# List of first women governors and chief ministers

This is a list of reportedly first women who have been elected or appointed governor and/or chief minister of their respective states, provinces or dependent territories. It may or may not be accurate, given that in some countries the first woman governor may not be in reliable sources, specially ancient times female governors.

## List

* Italics denotes acting governors and/or chief ministers that are either de facto (with limited to no international recognition) or defunct.
| Name | Country | Continent | Office | Mandate start | Mandate end | Term length |
| Artemisia II of Caria | Achaemenid Empire | Asia | Governor of Caria | 353 BC | 351 BC | 2 years |
| Margaret of Austria | Burgundy | Europe | Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands | March 18, 1507 | December 1, 1530 | 23 years, 258 days |
| Beatriz de la Cueva (First female governor of North America and all the Americas) | Castile | North America | Governor of the Captaincy General of Guatemala | 9 September 1541 | 11 September 1541 | 2 days |
| Sigrid Sture | Sweden | Europe | Governor of Stranda Hundred | 1577 | 1613 | 36 years |
| Ana Francisca de Borja y Doria (First female governor in South America) | Habsburg Spain | South America | Governor of Viceroyalty of Peru | 7 June 1668 | 12 November 1668 | 158 days |
| Nellie Tayloe Ross (First female American governor) | United States | North America | Governor of Wyoming | 5 January 1925 | 3 January 1927 | 1 year, 363 days |
| Miriam A. Wallace Ferguson | United States | North America | Governor of Texas | 20 January 1925 | 17 January 1927 | 1 year, 362 days |
| Miriam A. Wallace Ferguson | United States | North America | Governor of Texas | 17 January 1933 | 15 January 1935 | 1 year, 363 days |
| Olga Boettcher | Chile | South America | Governor of La Unión | 1941 | ? | |
| Sarojini Naidu | India | Asia | Governor of United Provinces | 15 August 1947 | 2 March 1949 | 1 year, 199 days |
| Josefina Valencia Muñoz | Colombia | South America | Governor of Valle del Cauca | 21 September 1955 | 16 September 1956 | 361 days |
| Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit | India | Asia | Governor of Maharashtra | 28 November 1962 | 18 October 1964 | 1 year, 324 days |
| Lurleen Wallace | United States | North America | Governor of Alabama | 16 January 1967 | 7 May 1968 | 1 year, 362 days |
| Elizabeth Marcos-Keon | Philippines | Asia | Governor of Ilocos Norte | 30 December 1971 | 23 March 1983 | 11 years, 83 days |
| Ra'ana Liaquat Ali Khan | Pakistan | Asia | Governor of Sindh | 15 February 1973 | 28 February 1976 | 3 years, 13 days |
| Ebba Lodden | Norway | Europe | Governor of Aust-Agder | 1974 | 1983 | 9 years |
| Ella T. Grasso (First female governor in the US who was elected on her own right) | United States | North America | Governor of Connecticut | 8 January 1975 | 31 December 1980 | 5 years, 358 days |
| Imelda Marcos | Philippines | Asia | Governor of Metro Manila | 27 February 1975 | 25 February 1986 | 10 years, 363 days |
| Dixy Lee Ray | United States | North America | Governor of Washington | 12 January 1977 | 14 January 1981 | 4 years, 2 days |
| Griselda Álvarez | Mexico | North America | Governor of Colima | 1979 | 1985 | 6 years |
| Elmira Minita Gordon | Belize | North America | Governor-General of Belize | 21 September 1981 | 17 November 1993 | 12 years, 57 days |
| Vesta M. Roy | United States | North America | Acting Governor of New Hampshire | 29 December 1982 | 6 January 1983 | 8 days |
| Gu Xiulian | China | Asia | Governor of Jiangsu | 1983 | 1989 | 6 years |
