female world leaders currently in power:

ireland president Mary McAleese

new zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark

finland President Tarja Halonen

Philippines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

mozambique Prime Minister Luisa Diogo

germany Chancellor Angela Merkel

liberia President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf

chile President Michelle Bachelet

Switzerland President Micheline Calmy-Rey

India President Pratibha Patil

monarchial vice-regal leaders:

UK - Queen Elizabeth II

Denmark - Queen Margrethe II

the netherlands - Queen Beatrix

Canada - Governor General Michealle Jean

St. Luca - Governor General Dame Perlette Louisy

Antigua and Barbuda - Governor General Lady Louise Lake-Tack

Past female leaders:

Cleopatra - queen of Egypt

Queen Elizabeth the 1st - england

Sirivamo Bandaranaike of Sri Lanka became the world's first female elected prime minister in 1960

Isabel Perón of Argentina became the first female president in 1974

Khertek Amyrbitovna head of state of Tannu Tuva

Sühbaataryn Yanjmaa president of mongolia

Pharaoh Meritneith of Egypt - around 2952 bc

Queen Khamerernebti II of Egypt - 2530 bc

Queen Hypsipyle of Lemnos(greece) - before 512 bc