List of the first women heads of state and government in Muslim-majority countries

This is a chronological list of the first women to be heads of state and heads of government in Muslim-majority countries, excluding those who held the role in a temporary capacity.

List

Entries in italics indicate states with limited international recognition. PortraitHead of government or stateCountryStatusIn officeElizabeth IIQueen of Pakistan6 February 1952 – 23 March 1956Queen of Nigeria1 October 1960 – 1 October 1963Queen of Sierra Leone27 April 1961 – 19 April 1971Queen of the Gambia18 February 1965 – 24 April 1970Benazir BhuttoPrime Minister of Pakistan2 December 1988 – 6 August 1990 18 October 1993 – 5 November 1996Khaleda ZiaPrime Minister of Bangladesh20 March 1991 – 30 March 1996 10 October 2001 – 29 October 2006Tansu ÇillerPrime Minister of Turkey25 June 1993 – 6 March 1996Mame Madior BoyePrime Minister of Senegal3 March 2001 – 4 November 2002Megawati SukarnoputriPresident of Indonesia23 July 2001 – 20 October 2004Roza OtunbayevaPresident of Kyrgyzstan3 July 2010 – 1 December 2011Cissé Mariam Kaïdama SidibéPrime Minister of Mali3 April 2011 – 22 March 2012Sibel SiberPrime Minister of Northern Cyprus13 June 2013 – 2 September 2013Atifete JahjagaPresident of Kosovo7 April 2011 – 7 April 2016Najla BoudenPrime Minister of Tunisia11 October 2021 – 1 August 2023Željka CvijanovićSerb Member of the Presidency16 November 2022 – presentBorjana KrištoChairwoman of the Council of Ministers25 January 2023 – present

See also List of Muslim women heads of state and government List of elected and appointed female heads of state and government Muslim women political leaders Council of Women World Leaders Women in government

References