| Martha Layne Collins | United States | North America | Governor of Kentucky | 13 December 1983 | 8 December 1987 | 3 years, 360 days |
| Madeleine Kunin | United States | North America | Governor of Vermont | 20 January 1985 | 20 January 1991 | 6 years, 0 days |
| Iolanda Fleming | Brazil | South America | Governor of Acre | 14 May 1986 | 15 March 1987 | 305 days |
| Kay A. Orr | United States | North America | Governor of Nebraska | 9 January 1987 | 9 January 1991 | 4 years, 0 days |
| Rose Mofford | United States | North America | Governor of Arizona | 4 April 1988 | 6 March 1991 | 2 years, 336 days |
| Rosemary Follett | Australia | Oceania | Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory | 11 May 1989 | 5 December 1989 | 208 days |
| Rosemary Follett | Australia | Oceania | Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory | 6 June 1991 | 2 March 1995 | 3 years, 269 days |
| Carmen Lawrence | Australia | Oceania | Premier of Western Australia | 12 February 1990 | 16 February 1993 | 3 years, 4 days |
| Joan Kirner | Australia | Oceania | Premier of Victoria | 10 August 1990 | 6 October 1992 | 2 years, 57 days |
| Sharon Pratt | United States | North America | Mayor of the District of Columbia | 2 January 1991 | 2 January 1995 | 4 years, 0 days |
| Joan Finney | United States | North America | Governor of Kansas | 14 January 1991 | 9 January 1995 | 3 years, 360 days |
| Barbara Roberts | United States | North America | Governor of Oregon | 14 January 1991 | 9 January 1995 | 3 years, 360 days |
| Rita Johnston | Canada | North America | Premier of British Columbia | 2 April 1991 | 5 November 1991 | 217 days |
| Nellie Cournoyea | Canada | North America | Premier of Northwest Territories | 14 November 1991 | 22 November 1995 | 4 years, 8 days |
| Catherine Callbeck | Canada | North America | Premier of Prince Edward Island | 25 January 1993 | 9 October 1996 | 3 years, 258 days |
| María Antonia Martínez | Spain | Europe | President of the Region of Murcia | 28 April 1993 | 26 June 1995 | 2 years, 59 days |
| Laurette Onkelinx | Belgium | Europe | Minister-President of the French Community | 6 May 1993 | 13 July 1999 | 6 years, 68 days |
| Heide Simonis | Germany | Europe | Minister-President of Schleswig-Holstein | 19 May 1993 | 27 April 2005 | 11 years, 343 days |
| Agnes Lukudi | Sudan | Africa | Governor of Bahr-al-Jabal | 1994 | 1998 | 4 years |
| Hannele Pokka | Finland | Europe | Governor of Lapland | 1994 | 2008 | 14 years |
| Christine Todd Whitman | United States | North America | Governor of New Jersey | 18 January 1994 | 16 January 2001 | 6 years, 364 days |
| Roseana Sarney | Brazil | South America | Governor of Maranhão | 1 January 1995 | 5 April 2002 | 7 years, 94 days |
| Roseana Sarney | Brazil | South America | Governor of Maranhão | 17 April 2009 | 10 December 2014 | 5 years, 237 days |
| Waltraud Klasnic | Austria | Europe | Governor of Styria | 23 January 1996 | 25 October 2005 | 9 years, 275 days |
| Valentina Bronevich | Russia | Eurasia | Governor of Koryak Autonomous Okrug | 17 November 1996 | 3 December 2000 | 4 years, 16 days |
| Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri | South Africa | Africa | Premier of Free State | 18 December 1996 | 15 June 1999 | 2 years, 179 days |
| Jeanne Shaheen | United States | North America | Governor of New Hampshire | 9 January 1997 | 9 January 2003 | 6 years, 0 days |
| Dipuo Peters | South Africa | Africa | Premier of the Northern Cape | 11 May 1998 | 6 May 2009 | 10 years, 360 days |
