Women continue to make their mark at the highest levels of political leadership, with female presidents currently serving as heads of state in countries across Africa, Europe, Asia, the Americas and the Pacific.
Although women remain underrepresented in national leadership globally, a growing number have reached the presidency through elections, appointments or succession.
Their presence has added to the changing political landscape in countries ranging from Mexico and India to Namibia, Tanzania and Iceland.
As of 2026, the following 16 countries have women serving as presidents.
1. Bulgaria – Iliana Iotova
Iliana Iotova became Bulgaria’s president in January 2026, taking over the country’s highest office after previously serving as vice president.
Her elevation added Bulgaria to the growing list of countries with women occupying the presidency.
2. Costa Rica – Laura Fernández Delgado
Laura Fernández Delgado became president of Costa Rica in May 2026.
Her election placed another woman at the head of a Latin American country and continued Costa Rica’s history of female representation at the highest level of government.
3. Dominica – Sylvanie Burton
Sylvanie Burton has served as president of Dominica since October 2023.
She made history by becoming the first woman and first Indigenous president of Dominica. The presidency is largely ceremonial, with executive authority resting primarily with the prime minister.
4. Iceland – Halla Tómasdóttir
Halla Tómasdóttir became Iceland’s president in August 2024 after winning the country’s presidential election.
She succeeded Guðni Jóhannesson and became Iceland’s second woman president, following Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, who served from 1980 to 1996.
5. India – Droupadi Murmu
Droupadi Murmu became India’s president in July 2022 after winning the presidential election.
She is the first person from India’s tribal communities to serve as president and only the second woman to hold the office.
As president, Murmu serves as India’s constitutional head of state, while executive authority is exercised by the elected government led by the prime minister.
6. Ireland – Catherine Connolly
Catherine Connolly became president of Ireland in November 2025.
Her victory marked another milestone in Ireland’s political history and made her the country’s 11th president.
The Irish presidency is primarily a ceremonial and constitutional office, with the government headed by the taoiseach.
7. Malta – Myriam Spiteri Debono
Myriam Spiteri Debono has served as president of Malta since April 2024.
She became the island nation’s 11th president and one of several women to have held Malta’s highest constitutional office.
8. Marshall Islands – Hilda Heine
Hilda Heine returned to the presidency of the Marshall Islands in January 2024.
She previously served as president between 2016 and 2020, becoming the first woman to lead the Pacific island nation.
Her return to office made her one of the relatively small number of women serving as national presidents worldwide.
9. Mexico – Claudia Sheinbaum
Claudia Sheinbaum became president of Mexico in October 2024, making history as the first woman to serve as president of Mexico.
Before entering national office, Sheinbaum served as mayor of Mexico City and built a political career within the Morena party.
Her election represented a major milestone for Mexico, one of Latin America’s largest and most influential countries.
10. Moldova – Maia Sandu
Maia Sandu has served as president of Moldova since December 2020.
She became the country’s first woman president after defeating incumbent Igor Dodon in the 2020 election.
Sandu was subsequently re-elected, securing another term in office and remaining one of Europe’s most prominent female heads of state.
11. Namibia – Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah became Namibia’s president in March 2025.
She made history as Namibia’s first female president, becoming one of Africa’s women to reach the highest political office in their country.
Before becoming president, she served as Namibia’s vice president and held several senior government positions.
12. North Macedonia – Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova
Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova became president of North Macedonia in May 2024.
She made history as the first woman elected president of the country.
A university professor and constitutional law expert, Siljanovska-Davkova entered the presidential race as the candidate of the opposition VMRO-DPMNE party.
13. Slovenia – Nataša Pirc Musar
Nataša Pirc Musar became president of Slovenia in December 2022.
She defeated centre-right politician Anže Logar in the presidential election to become Slovenia’s first female president.
Before entering politics, Pirc Musar was known for her work as a lawyer, journalist and Slovenia’s information commissioner.
14. Suriname – Jennifer Geerlings-Simons
Jennifer Geerlings-Simons became president of Suriname in July 2025.
Her election marked a historic moment for the South American country, as she became its first woman president.
Geerlings-Simons previously served as president of Suriname’s National Assembly and had a long career in national politics.
15. Tanzania – Samia Suluhu Hassan
Samia Suluhu Hassan has served as Tanzania’s president since March 2021.
She became president following the death of President John Magufuli, having previously served as his vice president.
She subsequently won election in her own right and became Tanzania’s first woman president.
Her presidency also made her one of the most prominent female political leaders in Africa.
16. Trinidad and Tobago – Christine Kangaloo
Christine Kangaloo became president of Trinidad and Tobago in March 2023.
She is the second woman to serve as president of the Caribbean country, following Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s earlier tenure as prime minister rather than president.
Kangaloo previously served as president of the Senate and held several ministerial positions before becoming head of state.
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