Is the United States behind the times? How about Northwestern, which has been run by male presidents since it was founded in 1853? Looking at this list of past female world leaders, it seems like we’ve got some catching up to do: Sri Lanka had its first female leader 47 years ago.

Former Prime Ministers

• Sri Lanka: Sirimavo Bandaranaike (1960-65), (1970-77), (1994-2000)
• India: Indira Gandhi (1966-77), (1980-84)
• Israel: Golda Meïr (1969-74)
• Central African Republic: Élisabeth Domitién (1975-1976)
• United Kingdom: Margaret Thatcher (1979-1990)
• Dominica: Eugenia Charles (1980-95)
• Norway: Gro Harlem Brundtland (Feb.-Oct. 1981), (1986-89), (1990-96)
• Yugoslavia: Milka Planinc (1982-86)
• Pakistan: Benazir Bhutto (1988-90), (1993-96)
• Bangladesh: Khaleda Zia (1991-96), (2001-06)
• Bangladesh: Sheikh Hasina Wajed (1996-2001)
• Poland: Hanna Suchocka (1992-93)
• Turkey: Tansu Çiller (1993-96)
• Senegal: Mame Madior Boye (2001-2002)
• South Korea: Han Myung Sook (2006-07)

Former Presidents

• Argentina: Isabel Perón (1974-76)
• Iceland: Vigdís Finnbogadóttir (1980-96)
• Malta: Agatha Barbara (1982-87)
• The Philippines: Corazon Aquino (1986-92)
• Nicaragua: Violeta Chamorro (1990-97)
• Ireland: Mary Robinson (1990-97)
• Sri Lanka: Chandrika Kumaratunga (1994- 2005)
• Guyana: Janet Jagan (1997-99)
• Switzerland: Ruth Dreifuss (1999)
• Latvia: Vaira Vike-Freiberga (1999- 2007)
• Panama: Mireya Moscoso (1999-2004)
• Indonesia: Megawati Sukarnoputri (2001-2004)