Angela Merkel
Angela Merkel is a German former politician and scientist who served as the chancellor of Germany from 2005 to 2021. She is widely regarded as the world's most powerful female leader.
World Leader
July 17, 1954
Cancer
70
Hamburg, Germany
Angela Merkel, who served as Germany’s Chancellor from 2005 to 2021, was the first woman and first East German to hold this position. During her tenure, she played a pivotal role in shaping policies on climate change, immigration, and international diplomacy, making Germany the most influential country in the European Union. A strong advocate for women’s rights and combating poverty, Merkel has been recognized as the world’s most powerful female leader. Before entering politics, she pursued a career in science, earning a physics degree from the University of Leipzig in 1978 and a doctorate in quantum chemistry in 1986, and working as a research scientist.