Lists of state leaders by age

Last updated

Franz Joseph I, Austria, from the Rulers, Flags, and Coats of Arms series (N126-1) issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co. MET DPB873800.jpg
Queen Elizabeth II in March 2015.jpg
Since 1800, the youngest serving state leader has been 0-day-old Alfonso XIII, King of Spain [1] (left), while the oldest has been 96-year-old Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms (right).

This article contains various lists of state leaders organized by age, defined as heads of state and/or heads of government.

Contents

Oldest serving state leaders

Top ten currently serving

Paul Biya, currently the oldest serving state leader Paul Biya 2014.png
Paul Biya, currently the oldest serving state leader

People currently serving as head of state and/or head of government, a party leader of a one-party state, or a representative of a head of state.

RankNamePositionAssumed officeBornAge
1 Paul Biya President of Cameroon 1982 [2] 13 February 193391 years, 103 days
2 Mahmoud Abbas President of the Palestinian National Authority,
President of the State of Palestine
200515 November 193588 years, 193 days
3 Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud King of Saudi Arabia 2015 [3] 31 December 193588 years, 147 days
4 Francis Pope of the Holy See,
Sovereign of the Vatican City State
201317 December 193687 years, 161 days
5 Harald V King of Norway [4] 199121 February 193787 years, 95 days
6 Ali Khamenei Supreme Leader of Iran 1989 [5] 19 April 193985 years, 37 days
7 Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Emir of Kuwait 202327 September 194083 years, 242 days
8 Michael D. Higgins President of Ireland 201118 April 194183 years, 38 days
9 Sergio Mattarella President of Italy 201523 July 194182 years, 308 days
10 Nangolo Mbumba President of Namibia 202415 August 194182 years, 285 days

Top ten of all time

Giovanni Paolo Lascaris, the oldest serving state leader of all time whose age is fully verifiable. Giovanni Paolo Lascaris di Ventimiglia e Castellar.jpg
Giovanni Paolo Lascaris, the oldest serving state leader of all time whose age is fully verifiable.
RankNamePositionLast year in office
(reason term ended)
Age at end
1 Giovanni Paolo Lascaris Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller 1657 (death)97 years, 47 days
Ruler of Malta
2 Elizabeth II Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms [6] 2022 (death)96 years, 140 days
3 Prem Tinsulanonda Regent of Thailand 2016 (tenure ended)96 years, 97 days
4 George Tupou I King of Tonga 1893 (death)95 years, 76 days
5 Mahathir Mohamad Prime Minister of Malaysia 2020 (resigned)94 years, 235 days
6 Nicolò da Ponte Doge of Venice 1585 (death)94 years, 196 days
7 Malietoa Tanumafili II O le Ao o le Malo of Samoa 2007 (death)94 years, 127 days
8 Robert Mugabe President of Zimbabwe 2017 (resigned)93 years, 273 days
9 Leo XIII Pope of the Holy See [7] 1903 (death)93 years, 140 days
10 Beji Caid Essebsi President of Tunisia 2019 (death)92 years, 238 days

Youngest serving state leaders

Top ten currently serving

Gabriel Attal, the youngest serving state leader Gabriel Attal, February 2023.jpg
Gabriel Attal, the youngest serving state leader
RankNamePositionAssumed officeBornAge
1 Gabriel Attal Prime Minister of France 202416 March 198935 years, 71 days
2 Ibrahim Traoré President of the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration of Burkina Faso 202214 March 198836 years, 73 days
Interim President of Burkina Faso 2022
3 Daniel Noboa President of Ecuador 202330 November 198736 years, 178 days
4 Milojko Spajić Prime Minister of Montenegro 202324 September 198736 years, 245 days
5 Jakov Milatović President of Montenegro 20237 December 198637 years, 171 days
6 Simon Harris Taoiseach of Ireland 202417 October 198637 years, 222 days
7 Gabriel Boric President of Chile 202211 February 198638 years, 105 days
8 Mohammed bin Salman Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia 202231 August 198538 years, 269 days
9 Mahamat Déby President of Chad [8] 20244 April 198440 years, 53 days
10 Kim Jong Un Supreme Leader of North Korea [9] 20118 January 1983 [10] 41 years, 139 days [10]

Top ten since 1800

     Currently living

RankNamePositionAssumed officeAge when assuming office
1 Alfonso XIII King of Spain 18860 days [1]
2 Sobhuza II King of Swaziland 1899141 days
3 Fuad II King of Egypt 1952192 days
4 Puyi Emperor of China 19082 years, 299 days
5 Rajendra Bikram Shah King of Nepal 18162 years, 353 days
6 Isabella II Queen of Spain 18332 years, 354 days
7 Gyanendra King of Nepal1950 [11] 3 years, 123 days
8 Guangxu Emperor of China18753 years, 195 days
9 Faisal II King of Iraq 19393 years, 337 days
10 Pedro II Emperor of Brazil 18315 years, 126 days

Oldest state leaders

The following lists show the oldest people who have served office as state leader (not limited to their age while in office).

