Forbes released its annual list of "The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women" on August 30, 2007 with Angela Merkel – the first woman of Germany – as #1 for the second year in a row. For anyone who dares to suggest that the glass ceiling has become even harder to break through, Forbes claimed that they had no problems finding 66 business women for their prestigious list. Some of these women were even predicted by the Wall Street Journal (NYSE:DJ) as "Women to Watch" in 2007.

In order to create their list Forbes looked at women running companies, governments, non-profits or were very close to the top. They also examine press coverage and economic impact. The economic impact reflects several things: resume, amount of economic influence, and “a multiplier that aims to make different financial yardsticks comparable.” Put it all together and viola, you have the most powerful women in the world.

Here are the top 25 powerful women along with their position(s) and countries according to Forbes:
 

1. Angela Merkel - Chancellor, Germany
2. Wu Yi - Vice premier, China
3. Ho Ching - Chief executive, Temasek Holdings, Singapore
4. Condoleezza Rice - Secretary of State, U.S.
5. Indra K. Nooyi - Chairman, chief executive, PepsiCo, U.S.
6. Sonia Gandhi - President, Congress Party,  India
7. Cynthia Carroll - Chief executive, Anglo American, U.K.
8. Patricia A. Woertz - Chairman, Archer Daniels Midland, U.S.
9. Irene Rosenfeld - Chairman, chief executive, Kraft Foods, U.S.
10. Patricia Russo - Chief executive, Alcatel-Lucent, U.S.
11. Michèle Alliot-Marie - Minister for the Interior and overseas territories, France
12. Christine Lagarde - Minister of economy, finance and employment, France
13. Anne M. Mulcahy - Chairman, chief executive, Xerox, U.S.
14. Anne Lauvergeon - Chief executive, Areva, France
15. Mary Sammons - Chairman, chief executive, president, Rite Aid Corp., U.S.
16. Angela Braly - Chief executive, president, WellPoint, U.S.
17. Marjorie Scardino - Chief executive, Pearson PLC, U.K.
18. Wu Xiaoling - Deputy governor, People's Bank of China, China
19. Brenda Barnes - Chairman, chief executive, Sara Lee Corp., U.S.
20. Ruth Bader Ginsburg - Supreme court justice, U.S.
21. Oprah Winfrey - Chairman, Harpo, U.S.
22. Margaret Whitman - Chief executive, president, Ebay, U.S.
23. Queen Elizabeth II – Queen, U.K.
24. Melinda Gates - Cofounder, cochairman, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, U.S.
25. Hillary Rodham Clinton - U.S. senator, New York