the nation. The esteem in which he was held was such that a wave of suicides was recorded following the announcement of his death, suggesting that some citizens had sincerely come to believe that life without Stalin was unthinkable or unbearable. Within only a few years, however, the scale of his repression began to be made evident, leading to his denunciation by successor Nikita Khruschev and the removal of his body from the mausoleum where it had been laid alongside his predecessor (and founder of the Soviet Union) Vladimir Lenin.

Another example is Eamon de Valera, three times head of government in the Republic of Ireland. Many Irish people saw him as a "Father of the Nation", but a re-evaluation of his reputation since the 1980s has seen attention focus on other leaders such as Michael Collins.

"Father of the Nation" (Guófù, 國父) is the title officially given to Sun Yat-sen in the Republic of China on Taiwan. It also unofficially refers to Sun Yat-sen the People's Republic of China on mainland China.

The 2003 draft constitution of Afghanistan, drawn up under the presidency of Hamid Karzai, explicitly awarded the title "Father of the Nation" to the deposed King of Afghanistan, Mohammed Zahir Shah. This unusual step has been interpreted as an attempt to accommodate Afghans keen to restore a monarchy.

Some "Fathers of the Nation" (alphabetically by nation)

See also

• Founding Fathers
• Pater Patriae
• Mother Motherland
• Mother of the Nation
• List of people known as father or mother of something

Men | National symbols

אבי האומה | Vader des vaderlands | 国父