The World's Most Powerful Women

Francesca Donner, 08.19.09

Women are making waves in business, politics and nonprofits around the world. Their influence is growing.

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Forbes' Power Women list isn't about celebrity or popularity; it's about influence. Queen Rania of Jordan (No. 76), for instance, is perhaps the most listened-to woman in the Middle East; her Twitter feed has 600,000 followers.

In assembling the list, Forbes looked for women who run countries, big companies or influential nonprofits. Their rankings are a combination of two scores: visibility--by press mentions--and the size of the organization or country these women lead.

At No. 1, for the fourth consecutive year, is German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Up for reelection this September, she is leader of the world's fourth-largest economy. She faces a tough year: Germany's GDP is expected to shrink this year despite a small uptick in the second quarter.


#11 Cristina Fernández

Argentina's first popularly elected woman suffered a setback in recent mid-term elections that cost the ruling Peronist Party control of both houses of congress. A cabinet reorganization in July may not be enough to fix the country's socioeconomic instability, which many blame on the government's nationalization of AFJP private pensions as well as the conflict with farmers over grain taxes. Some critics are speculating Fernández may even step down before her term is done. Fernández is one of several Latin American presidents working to get deposed President Manuel Zelaya back to Honduras.

http://www.forbes.com/

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