The number of women in high-rank positions has increased

The number of women who perform duties as leaders or high-ranking executives in international organizations has increased over recent years.

A total of 58 countries were governed by a woman between 1960 and 2021, according to data from Germany-based statistics company Statista.

In the last 50 years, 13 countries had more than one female leader.

New Zealand and Finland have had the highest number of women leaders between 1960 and 2021, whereas 199 countries have not had a women leader.

The number of women holding executive positions in international organizations which mostly act under the UN has shown a rapid increase in the last four years.

French national Christine Lagarde was appointed to the presidency of the European Central Bank on Nov. 1, 2019, becoming the first female president of the bank since it was founded in 1998.

Lagarde had served as finance minister and president of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) before. She was the first female president of IMF as well.

Bulgarian national Kristalina Georgieva was appointed as the president of the IMF on Sept. 25, 2019. Georgieva became the second woman to take over the position after Lagarde.

Georgieva had previously served as the vice-president of the European Commission, responsible for budget and human resources, and CEO of the World Bank.

Audrey Azoulay was appointed as the Director-General of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Nov. 10, 2017.

Azoulay became the second woman to hold the position after bulgarian national Irina Bokova, who served from 2009 to 2017.

German national Ursula von der Leyen was appointed as the president of the European Commission on Dec. 1, 2019, becoming the first female president of the council. /BGNES