Merkel keeps Forbes crown as world's most powerful woman

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been named the world's most powerful woman for the seventh time in a row by Forbes magazine, the publication announced on Thursday.

"Merkel this year won a hard-fought election that saw the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party creep into the Bundestag," Forbes said in a statement.

"She'll have to continue to hold tight to the EU rudder as she faces oncoming storms from Brexit and the growing anti-immigrant sentiment in Europe," it added.

British Prime Minister Theresa May took second place in the ranking, while Hillary Clinton - who was ranked the world's second-most powerful woman in 2016 - fell to 63rd place after her election defeat to US President Donald Trump.

Trump's daughter, Ivanka, who has been serving as a White House advisor in his administration, ranked 19th on the list, while the US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, came in 43rd.

Melinda Gates of the Gates Foundation, Sheryl Sandberg of Facebook and Mary Barra, the head of General Motors, took third, fourth and fifth place, respectively.