Here are 10 of the most influential female politicians of all time, based on their impact on history and their contribution to women’s rights and political progress:
- Margaret Thatcher – The first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, who served from 1979 to 1990 and is known for her conservative policies and leadership during the Falklands War.
- Golda Meir – The first and only female Prime Minister of Israel, who served from 1969 to 1974 and played a key role in the founding of the state of Israel.
- Benazir Bhutto – The first female Prime Minister of Pakistan, who served two terms from 1988 to 1990 and from 1993 to 1996, and was assassinated in 2007.
- Angela Merkel – The first female Chancellor of Germany, who has served since 2005 and is known for her leadership during the European financial crisis and the refugee crisis.
- Indira Gandhi – The first and only female Prime Minister of India, who served from 1966 to 1977 and from 1980 until her assassination in 1984.
- Ellen Johnson Sirleaf – The first female President of Liberia, who served from 2006 to 2018 and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011 for her efforts to promote women’s rights and democracy.
- Hillary Clinton – The first female major-party nominee for President of the United States, who served as Secretary of State under President Obama from 2009 to 2013.
- Aung San Suu Kyi – A Burmese politician and Nobel Peace Prize laureate who has been a prominent pro-democracy leader in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) for decades.
- Park Geun-hye – The first female President of South Korea, who served from 2013 to 2017 and was impeached and removed from office over a corruption scandal.
- Jacinda Ardern – The current Prime Minister of New Zealand, who took office in 2017 and has been praised for her leadership during the Christchurch mosque shootings and the COVID-19 pandemic.
