New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern announced her resignation for personal reasons today. The popular leader said she lacked the energy to fulfill her role anymore. According to CNN, many constituents express shock and disbelief concerning Ardern's decision.
As seen in data by the Council on Foreign Relations, New Zealand is among the countries which have had the most elected female heads of state and/or government after 1946. Before Ardern, the National Party's Jenny Shipley led the country between 1997 and 1999, followed by Labour's Helen Clark between 1999 and 2008.
Female country leaders have existed on all continents, but Europe is generally the region with the highest concentration of female-led and repeatedly female-led nations. All the countries which have had three or more female leaders (with the exceptions of New Zealand and India) are located there. The one which has had the most females at the helm is Switzerland. The country counts five former female presidents of the Swiss Confederation, but has an advantage because the presidents' terms are limited to one year.
Finland follows with four female prime ministers or presidents, including current premier Sanna Marin. Iceland has counted three female leaders. One of them, Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, was the world's first female elected president. She stayed in office for 16 years from 1980 to 1996.
The source counts women who have served as heads of government, heads of state or a combination of the two, except when the position was temporary, purely honorary or was filled by a monarch or appointed by one.