Japan PM Sanae Takaichi ranked 3rd in Forbes’ list of world’s most powerful women

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission was ranked first, and Christine Lagarde, president of the European Central Bank, was second.

takaichi-P-WEB-ONLY.jpg

File photo of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. PHOTO: THE YOMIURI SHIMBUN

December 12, 2025

TOKYO – Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi was ranked third in the world’s most powerful women, Forbes said on Wednesday.

In the list published on its website, Ursula von der Leyen, president of European Commission was ranked first and Christine Lagarde, president of European Central Bank, was second.

Forbes describes Japan’s first female prime minister as “a hardline conservative who has often invoked ‘Iron Lady’ Margaret Thatcher, a fellow female first prime minister, as a political role model.”

scroll to top