Each year Forbes introduces the most powerful women in the world. While some of these individuals hold politcal positions, others manage multi-billion dollar companies, and almost all of them influence millions of people every day.

The No. 1 spot on Forbes 100 most powerful women in 2008 goes to German Chancellor Angela Merkel for the third year in a row. Her power covers both media coverage and the German government. Sheila Bair, the chairman for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), ranks second on the list.

Forbes ranks these powerful women based on a series of quantitative factors ranging from media coverage to financial influence. The amount of money a woman controls is a major factor and is judged based on the finances over which she reigns. Changes in governments and corporations cause fluctuations in individual ranks every year.

For example, Hillary Clinton may have little influence over international finance, but she has ranked 28 on Forbes list (three spots lower than 2007) as a result of the media coverage from the US presidential bid. Cyntia Caroll, on the other hand, has had little international media coverage but is ranked fifth on the list for her executive role with Anglo-American, a mining company, and her control and influence over the company's finances.

While a little over half the women are based in the United States, other countries have gained ground in representation on Forbes' list. Five women come from the U.K., four from China, and three each from France, India, and the Netherlands. And, for the first time, Morocco is represented on the list by Hynd Bouhia, the director-general of the Casablanca Stock Exhange. ranked 29th.

Other names on the list include talkshow host Oprah Winfrey at No. 36 (U.S.), Westpac Bank director Gail Kelly at No. 11 (Australia), Ukraine's prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko at No. 17, Gate's Foundation head Melinda Gates at No. 40 (U.S.), and the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Helen Clark at No. 56.

Women from the U.K., Germany, the U.S., Singapore, and France fill out the top ten on Forbes' list and range from political leaders to business executives

Below is a listing of the top ten most powerful women in the world ranked by the Forbes business magazine.

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