The main female heads of state and government currently in office around the world, excluding monarchs. The list includes two governors general, who in Australia and Canada serve as de facto heads of state.

Australia: Prime Minister Julia Gillard, since yesterday. Governor General Quentin Bryce, since September 2008

Argentina: President Cristina Kirchner, October 2007

Bangladesh: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed, since January 2009 and also between 1996 and 2001

Canada: Governor General Michaelle Jean, since September 2005; scheduled to leave office in late 2010

Costa Rica: Laura Chinchilla, since February this year

Croatia: Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor, since July 2009

Finland: President Tarja Halonen, since 2000. Prime Minister Mari Kiviniemi, since Tuesday

Germany: Chancellor Angela Merkel, since November 2005

Iceland: Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir, since February 2009

India: President Pratibha Patil, July 2007

Ireland: President Mary McAleese, since 1997

Kyrgyzstan: Interim President Roza Otunbayeva, since April this year

Liberia: President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, November 2005

Lithuania: President Dalia Grybauskaite, May 2009

Philippines: President Gloria Arroyo, since 2004; leaves office next Wednesday

Slovakia: Iveta Radicova, since Wednesday when she was asked to form a new government

Switzerland: Confederal President Doris Leuthard, since December 2009

Trinidad and Tobago: Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, since May this year.

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