Forbes list of the World's 100 Most Powerful Women

Ranking published by Forbes magazine From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Since 2004, Forbes, an American business magazine, has published an annual list of its ranking of the 100 most powerful women in the world. Edited by prominent Forbes journalists, including Moira Forbes, the list is compiled using various criteria such as visibility and economic impact. In 2025, the gauge was "where do women hold real power".[3] The top 10 per year are listed below.

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Angela Merkel has been ranked the most powerful woman 14 times.[1][2]

2025

Sanae Takaichi
  1. GermanyEuropean Union Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
  2. FranceEuropean Union Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank
  3. Japan Sanae Takaichi, Prime Minister of Japan
  4. ItalyEuropean Union Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of Italy
  5. Mexico Claudia Sheinbaum, President of Mexico
  6. United States Julie Sweet, CEO of Accenture
  7. United States Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors
  8. United KingdomUnited States Jane Fraser, CEO of Citigroup
  9. United States Abigail Johnson, CEO of Fidelity Investments
  10. United States Lisa Su, CEO of AMD[4][5]

2024

Claudia Sheinbaum
  1. GermanyEuropean Union Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
  2. FranceEuropean Union Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank
  3. ItalyEuropean Union Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of Italy
  4. Mexico Claudia Sheinbaum, President of Mexico
  5. United States Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors
  6. United States Abigail Johnson, CEO of Fidelity Investments
  7. United States Julie Sweet, CEO of Accenture
  8. United States Melinda French Gates, co-chair of the Gates Foundation
  9. United States MacKenzie Scott, philanthropist
  10. United KingdomUnited States Jane Fraser, CEO of Citigroup[3]

2023

Giorgia Meloni
  1. GermanyEuropean Union Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
  2. FranceEuropean Union Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank
  3. United States Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States
  4. ItalyEuropean Union Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of Italy
  5. United States Taylor Swift, singer-songwriter
  6. United States Karen Lynch, CEO of CVS Health
  7. United KingdomUnited States Jane Fraser, CEO of Citigroup
  8. United States Abigail Johnson, President-CEO of Fidelity Investments
  9. United States Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors
  10. United States Melinda French Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation[6]

2022

Ursula von der Leyen
  1. GermanyEuropean Union Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
  2. FranceEuropean Union Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank
  3. United States Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States
  4. United States Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors
  5. United States Abigail Johnson, President-CEO of Fidelity Investments
  6. United States Melinda French Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
  7. ItalyEuropean Union Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of Italy
  8. United States Karen Lynch, CEO of CVS Health
  9. United States Julie Sweet, CEO of Accenture
  10. United States Jane Fraser, CEO of Citigroup[7]

2021

Kamala Harris
  1. United States MacKenzie Scott, philanthropist
  2. United States Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States
  3. FranceEuropean Union Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank
  4. United States Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors
  5. United States Melinda French Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
  6. United States Abigail Johnson, President-CEO of Fidelity Investments
  7. SpainEuropean Union Ana Patricia Botín, Executive Chairman of Banco Santander
  8. GermanyEuropean Union Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
  9. ‹ The template below (Country data Taiwan) is being considered for merging with Country data Republic of China. See templates for discussion to help reach a consensus. ›
    Taiwan Tsai Ing-wen, President of Taiwan
  10. United States Julie Sweet, CEO of Accenture

2020

Christine Lagarde
  1. GermanyEuropean Union Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany[2]
  2. FranceEuropean Union Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank
  3. United States Kamala Harris, Vice President-elect of the United States
  4. GermanyEuropean Union Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
  5. United States Melinda Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
  6. United States Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors
  7. United States Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
  8. SpainEuropean Union Ana Patricia Botín, Executive Chairman of Banco Santander
  9. United States Abigail Johnson, President-CEO of Fidelity Investments
  10. United States Gail Koziara Boudreaux, CEO of Anthem[8]

2019

Nancy Pelosi
  1. GermanyEuropean Union Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany[2]
  2. FranceEuropean Union Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank
  3. United States Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
  4. GermanyEuropean Union Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
  5. United States Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors
  6. United States Melinda Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
  7. United States Abigail Johnson, President-CEO of Fidelity Investments
  8. SpainEuropean Union Ana Patricia Botín, Executive Chairman of Banco Santander
  9. United States Ginni Rometty, CEO of IBM
  10. United States Marillyn Hewson, CEO of Lockheed Martin[9]

