Sri Lanka (then called Ceylon) was the country that elected the world’s first female prime minister.

Quick Scoop

  • The first woman to become prime minister in the world was Sirimavo Bandaranaike of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).
  • She was sworn in as prime minister on 21 July 1960, after her party won a major election victory.
  • Her landmark election is widely recognized as the moment Sri Lanka became the first country to have a female prime minister.

In short: when people ask “which country elected the first female prime minister?” the answer is Sri Lanka (Ceylon) , with Sirimavo Bandaranaike making history in 1960.

TL;DR: Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) elected Sirimavo Bandaranaike in 1960, making it the first country in the world to have a female prime minister.

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