Throughout history, women have made profound impacts on society, culture, politics, science, and the arts. Despite often facing significant barriers and discrimination, these remarkable individuals have shaped the world we live in today. This article presents a list of 100 of the most influential women of all time, spanning various fields and historical periods.

Methodology

Compiling a list of the most influential women in history is inherently subjective and challenging. This list aims to represent a diverse range of contributions across different cultures, time periods, and fields of endeavor. The selection criteria include:

1. Long-term historical impact
2. Breadth of influence across cultures and time periods
3. Pioneering achievements in their respective fields
4. Recognition by historians and scholars
5. Cultural and social significance

It’s important to note that this list is not exhaustive and that many other influential women have made significant contributions throughout history.

The List

Political Leaders and Activists

1. Cleopatra VII (69-30 BCE) – Last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt
   Impact: Skilled diplomat who influenced Roman politics and left a lasting mark on Western culture
2. Queen Elizabeth I (1533-1603) – Queen of England and Ireland
   Impact: Oversaw the English Renaissance and the establishment of England as a major European power
3. Catherine the Great (1729-1796) – Empress of Russia
   Impact: Expanded the Russian Empire and ushered in the Russian Enlightenment
4. Queen Victoria (1819-1901) – Queen of the United Kingdom and Empress of India
   Impact: Oversaw the expansion of the British Empire and gave her name to an era
5. Susan B. Anthony (1820-1906) – American civil rights leader
   Impact: Played a pivotal role in the women’s suffrage movement in the United States
6. Emmeline Pankhurst (1858-1928) – British political activist
   Impact: Leader of the British suffragette movement, helped women win the right to vote
7. Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962) – First Lady of the United States and diplomat
   Impact: Redefined the role of First Lady and was a key figure in the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
8. Golda Meir (1898-1978) – Prime Minister of Israel
   Impact: One of the first elected female heads of government in the world
9. Indira Gandhi (1917-1984) – Prime Minister of India
   Impact: First and only female Prime Minister of India, shaped the country’s political landscape
10. Margaret Thatcher (1925-2013) – Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
    Impact: First female British Prime Minister, implemented significant economic reforms
11. Angela Merkel (1954-present) – Chancellor of Germany
    Impact: First female Chancellor of Germany, played a crucial role in European politics
12. Aung San Suu Kyi (1945-present) – State Counsellor of Myanmar
    Impact: Pro-democracy activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate
13. Malala Yousafzai (1997-present) – Pakistani activist for female education
    Impact: Youngest Nobel Prize laureate, global advocate for girls’ education
14. Greta Thunberg (2003-present) – Swedish environmental activist
    Impact: Inspired a global movement of youth climate activism

Scientists and Inventors

15. Hypatia (c. 350-415 CE) – Greek mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher
    Impact: One of the earliest known female scientists and mathematicians
16. Marie Curie (1867-1934) – Polish-French physicist and chemist
    Impact: Pioneering research on radioactivity, discovered polonium and radium
17. Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958) – British chemist and X-ray crystallographer
    Impact: Crucial work on the molecular structures of DNA, RNA, viruses, coal, and graphite
18. Jane Goodall (1934-present) – British primatologist and anthropologist
    Impact: Groundbreaking work on chimpanzee behavior and advocate for conservation
19. Rachel Carson (1907-1964) – American marine biologist and conservationist
    Impact: Her book “Silent Spring” advanced the global environmental movement
20. Ada Lovelace (1815-1852) – British mathematician and writer
    Impact: Considered the first computer programmer, wrote the first algorithm intended to be processed by a machine
21. Grace Hopper (1906-1992) – American computer scientist and Navy rear admiral
    Impact: Pioneering work in computer programming, developed the first compiler
22. Barbara McClintock (1902-1992) – American scientist and cytogeneticist
    Impact: Discovered genetic transposition, won Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
23. Tu Youyou (1930-present) – Chinese pharmaceutical chemist
    Impact: Discovered artemisinin, a treatment for malaria, won Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
24. Chien-Shiung Wu (1912-1997) – Chinese-American experimental physicist
    Impact: Contributed to the Manhattan Project and made significant contributions to nuclear physics