2018

Theresa May
  1. GermanyEuropean Union Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany[2]
  2. United KingdomEuropean Union Theresa May, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
  3. FranceEuropean Union Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund
  4. United States Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors
  5. United States Abigail Johnson, President-CEO of Fidelity Investments
  6. United States Melinda Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
  7. United States Susan Wojcicki, CEO of YouTube
  8. SpainEuropean Union Ana Patricia Botín, Executive Chairman of Banco Santander
  9. United States Marillyn Hewson, CEO of Lockheed Martin
  10. United States Ginni Rometty, CEO of IBM[10]

2017

Melinda Gates
  1. GermanyEuropean Union Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany[2]
  2. United KingdomEuropean Union Theresa May, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
  3. United States Melinda Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
  4. United States Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook
  5. United States Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors
  6. United States Susan Wojcicki, CEO of YouTube
  7. United States Abigail Johnson, President-CEO of Fidelity Investments
  8. FranceEuropean Union Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund
  9. SpainEuropean Union Ana Patricia Botín, Executive Chairman of Banco Santander
  10. United States Ginni Rometty, CEO of IBM[11]

2016

Hillary Clinton
  1. GermanyEuropean Union Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany[2]
  2. United States Hillary Clinton, United States presidential candidate
  3. United States Janet Yellen, Chair of the U.S. Federal Reserve
  4. United States Melinda Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
  5. United States Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors
  6. FranceEuropean Union Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund
  7. United States Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook
  8. United States Susan Wojcicki, CEO of YouTube
  9. United States Meg Whitman, CEO of Hewlett Packard Enterprise
  10. SpainEuropean Union Ana Patricia Botín, Executive Chairman of Banco Santander[12]

2015

Janet Yellen
  1. GermanyEuropean Union Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany[2]
  2. United States Hillary Clinton, United States presidential candidate
  3. United States Melinda Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
  4. United States Janet Yellen, Chair of the U.S. Federal Reserve
  5. United States Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors
  6. FranceEuropean Union Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund
  7. Brazil Dilma Rousseff, President of Brazil
  8. United States Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook
  9. United States Susan Wojcicki, CEO of YouTube
  10. United States Michelle Obama, First Lady of the United States[13]

2014

Dilma Rousseff
  1. GermanyEuropean Union Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany[2]
  2. United States Janet Yellen, Chair of the U.S. Federal Reserve
  3. United States Melinda Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
  4. Brazil Dilma Rousseff, President of Brazil
  5. FranceEuropean Union Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund
  6. United States Hillary Clinton, former United States Secretary of State
  7. United States Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors
  8. United States Michelle Obama, First Lady of the United States
  9. United States Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook
  10. United States Ginni Rometty, CEO of IBM[14]

2013

Michelle Obama
  1. GermanyEuropean Union Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany[2]
  2. Brazil Dilma Rousseff, President of Brazil
  3. United States Melinda Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
  4. United States Michelle Obama, First Lady of the United States
  5. United States Hillary Clinton, United States Secretary of State
  6. United States Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook
  7. FranceEuropean Union Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund
  8. United States Janet Napolitano, United States Secretary of Homeland Security
  9. India Sonia Gandhi, President of the Indian National Congress
  10. United States Indra Nooyi, Chairman and CEO of PepsiCo[15]

2012

Jill Abramson
  1. GermanyEuropean Union Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany[2]
  2. United States Hillary Clinton, United States Secretary of State
  3. Brazil Dilma Rousseff, President of Brazil
  4. United States Melinda Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
  5. United States Jill Abramson, Executive Editor of The New York Times
  6. India Sonia Gandhi, President of the Indian National Congress
  7. United States Michelle Obama, First Lady of the United States
  8. FranceEuropean Union Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund
  9. United States Janet Napolitano, United States Secretary of Homeland Security
  10. United States Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook[16][17]

2011

Indra Nooyi
  1. GermanyEuropean Union Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany[2]
  2. United States Hillary Clinton, United States Secretary of State
  3. Brazil Dilma Rousseff, President of Brazil
  4. United States Indra Nooyi, Chairman and CEO of PepsiCo
  5. United States Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook
  6. United States Melinda Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
  7. India Sonia Gandhi, President of the Indian National Congress
  8. United States Michelle Obama, First Lady of the United States
  9. FranceEuropean Union Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund
  10. United States Irene Rosenfeld, Chairman and CEO of Mondelez International[18][19]

