A descendant of one of Egypt's most distinguished Coptic Christian families, Boutros-Ghali received a bachelor's degree from Cairo University (1946) and a Ph.D. in international law from the University of Paris (1949). He then held a professorship at Cairo University and lectured in international law and international affairs at various universities and institutes in the United States, Europe, India, the Middle East, and Africa. He also wrote several scholarly books, published in French.

In October 1977 Boutros-Ghali was appointed Egypt's minister of state for foreign affairs, and the following month he accompanied President Anwar el-Sādāt on his historic trip to Jerusalem after Egypt's foreign minister resigned in protest against the Egyptian-Israeli rapprochement. Boutros-Ghali became deputy prime minister in 1991.

As UN secretary-general from 1992, Boutros-Ghali vigorously supported UN mediation in post-Cold War strife. His term saw lengthy and difficult peacekeeping operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Somalia, and Rwanda. In 1995, he led the international celebration of the UN's 50th anniversary. The United States, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, became dissatisfied with Boutros-Ghali's independent leadership and successfully blocked his bid for a second term as secretary-general in 1996.