list of elected or appointed female heads of state 

Statements about this table:
dame pearlette louisy of saint lucia be the longest reign female head of state , hold office for more than 16 year
sandra mason of barbados be the shortest reign head of state , hold office for a stunningly short 2 day reign
new zeland have have the most female head of state , although 2 of those be only in office for less than a fortnight
1 third of the female head of state on this list hold office for less than a year
dame pearlette louisy of saint lucia have the shortest reign as female head of state
new zeland have not have a female head of state
only 2 country , belize and saint lucia , have have a single female head
1 half of the female head of state on this list hold office for less than a year
name
country
mandate start
mandate end
term length
dame elmira minita gordon
belize
21 september 1981
17 november 1993
12years , 57days
jeanne sauvé
canada
14 may 1984
29 january 1990
5years , 260days
dame nita barrow
barbados
6 june 1990
19 december 1995
5years , 196days
dame catherine tizard
new zealand
13 december 1990
21 march 1996
5years , 99days
dame pearlette louisy
saint lucia
17 september 1997
incumbent
16years , 137days
adrienne clarkson
canada
7 october 1999
27 september 2005
5years , 324days
dame sian elias
new zealand
22 march 2001
4 april 2001
0years , 13days
name
country
mandate start
mandate end
term length
dame silvia cartwright
new zealand
4 april 2001
4 august 2006
5years , 122days
dame ivy dumont
the bahamas
11 november 2001
30 november 2005
4years , 19days
monica dacon
saint vincent and the grenadines
3 june 2002
2 september 2002
0years , 91days
michaëlle jean
canada
27 september 2005
1 october 2010
5years , 4days
dame sian elias
new zealand
4 april 2006
23 august 2006
0years , 141days
emmanuelle mignon
andorra
6 june 2007
24 september 2008
1year , 110days
name
country
mandate start
mandate end
term length
dame louise lake - tack
antigua and barbuda
17 july 2007
incumbent
6years , 199days
quentin bryce
australia
5 september 2008
incumbent
5years , 149days
dame sian elias
new zealand
23 august 2011
31 august 2011
0years , 8days
sylvie hubac
andorra
15 may 2012
incumbent
1year , 262days
sandra mason
barbados
30 may 2012
1 june 2012
0years , 2days
dame cécile la grenade
grenada
7 may 2013
incumbent
0years , 270days