24 countries where women hold the most political power
German chancellor Angela Merkel is one of the world's most powerful women.
The World Economic Forumreleased its annual Global Gender Gap index on Wednesday, which ranked the gap between the genders in categories ranging from economic power to educational equality.
The report shows that the gap between men and women is narrowing more slowly than hoped, but also includes some fascinating insights into the role of women in societies around the world.
One of the measures of equality used by the WEF is political equality between the sexes. To measure political equality, the WEF took three separate measures; the number of women in a country's parliament, the number of female ministers, and the number of years since 1965 that a woman has been head of state.
The three measures were then collated and each country given an individual score out of one.
Many of the countries at the top of the rankings are forward thinking western democracies, but some countries are a little more surprising. Check them out below.
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24. ITALY — According to the WEF's survey, 44% of Italy's ministerial positions are held by female politicians, the 10th highest proportion globally. This coupled with having 31% female members of parliament, makes Italian women some of the world's most politically powerful.
Alessandra Mussolini, an Italian MEP, and the great granddaughter of Italy's former dictator Benito Mussolini.
23. UNITED KINGDOM — Scotland's first minister Nicola Sturgeon and home secretary Theresa May are among Britain's most prominent female minister. And Britain gets a boost from the years Margaret Thatcher spent as Prime Minister, which help make the UK is one of the best places for female politicians.
Nicola Sturgeon, the leader of the Scottish National Party, visits the Cook School during a campaign event, in Kilmarnock, Scotland, April 27, 2015.
22. ARGENTINA — Argentina has a long history of powerful female leaders, including the notorious Eva Peron. The country ranks 25th for the number of women in parliament, and 14th for the number of years with a female head of state.
Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner (L) listens to Economy Minister Axel Kicillof during a meeting with governors in Casa Rosada government house in Buenos Aires January 30, 2015.
21. MOZAMBIQUE — Mozambique ranks 15th in terms of female MPs. 40% of politicians sitting in the country's Assembly of the Republic are women. It also had a female head of state, prime minister Luisa Diogo, for six years between 2004 and 2010.
Former South African and Mozambican first lady Graca Machel speaks during the launch of Mandela Sports & Culture Day in 2013.
20. COSTA RICA — Costa Rican president Laura Chinchilla left office in 2014, the country's only female head of state in the past 50 years. Her four years in office, along with 41% of ministers in the country being female, help make Costa Rica the 20th most politically powerful country when it comes to women.
Former Costa Rican president Laura Chinchilla alongside Pope Francis on a visit to the country.
19. FRANCE — Strong female politicians like Marine Le Pen help to make French women some of the most politically powerful on earth. Half of all ministerial positions in the country are held by women, an honour only held by three other countries surveyed.
Marine Le Pen, France's National Front political party leader, reacts after being re-elected during their congress in Lyon November 30, 2014.
18. SWITZERLAND — 43% of Swiss ministers are female, including high profile politicians such as finance minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf. This ranks the country 12th in the female ministers category surveyed by the WEF.
Swiss finance minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf.
17. PHILIPPINES — Only four countries have had female leaders for longer than the Philippines in the last 50 years. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo served as president of the country for nine years between 2001 and 2010. The country has been under female rule for 16 years since 1965.
Former Filipino president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo shares a joke with George W. Bush.
16. SLOVENIA — Alenka Bratusek was Prime Minister of Slovenia until 2014 and the country currently has 44% female ministers, putting it in the top 10 for that category.
Former Slovenian prime minister Alenka Bratusek.
15. NEW ZEALAND — 11 of the past 50 years in New Zealand have passed under female leadership, nine of those under Helen Clark. The island nation ranks 20th overall for the number of female ministers. 33% are women.
Former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark, now an administrator at the United Nations Development Programme.
14. SOUTH AFRICA — South Africa did not excel in any particular category, although 42% of its members of parliament are female, one of the highest figures. It has not had a female head of state in the past 50 years.
South Africa's women's minister and former mineral resources minister, Susan Shabangu.
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