| Nancy Hollister | United States | North America | Governor of Ohio | 31 December 1998 | 11 January 1999 | 11 days |
| Fusae Ohta | Japan | Asia | Governor of Osaka | 5 February 2000 | 4 February 2008 | 7 years, 364 days |
| Yoshiko Shiotani | Japan | Asia | Governor of Kumamoto | 16 April 2000 | 15 April 2008 | 7 years, 365 days |
| Pat Duncan | Canada | North America | Premier of Yukon | 6 May 2000 | 30 November 2002 | 2 years, 208 days |
| Akiko Dōmoto | Japan | Asia | Governor of Chiba | 2001 | 2009 | 8 years, 0 days |
| Judy Martz | United States | North America | Governor of Montana | 1 January 2001 | 3 January 2005 | 4 years, 2 days |
| Sila María Calderón | United States | North America | Governor of Puerto Rico | 2 January 2001 | 2 January 2005 | 4 years, 0 days |
| Ruth Ann Minner | United States | North America | Governor of Delaware | 3 January 2001 | 20 January 2009 | 8 years, 17 days |
| Teresita S. Lazaro | Philippines | Asia | Governor of Laguna | 30 January 2001 | 30 June 2010 | 9 years, 151 days |
| Jane Swift | United States | North America | Governor of Massachusetts | 10 April 2001 | 2 January 2003 | 1 year, 267 days |
| Clare Martin | Australia | Oceania | Chief Minister of Northern Territory | 18 August 2001 | 26 November 2007 | 6 years, 100 days |
| Alicia Lemme | Argentina | South America | Governor of San Luis | 23 December 2001 | 10 December 2003 | 1 year, 352 days |
| Dalva Figueiredo | Brazil | South America | Governor of Amapá | 5 April 2002 | 1 January 2003 | 271 days |
| Benedita da Silva | Brazil | South America | Governor of Rio de Janeiro | 6 April 2002 | 1 January 2003 | 270 days |
| Linda Lingle | United States | Oceania | Governor of Hawaii | 2 December 2002 | 6 December 2010 | 8 years, 4 days |
| Mirta Ramona Mendoza | Paraguay | South America | Governor of Concepción | 2003 | 2008 | 5 years |
| Wilma de Faria | Brazil | South America | Governor of Rio Grande do Norte | 1 January 2003 | 31 March 2010 | 7 years, 89 days |
| Jennifer Granholm | United States | North America | Governor of Michigan | 1 January 2003 | 1 January 2011 | 8 years, 0 days |
| Harumi Takahashi | Japan | Asia | Governor of Hokkaido | 23 April 2003 | 22 April 2019 | 15 years, 364 days |
| Valentina Matviyenko | Russia | Eurasia | Governor of Saint Petersburg | 15 October 2003 | 22 August 2011 | 7 years, 311 days |
| Olene Walker | United States | North America | Governor of Utah | 5 November 2003 | 3 January 2005 | 1 year, 59 days |
| Esperanza Aguirre | Spain | Europe | President of the Community of Madrid | 8 November 2003 | 26 September 2012 | 8 years, 323 days |
| Kathleen Blanco | United States | North America | Governor of Louisiana | 1 January 2004 | 1 January 2008 | 4 years, 2 days |
| Catherine Mabuza | South Africa | Africa | Acting Premier of Limpopo | 22 April 2004 | 26 April 2004 | 4 days |
| Nosimo Balindlela | South Africa | Africa | Premier of Eastern Cape | 26 April 2004 | 25 July 2008 | 4 years, 90 days |
| Gabi Burgstaller | Austria | Europe | Governor of Salzburg | 28 April 2004 | 19 June 2013 | 9 years, 52 days |
| Edna Molewa | South Africa | Africa | Premier of North West | 30 April 2004 | 6 May 2009 | 5 years, 6 days |
| Gwendolyn Garcia | Philippines | Asia | Governor of Cebu | 30 June 2004 | 30 June 2013 | 9 years, 0 days |
| Grace Padaca | Philippines | Asia | Governor of Isabela | 30 June 2004 | 30 June 2010 | 6 years, 0 days |
| Iryna Syniavska | Ukraine | Europe | Governor of Zhytomyr Oblast | 3 February 2005 | 16 June 2006 | 1 year, 133 days |
| Ratu Atut Chosiyah | Indonesia | Asia | Governor of Banten | 20 October 2005 | 13 May 2014 | 8 years, 205 days |