Top ten living

Guillermo Rodriguez, the oldest-living state leader Guillermo Rodriguez (Ecuador).jpg
Guillermo Rodríguez, the oldest-living state leader
RankNamePositionIn officeBornAge
1 Guillermo Rodríguez Acting President of Ecuador 1972–19764 November 1923100 years, 204 days
2 Khamtai Siphandone Prime Minister of Laos 1991–19988 February 1924100 years, 108 days
Chairman of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party 1992–2006
President of Laos 1998–2006
3 Tomiichi Murayama Prime Minister of Japan 1994–19963 March 1924100 years, 84 days
4 Jimmy Carter President of the United States 1977–19811 October 192499 years, 238 days
5 Mahathir Mohamad Prime Minister of Malaysia 1981–2003; 2018–202010 July 192598 years, 321 days
6 Mohammad Hasan
Sharq
Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Afghanistan 1988–198917 July 192598 years, 314 days
7 Abdoulaye Wade President of Senegal 2000–201229 May 192697 years, 363 days
8 Valdas Adamkus President of Lithuania 1998–2003; 2004–20093 November 192697 years, 205 days
9 Raif Dizdarević President of the Presidency of Yugoslavia 1988–19899 December 192697 years, 169 days
10 Thanin Kraivichien Prime Minister of Thailand 1976–19775 April 192797 years, 51 days

Top ten since 1800

Chau Sen Cocsal Chhum, the longest-lived state leader Chau-Sen-Cocsal-Chhum.jpg
Chau Sen Cocsal Chhum, the longest-lived state leader
RankNamePositionBornDiedAge
1 Chau Sen Cocsal Chhum Prime Minister of Cambodia (1962)19052009103 years, 143 days
2 Celâl Bayar Prime Minister of Turkey (1937–1939)18831986103 years, 98 days
President of Turkey (1950–1960)
3 Antoine Pinay Prime Minister of France (1952–1953)18911994102 years, 348 days
4 André Prunet-Foch French Viguier in Andorra (1977–1980)19142017102 years, 211 days
5 Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni Prime Minister of Japan (1945)18871990102 years, 48 days
6 Babiker Awadalla Prime Minister of Sudan (1969)19172019101 years, 321 days
7 Willem Drees Prime Minister of the Netherlands (1948–1958)18861988101 years, 314 days
8 Đỗ Mười Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Vietnam (1988–1991)19172018101 years, 241 days
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (1991–1997)
9 Zhang Qun Premier of the Republic of China (1947–1948)18891990101 years, 219 days
10 Yasuhiro Nakasone Prime Minister of Japan (1982–1987)19182019101 years, 186 days

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 Became a monarch at birth as his father, Alfonso XII, had died the previous year.
  2. Previously served as Prime Minister of Cameroon from 1975–1982.
  3. Served concurrently as Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia from 2015–2022.
  4. The Kingdom of Norway includes the dependent territory of Svalbard.
  5. Previously served as President of Iran from 1981–1989.
  6. In 1952, Princess Elizabeth acceded as the monarch of seven Commonwealth realms. At the time of her death, she reigned as Queen of 15 sovereign states including the United Kingdom. From 1957–1983, most of her British colonies attained independence, and some joined the other realms in different years; most states ceased to be a realm upon becoming republics.
  7. The Vatican was in a territorial dispute with the Kingdom of Italy from 1870–1929.
  8. Previously President of the Transitional Military Council of Chad from 2021–2022, and Transitional President of Chad from 2022–2024.
  9. The term Supreme Leader is used as a description, for the sake of brevity, rather than being an official title of a single office. The actual offices held by Kim Jong Un are: General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea, President of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK, and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the DPRK.
  10. 1 2 Kim's year of birth has been the subject of dispute. North Korean authorities and state-run media have stated Kim's birth date is 8 January 1982, but South Korean intelligence officials believe the actual date is a year later. Until 2018, the U.S. Treasury Department had claimed that his year of birth is 1984.
  11. Gyanendra's first occupation of the throne was in 1950; he was deposed in the 1951 Nepalese revolution.

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