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This site is dedicated to the women who have ruled since the beginning of times. There have always been female rulers. Some Egyptian Queens are believed to have governed from around 3000 BCE, and the first to be named by the sources without any doubt is Ku-baba, who ruled the Mesopotamian City-State of Ur round 2500 BCE.

First female ministers However, it was not until after World War I that the first few women became members of democratic governments. Nina Bang, Danish Minister of Education 1924-26 was the world's first full female cabinet minister. Nevertheless, development was slow and it was not until the end of the 20th century that female ministers stopped being unusual.

First female Prime Minister and President In 1960 Sirivamo Bandaranaike of Sri Lanka became the world's first female Premier Minister and in 1974 Isabel Perón of Argentina became the first woman President - two women had been Acting Heads of State before that.

Today the only two countries which never had a female member of government in at least a sub-ministerial position are Monaco and Saudi Arabia. In 1999, Sweden became the first country to have more female ministers than male. 11 women and 9 men.

Current heads of state and government There are 191 members of the United Nations and a few independent states outside. Of the monarchies, there are Queens in Denmark, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom - and the British Queen is represented by female Governor Generals in Bahamas, Canada, New Zealand and Saint Lucia.

The 5 female Presidents are in Finland, Ireland, Latvia, The Philippines and Sri Lanka.

There are 4 woman Prime Ministers; in Bangladesh New Zealand, Mozambique and São Tomé e Princípe. For more details see: Situation in 2005

Content of www.guide2womenleaders.com The site contains lists of female Heads of State listed by country, a chronological list of Women in Power from B.C. 3000, female Prime Ministers, Ministers of Finance and Ministers of Defence and Ministers by country, female Chairpersons of Parliament, female Governors, Premiers and local Leaders by country, female Party Leaders for each country, a chronological list of female Presidential Candidates, Ambassadors to the United Nations and first female ambassadors for each country, lists of women's ordination to priesthood and female bishops and finally a list of female Danish leaders.