Forbes names 100 most powerful women; German Chancellor No. 1

International finance magazine Forbes on Thursday unveiled its list of the 100 most powerful women in the world, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel topping the multinational list of women politicians, executives, and celebrities. Merkel, a member of the Christian Democratic Union in Germany, was elected as the first female chancellor of the European country in 2005. Joining Merkel at the top of the list are four political figures, three business executives, and two non-profit organization leaders. Women in list control $30-trillion Forbes said the women in the 2011 list control $30 trillion worth of funds collectively, and have an average age of 54. “Our list reflects the diverse and dynamic paths to power for women today –whether leading a nation or setting the agenda on critical issues of our time," said ForbesWoman president and publisher Moira Forbes. Forbes noted that it is the first time for Christine Lagarde (No. 9), the newly appointed managing director of the International Monetary Fund, to enter the Top 10 of the list, after being included since 2004. Lagarde, France's former minister for economy, finance, and industry, has been sent to head the world's largest after former IMF chief Dominic Strauss-Khan resigned following allegations sexually assaulting a chambermaid in a New York hotel. Among the women in the list, famous recording artist Lady Gaga (No. 11) is deemed the youngest at age 25, while Britain's monarch Queen Elizabeth II (No. 49) is the oldest at 85. Below is the top 10 list of Forbes' most powerful women for 2011:

1. Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany
2. Hillary Rodham Clinton, US Secretary of State
3. Dilma Rouseff, President of Brazil
4. Indra Nooyi, CEO of PepsiCo
5. Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook
6. Melinda Gates, co-founder and co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
7. Sonia Gandhi, President of the Indian National Congress Party
8. Michelle Obama, US First Lady
9. Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund
10. Irene Rosenfeld, CEO of Kraft Foods

The full list for 2011 can be viewed at Forbes' official website. —JMT/PE/VS, GMA News