| Nadiia Dieieva | Ukraine | Europe | Governor of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast | 11 November 2005 | 3 September 2007 | 1 year, 296 days |
| Maria de Lourdes Abadia | Brazil | South America | Governor of the Brazilian Federal District | 31 March 2006 | 1 January 2007 | 276 days |
| Vira Ulianchenko | Ukraine | Europe | Governor of Kyiv Oblast | 16 June 2006 | 20 May 2009 | 2 years, 338 days |
| Yukiko Kada | Japan | Asia | Governor of Shiga | 20 July 2006 | 19 July 2014 | 7 years, 364 days |
| Sarah Palin | United States | North America | Governor of Alaska | 4 December 2006 | 26 July 2009 | 4 years, 2 days |
| Ana Júlia Carepa | Brazil | South America | Governor of Pará | 1 January 2007 | 1 January 2011 | 4 years, 0 days |
| Yeda Crusius | Brazil | South America | Governor of Rio Grande do Sul | 1 January 2007 | 1 January 2011 | 4 years, 0 days |
| Jum Jainudin Akbar | Philippines | Asia | Governor of Basilan | 30 June 2007 | 30 June 2016 | 9 years, 0 days |
| Vilma Santos | Philippines | Asia | Governor of Batangas | 30 June 2007 | 30 June 2016 | 9 years, 0 days |
| Louise Lake-Tack | Antigua and Barbuda | North America | Governor of Antigua and Barbuda | 17 July 2007 | 14 August 2014 | 7 years, 28 days |
| Anna Bligh | Australia | Oceania | Premier of Queensland | 13 September 2007 | 26 March 2012 | 4 years, 195 days |
| Lynne Brown | South Africa | Africa | Premier of Western Cape | 25 July 2008 | 6 May 2009 | 1 year, 11 days |
| Eva Aariak | Canada | North America | Premier of Nunavut | 19 November 2008 | 19 November 2013 | 5 years, 0 days |
| Bev Perdue | United States | North America | Governor of North Carolina | 10 January 2009 | 5 January 2013 | 3 years, 361 days |
| Mieko Yoshimura | Japan | Asia | Governor of Yamagata | 14 February 2009 | Incumbent | 15 years, 311 days |
| Nomvula Mokonyane | South Africa | Africa | Premier of Gauteng | 6 May 2009 | 21 May 2014 | 5 years, 15 days |
| Margaret Alva | India | Asia | Governor of Uttarakhand | 6 August 2009 | 14 May 2012 | 2 years, 282 days |
| Christine Lieberknecht | Germany | Europe | Minister-President of Thuringia | 30 October 2009 | 5 December 2014 | 5 years, 36 days |
| Kristina Keneally | Australia | Oceania | Premier of New South Wales | 4 December 2009 | 28 March 2011 | 1 year, 114 days |
| Natalya Komarova | Russia | Eurasia | Governor of Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug | 1 March 2010 | 30 May 2024 | 14 years, 90 days |
| Lilia Pineda | Philippines | Asia | Governor of Pampanga | 30 June 2010 | 30 June 2019 | 9 years, 0 days |
| Carmencita Reyes | Philippines | Asia | Governor of Marinduque | 30 June 2010 | 7 January 2019 | 8 years, 191 days |
| Sharee Ann Tan | Philippines | Asia | Governor of Samar | 30 June 2010 | 30 June 2019 | 9 years, 0 days |
| Sharee Ann Tan | Philippines | Asia | Governor of Samar | 30 June 2022 | Incumbent | 2 years, 174 days |
| Sharee Ann Tan | Philippines | Asia | Governor of Samar | Total time in office | Total time in office | 10 years, 540 days |
| Hannelore Kraft | Germany | Europe | Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia | 14 July 2010 | 27 June 2017 | 6 years, 348 days |
| Kathy Dunderdale | Canada | North America | Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador | 3 December 2010 | 24 January 2014 | 3 years, 52 days |
| Susana Martinez | United States | North America | Governor of New Mexico | 1 January 2011 | 1 January 2019 | 8 years, 0 days |
| Mary Fallin | United States | North America | Governor of Oklahoma | 10 January 2011 | 14 January 2019 | 8 years, 4 days |
