I hope the fathers and mothers of little girls will look at them and say ‘yes women can.’
– Dilma Rousseff, former President of Brazil
How many female presidents are there around the world? Many names will be familiar; some will be unfamiliar to you. Some were elected; some were appointed. Some served briefly; others were elected.
With International Womens Day approaching, let’s celebrate women leaders around the world! The women that little girls can look up to and know that they too can attain the highest office in the land.
In honour of all the female politicians breaking through the glass ceiling, She is Africa takes you through the women who hold the highest office their respective countries. Here are the 19 women who run the world (in no particular order)! #SheRocks
1. Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt, Denmark (since 2011)
Female presidents around the world – Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt
2. Prime Minister Saara Kuugogelwa-Amadhila, Namibia
Female presidents around the world – Prime Minister Saara Kuugogelwa-Amadhila
3. Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir, Iceland
Female presidents around the world – Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir
4. President Kersti Kaljulaid, Estonia (since 2016)
5. President Dalia Grybauskaite, Lithunia (since 2009)
6. Prime Minister Theresa May, United Kingdom (since 2016)
7. President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, Croatia (since 2015)
8. Prime Minister Viorica Dancila, Romania (since 2018)
9. Chancellor Angela Merkel, Germany (since 2005)
10. President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, Malta (since 2014)
11. President Michelle Bachelet, Chile (since 2014)
12. President Hilda Heine, Marshall Isles (since 2016)
13. President Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan (since 2016)
14. Prime Minister Erna Solberg, Norway (since 2013)
15. Prime Minister Jacinda Arden, New Zealand (since 2017)
16. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed, Bangladesh (since 2009)
17. Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, Serbia (since 2017)
18. Prime Minister Mercedes Araoz, Peru (since 2017)
19. President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, Mauritius (since 2015)
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