2010

Irene Rosenfeld
  1. United States Michelle Obama, First Lady of the United States
  2. United States Irene Rosenfeld, Chairman and CEO of Mondelez International
  3. United States Oprah Winfrey, talk show host on The Oprah Winfrey Show
  4. GermanyEuropean Union Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany
  5. United States Hillary Clinton, United States Secretary of State
  6. United States Indra Nooyi, Chairman and CEO of PepsiCo
  7. United States Lady Gaga, singer-songwriter
  8. Australia Gail Kelly, CEO of Westpac
  9. United States Beyoncé, singer-songwriter
  10. United States Ellen DeGeneres, talk show host on The Ellen DeGeneres Show[20]

2009

Sheila Bair
  1. GermanyEuropean Union Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany[1]
  2. United States Sheila Bair, Chair of the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
  3. United States Indra Nooyi, Chairman and CEO of PepsiCo
  4. United States Cynthia Carroll, CEO of Anglo American plc
  5. Singapore Ho Ching, CEO of Temasek Holdings
  6. United States Irene Rosenfeld, Chairman and CEO of Mondelez International
  7. United States Ellen Kullman, CEO of DuPont
  8. United States Angela Braly, President-CEO of Anthem
  9. FranceEuropean Union Anne Lauvergeon, CEO of Areva
  10. United States Lynn Elsenhans, Chairwoman, CEO and President of Sunoco[21]

2008

Cynthia Carroll
  1. GermanyEuropean Union Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany[1]
  2. United States Sheila Bair, Chair of the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
  3. United States Indra Nooyi, Chairman and CEO of PepsiCo
  4. United States Angela Braly, President-CEO of Anthem
  5. United States Cynthia Carroll, CEO of Anglo American plc
  6. United States Irene Rosenfeld, Chairman and CEO of Mondelez International
  7. United States Condoleezza Rice, United States Secretary of State
  8. Singapore Ho Ching, CEO of Temasek Holdings
  9. FranceEuropean Union Anne Lauvergeon, CEO of Areva
  10. United States Anne Mulcahy, Chairman and CEO of Xerox[22]

2007

Wu Yi
  1. GermanyEuropean Union Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany[1]
  2. China Wu Yi, Vice Premier of the People's Republic of China
  3. Singapore Ho Ching, CEO of Temasek Holdings
  4. United States Condoleezza Rice, United States Secretary of State
  5. United States Indra Nooyi, Chairman and CEO of PepsiCo
  6. India Sonia Gandhi, President of the Indian National Congress
  7. United States Cynthia Carroll, CEO of Anglo American plc
  8. United States Patricia Woertz, President-CEO of ADM
  9. United States Irene Rosenfeld, Chairman and CEO of Mondelez International
  10. United States Patricia Russo, CEO of Alcatel-Lucent[23]

2006

Condoleezza Rice
  1. GermanyEuropean Union Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany[1]
  2. United States Condoleezza Rice, United States Secretary of State
  3. China Wu Yi, Vice Premier of the People's Republic of China
  4. United States Indra Nooyi, Chairman and CEO of PepsiCo
  5. United States Anne Mulcahy, Chairman and CEO of Xerox
  6. United States Sallie Krawcheck, CFO of Citigroup
  7. United States Patricia Woertz, President-CEO of ADM
  8. FranceEuropean Union Anne Lauvergeon, CEO of Areva
  9. United States Brenda Barnes, President-CEO of Sara Lee
  10. United States Zoe Cruz, Co-President of Morgan Stanley[24]

2005

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
  1. United States Condoleezza Rice, United States Secretary of State
  2. China Wu Yi, Vice Premier of the People's Republic of China
  3. Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko, Prime Minister of Ukraine
  4. Philippines Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, President of the Philippines
  5. United States Meg Whitman, President-CEO of eBay
  6. United States Anne Mulcahy, Chairman and CEO of Xerox
  7. United States Sallie Krawcheck, CFO of Citigroup
  8. United States Brenda Barnes, President-CEO of Sara Lee
  9. United States Oprah Winfrey, talk show host on The Oprah Winfrey Show
  10. United States Melinda Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation[25]

2004

Sonia Gandhi
  1. United States Condoleezza Rice, United States National Security Advisor
  2. China Wu Yi, Vice Premier of the People's Republic of China
  3. India Sonia Gandhi, President of the Indian National Congress
  4. United States Laura Bush, First Lady of the United States
  5. United States Hillary Clinton, United States Senator
  6. United States Sandra Day O'Connor, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
  7. United States Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
  8. Indonesia Megawati Sukarnoputri, President of Indonesia
  9. Philippines Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, President of the Philippines
  10. United States Carly Fiorina, CEO of Hewlett-Packard[26]

See also

References

External links

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