| Nikki Haley | United States | North America | Governor of South Carolina | 12 January 2011 | 24 January 2017 | 6 years, 12 days |
| Lara Giddings | Australia | Oceania | Premier of Tasmania | 24 January 2011 | 31 March 2014 | 3 years, 66 days |
| María Dolores de Cospedal | Spain | Europe | President of the Government of Castilla–La Mancha | 22 June 2011 | 1 July 2015 | 4 years, 9 days |
| Yolanda Barcina | Spain | Europe | President of the Government of Navarre | 23 June 2011 | 20 July 2015 | 4 years, 27 days |
| Luisa Fernanda Rudi | Spain | Europe | President of the Government of Aragon | 13 July 2011 | 3 July 2015 | 3 years, 355 days |
| Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer | Germany | Europe | Minister-President of Saarland | 10 August 2011 | 28 February 2018 | 6 years, 202 days |
| Alison Redford | Canada | North America | Premier of Alberta | 7 October 2011 | 23 March 2014 | 2 years, 167 days |
| Marina Kovtun | Russia | Eurasia | Governor of Murmansk Oblast | 13 April 2012 | 21 March 2019 | 7 years, 8 days |
| Pauline Marois | Canada | North America | Premier of Quebec | 19 September 2012 | 23 April 2014 | 1 year, 216 days |
| Christina Scott | United Kingdom | North America | Governor of Anguilla | 2013 | 2017 | 4 years |
| Malu Dreyer | Germany | Europe | Minister-President of Rhineland-Palatinate | 16 January 2013 | Incumbent | 11 years, 340 days |
| Kathleen Wynne | Canada | North America | Premier of Ontario | 11 February 2013 | 29 June 2018 | 5 years, 138 days |
| Angelica Amante | Philippines | Asia | Governor of Agusan del Norte | 30 June 2013 | 30 June 2019 | 6 years, 0 days |
| Daisy A. Fuentes | Philippines | Asia | Governor of South Cotabato | 30 June 2013 | 30 June 2019 | 6 years, 0 days |
| Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza | Philippines | Asia | Governor of Cotabato | 30 June 2013 | 30 June 2019 | 6 years, 0 days |
| Rebecca Ynares | Philippines | Asia | Governor of Rizal | 30 June 2013 | 30 June 2022 | 9 years, 0 days |
| Susana Díaz | Spain | Europe | President of the Government of Andalusia | 5 September 2013 | 18 January 2019 | 5 years, 135 days |
| Svetlana Orlova | Russia | Eurasia | Governor of Vladimir Oblast | 23 September 2013 | 8 October 2018 | 5 years, 15 days |
| Iryna Sekh | Ukraine | Europe | Governor of Lviv Oblast | 2 March 2014 | 14 August 2014 | 165 days |
| Nicola Sturgeon | United Kingdom | Europe | First Minister of Scotland | 20 November 2014 | 28 March 2023 | 8 years, 128 days |
| Suely Campos | Brazil | South America | Governor of Roraima | 1 January 2015 | 10 December 2018 | 3 years, 343 days |
| Gina Raimondo | United States | North America | Governor of Rhode Island | 6 January 2015 | 2 March 2021 | 6 years, 55 days |
| Rhodora Cadiao | Philippines | Asia | Governor of Antique | 29 January 2015 | Incumbent | 9 years, 327 days |
| Francina Armengol | Spain | Europe | President of the Government of the Balearic Islands | 2 July 2015 | Incumbent | 9 years, 172 days |
| Arlene Foster | United Kingdom | Europe | First Minister of Northern Ireland | 11 January 2016 | 9 January 2017 | 364 days |
| Arlene Foster | United Kingdom | Europe | First Minister of Northern Ireland | 11 January 2020 | 14 June 2021 | 1 year, 154 days |
| Natalia Zhdanova | Russia | Eurasia | Governor of Zabaykalsky Krai | 18 February 2016 | 11 October 2018 | 2 years, 235 days |
| Nang Khin Htwe Myint | Myanmar | Asia | Chief Minister of Kayin | 30 March 2016 | 1 February 2021 | 4 years, 308 days |
| Lae Lae Maw | Myanmar | Asia | Chief Minister of Tanintharyi | 30 March 2016 | 11 March 2019 | 2 years, 346 days |
