With the election of Sanae Takaichi as prime minister this week, Japan joined the ranks of countries that have had a woman serve as head of state or government since World War II.
As of the end of July this year, the number stood at 82, or about 43%, of the United Nations' 193 member states, according to the U.S. think tank the Council on Foreign Relations.
Female leadership is no longer confined to northern Europe, often viewed as a global front-runner on gender equality. For instance, in Mexico, where traditional, male-centered norms remain strong, Claudia Sheinbaum was inaugurated as president last year, underscoring how commonplace women's leadership has become worldwide.
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