Women in Politics

Margaret Thatcher served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990, becoming the first woman to hold this position.

Vigdís Finnbogadóttir of Iceland was elected as the world's first female president in 1980.

Madeleine Albright served as the United States Secretary of State from 1997 to 2001, becoming the first woman to hold this position.

Indira Gandhi served as the Prime Minister of India from 1966 to 1977 and again from 1980 to 1984, becoming the first woman to hold this position.

Ursula von der Leyen became the first female President of the European Commission in 2019.

Helen Clark served as the Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1999 to 2008, becoming the first woman to hold this position.

Angela Merkel served as the Chancellor of Germany from 2005 to 2021, becoming the first woman to hold this position.

Kim Campbell served as the Prime Minister of Canada in 1993, becoming the first woman to hold this position.

Michelle Bachelet served as the President of Chile from 2006 to 2010 and again from 2014 to 2018, becoming the first woman to hold this position.

Julia Gillard served as the Prime Minister of Australia from 2010 to 2013, becoming the first woman to hold this position.

Cristina Fernández de Kirchner served as the President of Argentina from 2007 to 2015, becoming the first woman to hold this position.

Benazir Bhutto served as the Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1988 to 1990 and again from 1993 to 1996, becoming the first woman to hold this position.

Golda Meir served as the Prime Minister of Israel from 1969 to 1974, becoming the first woman to hold this position.

Sirimavo Bandaranaike served as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka from 1960 to 1965 and again from 1970 to 1977, becoming the first woman to hold this position.

Sheikh Hasina has served as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh since 2009, becoming the first woman to hold this position.