Growing up in the shadows of your sibling
The median age group of current world leaders is early sixties, but, of course, there are much older heads of state. Yes, there are a few national leaders in their thirties, but we also have quite a few ones born in the 1930s. Not only that, but some of these leaders have been in power for decades.
In this gallery, we've compiled a list of the oldest world leaders by age. Click on to find out who they are.
Sauli Niinistö has been the president of Finland since 2012. The Finnish head of state is 76 years old.
Ismaïl Omar Guelleh has been the president of Djibouti since 1999. Guelleh is one of the longest-serving rulers in Africa, and he's 77 years old.
Afioga Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II is the O le Ao o le Malo (head of state) of Samoa. He is also 77.
Hassanal Bolkiah ibni Omar Ali Saifuddien III has ruled as Sultan of Brunei since 1967. Bolkiah is 78 years old.
The king of Sweden was born on April 30, 1946, and ascended to the throne in 1973. Carl XVI Gustaf is 78.
Isaias Afwerki has been the president of Eritrea since 1993. He is 78.
The Algerian politician has been the head of state since 2019. Abdelmadjid Tebboune is 79 years old.
The president of Nicaragua took office in 2007. Daniel Ortega was born on November 11, 1945. He is 79.
President of Laos since 2021, Thongloun Sisoulith is one of the oldest world leaders, at 79.
The president of Brazil, also known simply as Lula, was born on October 27, 1945. He too is 79 years old.
Prince Hans-Adam II is among the oldest heads of state in the world, at the age of 79.
The third president of Nepal took office in 2023. Ram Chandra Paudel was born on October 15, 1944, He is 80.
Yoweri Museveni was born on September 15, 1944, and took office in 1986. The Ugandan president is 80 years old.
Abdul Latif Rashid became the ninth president of Iraq in 2022. Latif Rashid is 80.
Nana Akufo-Addo is the president of Ghana. The leader of the West African nation was born on March 29, 1944, making him another world leader aged 80.
The president of Austria is the first octogenarian on this list. Alexander Van der Bellen was born on January 18, 1944, and is 80 years old.
The president of the Republic of the Congo is currently serving his second term. Denis Sassou Nguesso is now 81 years old.
The 46th US president was born on November 20, 1942. Joe Biden is 82 years old.
Emmerson Mnangagwa has been president of Zimbabwe since 2017. He is also 82 years old.
The president of Equatorial Guinea was born on June 5, 1942. Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo is 82.
The president of the Ivory Coast was born on January 1, 1942. Alassane Ouattara turns 83 in 2025.
Sergio Mattarella is the president of Italy and has been so since 2015. Mattarella was born on July 23, 1941, which means he is currently 83.
The president of Ireland is 83 years old. Michael D. Higgins was born on April 18, 1941 in Limerick, Ireland.
Harald V ascended the throne in 1991. The king of Norway turns 88 on February 21 2025.
Pope Francis is not just the head of the Catholic Church. He is also the sovereign of the Vatican City State. Francis was born on December 17, 1936, in Flores, Buenos Aires, Argentina. He is 88 years old.
Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has been king of Saudi Arabia since 2015. He is currently 88.
The president of the State of Palestine was born on November 15, 1935. Mahmoud Abbas is 89.
Paul Biya is currently the oldest world leader. The president of Cameroon is 91 years old.
Sources: (Pew Research Center) (Visual Capitalist)
The oldest current world leaders
Some heads of state were born in the 1930s
LIFESTYLE Heads of state
The median age group of current world leaders is early sixties, but, of course, there are much older heads of state. Yes, there are a few national leaders in their thirties, but we also have quite a few ones born in the 1930s. Not only that, but some of these leaders have been in power for decades.
In this gallery, we've compiled a list of the oldest world leaders by age. Click on to find out who they are.