Table 1.

Measuring success in women leaders.

Leader	Gross Domestic Product (GDP)	Employment	Freedom House	Average Income	Happiness
Jacinda Ardern (New Zealand, 2017–2023)	New Zealand gdp for 2023 was $253.47B, a 2.73% increase from 2022. New Zealand gdp for 2022 was $246.73B, a 2.72% decline from 2021. New Zealand gdp for 2021 was $253.64B, a 19.25% increase from 2020. New Zealand gdp for 2020 was $212.70B, a 0.07% decline from 2019.	The unemployment rate of New Zealand experienced a decrease between 2017–2023, with a slight increase during the year 2020 when the pandemic occurred, and also a slight increase in the year 2023, following Ardern’s resignation.	In 2017, 2018, and 2019, New Zealand was rated at 98/100. In 2020, New Zealand was rated at 97/100. After that, it rated at 99/100 for 2021, 2022, 2023.	The median household income ‘skyrocketed’ during Ardern’s term. In 2016 it was at $79,900, and by 2024 it is at $122,500. The incline was steady with the exception of 2020, that had a $800 decrease from the previous year.	The World Happiness Index for New Zealand was high for the years in which Ardern was in office. Specifically, they ranked 8th in the world in 2017, and remained in that spot until 2020, followed by 9th spot in 2021, and 10th in 2022 and 2023.
Angela Merkel (Germany, 2005–2021)	In the year she took office, Germany’s GDP stood at 2.3 trillion euros ($2.6 trillion). In 2020, it was over 3.3 trillion euros.	Germany had a steady rise of employment rates from 2005 (employment rate 65.4) until 2021 (employment rate 75.6), with the only exception year 2020 where it decreased instead of increased–the year of COVID-19	Germany has been rated at a 94/100 between the years of 2018–2021, and 95/100 in the years 2016–2017. There was no available data on Germany’s Freedom House ‘Freedom in the World’ rating before 2016.	The adjusted gross disposable income of households during Merkel, rose from 21,646 euros ($23,513) in 2005, to 30,142 euros ($32,801) in 2019. The inclide was steady, with the exception of 2009 in which the income slightly decreased.	Based on the World Happiness Report, Germany has had an almost steady upward incline in terms of happiness, starting from 6.62 in 2005, and reaching 6.71 in 2021.
Sanna Marin (Finland, 2019–2023)	Finland gdp for 2023 was $300.19B, a 6.49% increase from 2022. Finland gdp for 2022 was $281.89B, a 4.92% decline from 2021. Finland gdp for 2021 was $296.47B, a 9.04% increase from 2020. Finland gdp for 2020 was $271.89B, a 1.26% increase from 2019.	Finland unemployment rate for 2023 was 7.16%, a 0.44% increase from 2022. Finland unemployment rate for 2022 was 6.72%, a 0.89% decline from 2021. Finland unemployment rate for 2021 was 7.61%, a 0.15% decline from 2020. Finland unemployment rate for 2020 was 7.76%, a 1.06% increase from 2019.	Finland has rated 100/100 in all years between 2019 and 2023. It is worth mentioning that Finland was rated at 100/100 even in prior years, however.	During Marin’s term, the household income rose from 2019 ($29,091) to 2021 ($31,845), but then had a large decrease in 2022 ($27,134).	Finland has an exceptional record of being one of the highest ranking countries in happiness, and during Marin’s time in office, the ranking remained significantly high. From 2019 until 2023, Finland was ranked 1st in the world happiness ranking.
Ursula von der Leyen (European Union, 2019-present)	European Union gdp for 2022 was $16,761.50B, a 3.2% decline from 2021. European Union gdp for 2021 was $17,315.13B, a 12.57% increase from 2020. European Union gdp for 2020 was $15,381.42B, a 1.99% decline from 2019.	European Union unemployment rate for 2023 was 6.02%, a 0.13% decline from 2022. European Union unemployment rate for 2022 was 6.15%, a 0.88% decline from 2021. European Union unemployment rate for 2021 was 7.02%, a 0.02% decline from 2020. European Union unemployment rate for 2020 was 7.04%, a 0.37% increase from 2019.	Due to the fact that the European Union is not a country in itself, and in fact consist of 27 countries, we were unable to determine a Freedom Housing rating to assess von der Leyen’s success in that domain.	European Union household income had a slight increase from 2019 to 2020 (0.4%) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and then increased by 2.6% in 2021, and then by 6.3% in 2022. In 2023, there was once again an increase of over 2,000 euros ($2,177), and it continues to increase in the first quarters of 2024.	European Union’s happiness index is more difficult to calculate as it comprises of many countries, however, since 2019 and until now, the majority of the 10 highest ranking countries in the world, are countries under the European Union, such as Finland, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and more.