Writers and Philosophers

25. Sappho (c. 630-570 BCE) – Greek lyric poet
    Impact: One of the first known female writers, greatly influenced Western literature
26. Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-1797) – British writer and philosopher
    Impact: Author of “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman,” a foundational text of modern feminism
27. Jane Austen (1775-1817) – English novelist
    Impact: Author of classics like “Pride and Prejudice,” pioneered the novel of manners
28. George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans) (1819-1880) – English novelist
    Impact: Author of “Middlemarch,” considered one of the greatest English novels
29. Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) – American poet
    Impact: One of the most important figures in American poetry
30. Virginia Woolf (1882-1941) – English writer
    Impact: Pioneering modernist writer, her novels and essays explored feminist themes
31. Simone de Beauvoir (1908-1986) – French existentialist philosopher
    Impact: Her writings on ethics, feminism, and politics were groundbreaking for the feminist movement
32. Maya Angelou (1928-2014) – American poet and civil rights activist
    Impact: Her poetry and memoirs have inspired generations
33. Toni Morrison (1931-2019) – American novelist and professor
    Impact: Nobel Prize-winning author who gave voice to the African American experience
34. J.K. Rowling (1965-present) – British author
    Impact: Creator of the Harry Potter series, one of the best-selling book series in history

Artists and Performers

35. Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) – Mexican painter
    Impact: Iconic artist known for her self-portraits and works inspired by nature and Mexican culture
36. Georgia O’Keeffe (1887-1986) – American artist
    Impact: Pioneer of American modernism, known for her paintings of enlarged flowers and New Mexico landscapes
37. Martha Graham (1894-1991) – American modern dancer and choreographer
    Impact: Revolutionized modern dance, developed the Graham technique
38. Billie Holiday (1915-1959) – American jazz singer
    Impact: One of the most influential jazz singers of all time
39. Edith Piaf (1915-1963) – French singer
    Impact: One of France’s greatest international stars, known as “The Little Sparrow”
40. Maria Callas (1923-1977) – American-born Greek soprano
    Impact: One of the most renowned and influential opera singers of the 20th century
41. Aretha Franklin (1942-2018) – American singer and civil rights activist
    Impact: “Queen of Soul,” first female performer inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
42. Madonna (1958-present) – American singer and actress
    Impact: “Queen of Pop,” pushed boundaries in music and popular culture
43. Meryl Streep (1949-present) – American actress
    Impact: Considered one of the greatest actresses of her generation, record holder for most Academy Award nominations
44. Oprah Winfrey (1954-present) – American talk show host and media executive
    Impact: Influential media mogul and philanthropist

Sports Figures

45. Billie Jean King (1943-present) – American tennis player
    Impact: Won 39 Grand Slam titles, advocate for gender equality and LGBTQ+ rights in sports
46. Wilma Rudolph (1940-1994) – American sprinter
    Impact: First American woman to win three gold medals in track and field at a single Olympics
47. Nadia Comăneci (1961-present) – Romanian gymnast
    Impact: First gymnast to be awarded a perfect score of 10.0 at the Olympic Games
48. Serena Williams (1981-present) – American tennis player
    Impact: Won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, advocate for gender and racial equality in sports
49. Megan Rapinoe (1985-present) – American soccer player
    Impact: Two-time World Cup winner, advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and pay equality in sports
50. Simone Biles (1997-present) – American artistic gymnast
    Impact: Most decorated American gymnast, advocate for mental health in sports

Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs

51. Madam C.J. Walker (1867-1919) – American entrepreneur and philanthropist
    Impact: First female self-made millionaire in America, developed hair care products for African American women
52. Coco Chanel (1883-1971) – French fashion designer
    Impact: Revolutionized women’s fashion, founded the Chanel brand
53. Estée Lauder (1908-2004) – American businesswoman
    Impact: Co-founder of Estée Lauder Companies, pioneered modern cosmetics marketing
54. Mary Kay Ash (1918-2001) – American businesswoman
    Impact: Founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics, pioneered network marketing
55. Sheryl Sandberg (1969-present) – American technology executive
    Impact: COO of Facebook, author of “Lean In,” advocate for women in leadership