| Bedjoria Soraya Adiong | Philippines | Asia | Governor of Lanao del Sur | 30 June 2016 | 30 June 2019 | 3 years, 0 days |
| Maria Jocelyn Bernos | Philippines | Asia | Governor of Abra | 30 June 2016 | Incumbent | 8 years, 174 days |
| Marilou Cayco | Philippines | Asia | Governor of Batanes | 30 June 2016 | Incumbent | 8 years, 174 days |
| Imelda Dimaporo | Philippines | Asia | Governor of Lanao del Norte | 30 June 2016 | Incumbent | 8 years, 174 days |
| Maria Luisa Romualdo | Philippines | Asia | Governor of Camiguin | 30 June 2016 | Incumbent | 8 years, 174 days |
| Czarina Umali | Philippines | Asia | Governor of Nueva Ecija | 30 June 2016 | 30 June 2019 | 3 years, 0 days |
| Susan Yap | Philippines | Asia | Governor of Tarlac | 30 June 2016 | Incumbent | 8 years, 174 days |
| Yuriko Koike | Japan | Asia | Governor of Tokyo | 1 August 2016 | Incumbent | 8 years, 142 days |
| Yuliya Svitlychna | Ukraine | Europe | Governor of Kharkiv Oblast | 15 October 2016 | 5 November 2019 | 3 years, 21 days |
| Johanna Mikl-Leitner | Austria | Europe | Governor of Lower Austria | 19 April 2017 | Incumbent | 7 years, 246 days |
| Kim Reynolds | United States | North America | Governor of Iowa | 24 May 2017 | Incumbent | 7 years, 211 days |
| Manuela Schwesig | Germany | Europe | Minister-President of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | 4 July 2017 | Incumbent | 7 years, 170 days |
| Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane | South Africa | Africa | Premier of Mpumalanga | 20 March 2018 | Incumbent | 6 years, 276 days |
| Cida Borghetti | Brazil | South America | Governor of Paraná | 6 April 2018 | 1 January 2019 | 270 days |
| Janet Mills | United States | North America | Governor of Maine | 2 January 2019 | Incumbent | 5 years, 354 days |
| Kristi Noem | United States | North America | Governor of South Dakota | 5 January 2019 | Incumbent | 5 years, 351 days |
| Lou Leon Guerrero | United States | Oceania | Governor of Guam | 7 January 2019 | Incumbent | 5 years, 349 days |
| Khofifah Indar Parawansa | Indonesia | Asia | Governor of East Java | 13 February 2019 | 13 February 2024 | 5 years, 0 days |
| Bai Mariam Mangudadatu | Philippines | Asia | Governor of Maguindanao | 30 June 2019 | 13 October 2022 | 3 years, 105 days |
| Liesbeth Homans | Belgium | Europe | Minister-President of Flanders | 2 July 2019 | 1 October 2019 | 91 days |
| Concha Andreu | Spain | Europe | President of La Rioja | 29 August 2019 | 29 June 2023 | 3 years, 304 days |
| Anna Kovalenko | Ukraine | Europe | Governor of Chernihiv Oblast | 13 October 2020 | 4 August 2021 | 295 days |
| Mariya Chorna | Ukraine | Europe | Governor of Kirovohrad Oblast | 27 May 2021 | 7 March 2022 | 284 days |
| Svitlana Onyshchuk | Ukraine | Europe | Governor of Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast | 8 July 2021 | Incumbent | 3 years, 166 days |
| Kathy Hochul | United States | North America | Governor of New York | 24 August 2021 | Incumbent | 3 years, 119 days |
| Julie Thomas | Saint Helena | Africa | Chief Minister | 25 October 2021 | Incumbent | 3 years, 57 days |
| Kristina Moore | Jersey | Europe | Chief Minister | 12 July 2022 | 30 January 2024 | 1 year, 202 days |
| Maura Healey | United States | North America | Governor of Massachusetts | 5 January 2023 | Incumbent | 1 year, 351 days |
| Maryam Nawaz | Pakistan | Asia | Chief Minister of Punjab | 26 February 2024 | Incumbent | 299 days |
| Eluned Morgan | United Kingdom | Europe | First Minister of Wales | 6 August 2024 | Incumbent | 137 days |