Three of the countries that picked a female leader in 2024 – North Macedonia, Namibia and Mexico – did so for the first time in their nation’s history. Another 18 countries have had two female leaders, nine countries have had three female leaders, and just two countries – Finland and Iceland – have been headed by four different female leaders. Still, a woman has never served as head of state or government in 115 UN member countries. The first continent with a UN member state to have a female leader after WWII was Asia. Since 2010, 28 countries in Europe have had at least one female leader, and the region now has the highest proportion of countries to have had a female leader.

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Persons: Mexico –, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, ”, Minna Cowper, Sheikh Hasina, Hasina, Isabel Perón, Juan Perón, Claudia Sheinbaum, Elisabeth Domitien, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Najla Bouden, Margaret Thatcher, Europe’s, Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo, Angela Merkel, Jenny Shipley, Julia Gillard, Farida Jalalzai, “, ” Jalalzai, we’ve Organizations: CNN, United Nations, International Foundation, Electoral Systems, UN, Foreign, Ceylon –, Global Institute, Women’s, King’s College, Central African, Virginia Tech, Foreign Relations Locations: North Macedonia, Namibia, Mexico, Finland, Iceland, Asia, Sri Lanka, Ceylon, King’s College London, Bangladesh, Americas, Argentina, Central African Republic, Africa, Liberia, Tunisia, Portugal, Europe, New Zealand, Australia, Switzerland, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Kosovo