Female participation as the head of a country has increased, but according to the United Nations (UN), it is still relatively small considering that out of 193 countries, only 18 have a female head of state or government head.

The first female to hold the position of political head was Sirimavo Bandaranaike, the former Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. She governed the country for three terms between 1960 and 2000.

Currently, 10 countries have women as heads of state (Chile, Croatia, Estonia, Liberia, Lithuania, Malta, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Mauritius Islands, Nepal, and Taiwan), and
another seven countries are governed by female Prime Ministers (Bangladesh, Germany,
Namibia, Norway, Poland, Scotland, and the United Kingdom). The Swiss Federal Council is also led by a woman.

In world politics, women who have stood out include Indira Gandhi (India), Golda Meir (Israel), Isabelita Perón (Argentina), Margaret Thatcher (the United Kingdom), Corazón Aquino (Philippines), Benazir Bhutto (Pakistan) among others.