1. Indira Gandhi - Prime Minister of India
Born into India's politically influential Nehru family, she was the first woman Prime Minister of India. Hard-nosed pragmatist, he ruled the country with courage and determination, hard and take tough decisions when necessary. He was killed by two guards alone in 1984.
2. Margaret Thatcher - Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Nicknamed the "Iron Lady" for her tough stance against the former Soviet Union, he led the country through the recession and high unemployment rates into the future relative prosperity, and increased in stature among nations. She is the first woman to lead a major political party in the United Kingdom.
3. Benazir Bhutto - Prime Minister of Pakistan
Daughter of the Prime Minister of Pakistan Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, he ruled the country from 1988-1990, and 1993-1996. He was killed in 2007, during the election campaign. It was widely expected that he will continue to be the Prime Minister's record third term.
4. Corazon Aquino - President of the Philippines
Asia's first female president, she was a novice when he was elected president shortly after the murder of her husband. He is a strong supporter of women's rights and democracy as opposed to the dictatorial Ferdinand Marcos.
5. Sonia Gandhi - India's Congress Party leader
Believed by many to be the power behind the throne, he did not hold political office, but state regulations. Italian-born, she adopted India as his country after marrying Rajiv Gandhi.He has been nominated as the third most powerful woman in the world.
6. Eva Perón - Argentina's Wife
The second wife of President Juan Peron, he was a very strong woman, because of his influence on her husband, and fight for the rights of the poor and the women of Argentina.He ran the Ministry of Health and Labour, and found the first women's major political parties in the country.
7. Golda Meir - Prime Minister of Israel
Referred to as "the best man in the cabinet" by Daivd Ben Gurion, he was the fourth Prime Minister of Israel. The crisis is greatest during the period 1973 Yom Kippur War, in which he made the decision to avoid pre-emptive attack, so as to obtain the consent of the biggest ally, the United States.
8. Sirimavo Bandarnaike - Prime Minister of Sri Lanka
The first woman in the world to become Prime Minister of a country, he rules Sri Lanka three times, 1960-1965, 1970-1977 and 1994 to 2000. He is the head of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party for 40 years until his death. His term saw the country to look through good and bad times, and during the last semester he was more popular abroad than he is in his own country.