Social Reformers and Humanitarians

56. Florence Nightingale (1820-1910) – British nurse
    Impact: Founder of modern nursing, improved sanitation in hospitals
57. Harriet Tubman (c. 1822-1913) – American abolitionist and political activist
    Impact: Escaped slavery and helped approximately 70 enslaved people find freedom via the Underground Railroad
58. Clara Barton (1821-1912) – American nurse and humanitarian
    Impact: Founder of the American Red Cross
59. Helen Keller (1880-1968) – American author and political activist
    Impact: First deafblind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree, advocate for people with disabilities
60. Mother Teresa (1910-1997) – Roman Catholic nun and missionary
    Impact: Founded the Missionaries of Charity, devoted her life to serving the poor and sick
61. Diana, Princess of Wales (1961-1997) – Member of the British royal family
    Impact: Humanitarian work, particularly in the fields of children’s rights and AIDS awareness
62. Wangari Maathai (1940-2011) – Kenyan environmental and political activist
    Impact: Founder of the Green Belt Movement, first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize

Religious and Spiritual Leaders

63. Joan of Arc (c. 1412-1431) – French military leader and Roman Catholic saint
    Impact: Led French troops to victory during the Hundred Years’ War, became a national heroine of France
64. Teresa of Ávila (1515-1582) – Spanish Carmelite nun and mystic
    Impact: Major figure of the Counter-Reformation, author of influential spiritual texts
65. Mary Baker Eddy (1821-1910) – American religious leader and author
    Impact: Founder of Christian Science
66. Aimee Semple McPherson (1890-1944) – Canadian-American Pentecostal evangelist
    Impact: Pioneer in the use of modern media in religious services
67. Ayaan Hirsi Ali (1969-present) – Somali-born Dutch-American activist and writer
    Impact: Critic of Islam and advocate for women’s rights in Islamic societies

Educators and Social Scientists

68. Maria Montessori (1870-1952) – Italian physician and educator
    Impact: Developed the Montessori method of education
69. Margaret Mead (1901-1978) – American cultural anthropologist
    Impact: Popularized cultural anthropology in America
70. Anne Sullivan (1866-1936) – American teacher
    Impact: Teacher and lifelong companion of Helen Keller
71. Mary McLeod Bethune (1875-1955) – American educator and civil rights leader
    Impact: Founded Bethune-Cookman University, advised multiple U.S. presidents
72. bell hooks (1952-2021) – American author and social activist
    Impact: Influential voice in feminism, particularly intersectionality

Explorers and Adventurers

73. Amelia Earhart (1897-1937) – American aviation pioneer
    Impact: First female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean
74. Junko Tabei (1939-2016) – Japanese mountaineer
    Impact: First woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest
75. Valentina Tereshkova (1937-present) – Soviet cosmonaut
    Impact: First and youngest woman to fly in space
76. Sylvia Earle (1935-present) – American marine biologist and oceanographer
    Impact: First female chief scientist of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
77. Ellen MacArthur (1976-present) – British sailor
    Impact: Broke the world record for the fastest solo circumnavigation of the globe

Journalists and Media Figures

78. Ida B. Wells (1862-1931) – American investigative journalist
    Impact: Leader in the civil rights movement and women’s suffrage movement
79. Dorothy Thompson (1893-1961) – American journalist and radio broadcaster
    Impact: First American journalist expelled from Nazi Germany, influential political commentator
80. Barbara Walters (1929-2022) – American broadcast journalist
    Impact: First female co-anchor of a network evening news program
81. Christiane Amanpour (1958-present) – British-Iranian journalist
    Impact: Chief International Anchor for CNN, known for her coverage of international crises
82. Anna Wintour (1949-present) – British-American journalist and editor
    Impact: Long-time editor-in-chief of Vogue, influential figure in fashion industry

Lawyers and Judges

83. Sandra Day O’Connor (1930-present) – American jurist
    Impact: First woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court
84. Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933-2020) – American jurist
    Impact: Second woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court, advocate for gender equality and women’s rights
85. Sonia Sotomayor (1954-present) – American jurist
    Impact: First Hispanic and Latina Justice on the United States Supreme Court
86. Shirin Ebadi (1947-present) – Iranian lawyer and human rights activist
    Impact: First Muslim woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize
87. Louise Arbour (1947-present) – Canadian lawyer and jurist
    Impact: Former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunals

