The prime minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern announced
her resignation today for some personal reasons. The popular leader said that she
no more has the energy required to fulfil her duties as the prime minister. According
to a report by CNN, many citizens express shock and disbelief concerning
Ardern's decision.
The data acquired by the Council on Foreign Relations shows
that New Zealand is one such country which has had the most elected female
heads of state and/or government after 1946. Before Jacinda Ardern, Jenny
Shipley of the National Party led the country between 1997 and 1999, followed
by Helen Clark of the Labour between 1999 and 2008.
Although female country leaders have been present on all continents, but Europe in general is the region which has the highest concentration of female-led and repeatedly female-led nations. All the countries which have had three or more female leaders (with the exception of New Zealand) are located there. The one which has had the most females at the helm is Switzerland. The country counts five former female presidents of the Swiss Confederation, but has a benefit because the terms of presidents are limited to one year only which has increased the probability of more female presidents.
Finland follows with four female prime ministers or
presidents, including their current premier Sanna Marin. Iceland has counted
three female leaders. One of them, Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, was the world's first
female elected president. She stayed in office for approximately 16 years from
1980 to 1996.
The source used counts women who have worked as heads of
government, heads of state or a combination of these two, except for the time
when the position was for a short term, purely honorary or was filled by a
monarch or appointed by one.
Infographic by: statista
