The Short Answer
No woman has served as President of the United States. But the broader question of "first woman president" has a global answer that dates back to 1960.
Sirimavo Bandaranaike became the first woman head of government in the modern world when she was elected Prime Minister of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) on July 21, 1960. Twenty years later, Vigdis Finnbogadottir became the first woman democratically elected as a head of state when Icelanders chose her as their president on June 29, 1980.
The distinction between head of government and head of state matters. A prime minister runs the government. A president (in many countries) serves as head of state, sometimes with executive power, sometimes in a largely ceremonial role. Bandaranaike was first in the former category; Finnbogadottir was first in the latter.
Sirimavo Bandaranaike: The World's First
Bandaranaike was not a career politician. She entered public life after tragedy. Her husband, Solomon Bandaranaike, served as Prime Minister of Ceylon until September 26, 1959, when he was assassinated by a Buddhist monk during a political dispute.
The Sri Lanka Freedom Party turned to Sirimavo to lead. She won a decisive victory in the July 1960 general election. She was 44 years old.
She served three terms as Prime Minister: 1960-1965, 1970-1977, and 1994-2000. Her tenure was consequential and controversial. She nationalized foreign-owned companies, changed the country's name from Ceylon to Sri Lanka (in 1972), and faced criticism for authoritarian tendencies, including stripping political opponent Dudley Senanayake of civic rights and extending her own term through constitutional changes.
She died on October 10, 2000, the day of a parliamentary election, at age 84. Her daughter, Chandrika Kumaratunga, served simultaneously as President of Sri Lanka.
Vigdis Finnbogadottir: Elected by the People
Vigdis Finnbogadottir was elected President of Iceland on June 29, 1980, making her the first woman in the world to be democratically elected as a head of state in a national popular election.
She was not a politician by training. She had been a French teacher, a theater director, and the artistic director of the Reykjavik Theatre Company. She was also a single mother, having adopted a daughter, which was unusual for a public figure at the time.
She won a four-candidate race with 33.6% of the vote. She was re-elected three times and served until 1996, a total of 16 years. The Icelandic presidency is largely ceremonial, but Finnbogadottir used the platform to champion Icelandic culture, environmental protection, and women's rights.
Global Milestones
Isabel Peron (Argentina, 1974): The first woman to hold the title of president of any country, though she was not elected to the role. She succeeded her husband Juan Peron after his death. A military coup removed her from power in 1976.
Corazon Aquino (Philippines, 1986): Led the People Power Revolution that toppled Ferdinand Marcos. She served as president until 1992.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (Liberia, 2006): First elected woman head of state in Africa. A Harvard-educated economist, she served two terms and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011.
Angela Merkel (Germany, 2005): Chancellor of Germany for 16 years, the longest-serving leader in modern European history. She led Europe's largest economy through the financial crisis, the refugee crisis, and the early COVID-19 pandemic.
The United States: Close But Not Yet
The first woman to run for President of the United States was Victoria Woodhull in 1872, nominated by the Equal Rights Party. She ran nearly 50 years before women could vote nationally.
Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress, ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1972. She won 152 delegates.
Geraldine Ferraro became the first woman on a major party presidential ticket as Walter Mondale's running mate in 1984. They lost to Reagan in a landslide.
Hillary Clinton won the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016, the first woman nominated by a major party for president. She won the popular vote by nearly 3 million votes but lost the Electoral College.
Kamala Harris was elected Vice President in 2020, the first woman, first Black person, and first South Asian person to hold the office.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has there ever been a woman president of the United States?
No. As of 2026, no woman has served as President. Kamala Harris became the first woman Vice President in 2021.
Who was the first woman head of government in the world?
Sirimavo Bandaranaike, elected Prime Minister of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) on July 21, 1960.
Who was the first woman elected head of state?
Vigdis Finnbogadottir, elected President of Iceland on June 29, 1980.
Who was the first woman to run for US president?
Victoria Woodhull ran on the Equal Rights Party ticket in 1872.
How many countries have had a woman leader?
More than 70 countries have had a woman serve as head of state or head of government as of 2024.