Mathematicians and Computer Scientists

88. Emmy Noether (1882-1935) – German mathematician
    Impact: Made groundbreaking contributions to abstract algebra and theoretical physics
89. Katherine Johnson (1918-2020) – American mathematician
    Impact: Calculated and verified trajectories for NASA’s space missions
90. Maryam Mirzakhani (1977-2017) – Iranian mathematician
    Impact: First woman and first Iranian to win the Fields Medal
91. Frances Allen (1932-2020) – American computer scientist
    Impact: First woman to win the Turing Award, pioneer in the field of optimizing compilers
92. Radia Perlman (1951-present) – American computer programmer and network engineer
    Impact: Invented the spanning-tree protocol, sometimes called the “Mother of the Internet”

Economists and Social Theorists

93. Rosa Luxemburg (1871-1919) – Polish Marxist theorist
    Impact: Influential figure in the international socialist movement
94. Joan Robinson (1903-1983) – British economist
    Impact: Made major contributions to economic theory, particularly in macroeconomics
95. Elinor Ostrom (1933-2012) – American political economist
    Impact: First woman to win the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences
96. Esther Duflo (1972-present) – French-American economist
    Impact: Pioneering work in development economics, youngest person to receive the Nobel Prize in Economics
97. Janet Yellen (1946-present) – American economist
    Impact: First woman to chair the Federal Reserve and serve as United States Secretary of the Treasury

Architects and Designers

98. Zaha Hadid (1950-2016) – Iraqi-British architect
    Impact: First woman to receive the Pritzker Architecture Prize, known for her distinctive neofuturistic style
99. Maya Lin (1959-present) – American designer and artist
    Impact: Designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
100. Eileen Gray (1878-1976) – Irish-born French-based architect and furniture designer
     Impact: Pioneer of the Modern Movement in architecture

Conclusion

This list of 100 influential women spans millennia of human history and encompasses a wide range of fields and achievements. From ancient rulers and philosophers to modern-day activists and scientists, these women have shaped the world we live in today. Their contributions have advanced human knowledge, challenged societal norms, and paved the way for future generations.

It’s important to note that influence can manifest in various ways. Some on this list changed the course of history through political or military power, others through ideas that revolutionized how we think about ourselves and the world around us. Some created art that continues to move and inspire us centuries later, while others made scientific discoveries that fundamentally altered our understanding of the universe.

The diversity of this list highlights the many different ways women can impact the world. It includes leaders and revolutionaries, artists and scientists, entrepreneurs and humanitarians. This diversity reflects the complex tapestry of human achievement and the myriad ways in which individuals can shape society.

However, it’s crucial to acknowledge that this list, like any such compilation, has limitations. Historical records tend to favor certain regions and demographics, often overlooking the contributions of women from non-Western cultures or lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Many influential women, especially from earlier periods or marginalized communities, may have been lost to history or overshadowed by better-known figures.

Moreover, influence is not always positive. Some figures on this list are controversial, having brought about significant changes that had both positive and negative consequences. Their inclusion is based on the magnitude of their impact rather than a moral judgment of their actions.

As we reflect on these influential women, it’s also worth considering the countless unnamed women who, through small acts of courage, innovation, or compassion, have collectively shaped our world in immeasurable ways. While they may not be recorded in history books, their cumulative impact is no less significant.

Looking to the future, it’s exciting to consider who the influential women of tomorrow might be. In an era of rapid technological advancement and global interconnectedness, women have unprecedented opportunities to effect change on a global scale. The next world-changing idea or movement could come from anywhere, highlighting the potential each person has to make a difference.

This list serves not only as a reflection of women’s achievements but also as an inspiration. It demonstrates the profound impact that individuals can have on the world, encouraging us all to consider how we might contribute to the ongoing story of human progress and understanding. As we continue to strive for gender equality and recognition of women’s contributions, lists like these remind us of the incredible legacy of women throughout history and the boundless potential of future generations.