Forbes Lists the 100 Most Powerful Women of 2025

Before power & influence get reduced to headlines and tweets, Forbes once again pulled together its annual list of the World’s 100 Most Powerful Women — a snapshot of female leadership driving global change across economics, politics, technology, culture, and philanthropy.

Determined by a mix of money, media presence, impact, and spheres of influence, the 2025 list shows where—and how—women are shaping the world’s biggest decisions and trends.

What This Year’s Forbes List Shows

Forbes’ 22nd annual ranking aggregates women whose roles give them extraordinary influence across sectors — from governments and global finance to emerging technologies and entertainment. The methodology takes into account economic power (like GDP or corporate revenue), media visibility, public influence, and overall impact on billions of lives.

In 2025, the women on the list collectively command approximately $37 trillion in economic power and influence over more than 1 billion people, making this one of the most consequential groupings in the list’s history.

Leading the 2025 Power Queue

At the top of the list are figures with global authority and institutional reach:

• Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission — ranked No. 1 — recognised for steering the EU’s political priorities and economic responses.
• Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank — No. 2 — whose monetary decisions shape financial stability across Europe and beyond.
• Sanae Takaichi, Prime Minister of Japan — No. 3 — making history as the first woman to lead the world’s fourth-largest economy.
  Other top political leaders include Giorgia Meloni (Italy) and Claudia Sheinbaum (Mexico), reflecting the continued global sway of female heads of state and government.

Power Across Tech, Business, and Culture

Moreover, beyond politics, the list highlights leaders shaping key sectors:

• Lisa Su, CEO of AMD, ranked in the top tier for her role in driving critical AI infrastructure investments.
• MacKenzie Scott, noted for her transformative philanthropy, has donated hundreds of millions to education and equity initiatives.
• Gwynne Shotwell, President & COO of SpaceX, sits among influential tech executives with impact in aerospace and defense.
• Kim Kardashian, making waves in entertainment and culture, also appears on the list for her global brand reach and business innovations.

The list also highlights newcomers and rising leaders — from Tan Su Shan, Group CEO of DBS in Singapore, to Ho Ching of Temasek Trust and other emerging figures from Asia and Africa — illustrating how global influence is dispersing across industries and continents.

Regional & Sector Highlights

Africa: Notable entries include Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization, and Mo Abudu, Nigerian media executive, underscoring the growing impact of African women in trade, governance, and entertainment.

Asia: Women leaders such as Tan Su Shan, Ho Ching, and Jenny Lee highlight powerful roles in finance and venture capital across Southeast Asia, while Sanae Takaichi’s leadership marks a milestone in East Asia.

Culture & Media: Figures with massive public influence — including global entertainers and media moguls — show how cultural power now rivals political and economic influence in shaping public opinion and trends.

Why This List Matters in 2025

2025 was a year of turbulent economic conditions, rapid technological transformation, and shifting global political dynamics. In that context, the World’s 100 Most Powerful Women list serves as both a leaderboard and a road map: it highlights not just who holds power today, but who will continue influencing policy, innovation, culture, and social priorities in the years ahead.

Forbes editors note that while power remains unevenly distributed, women are increasingly central in arenas where decisions cascade across societies — from global diplomacy to AI infrastructure and international finance.

You might also want to read: Why Pantone “White” as Color of the Year Is Causing a Rage Storm