List of prime ministers of the United Kingdom by age

Last updated

This is a list of prime ministers of the United Kingdom by age. This table can be sorted to display prime ministers of the United Kingdom by name, order of office, date of birth, age at appointment, length of retirement, or lifespan. Age at appointment is determined by the day a prime minister assumed office for the first time. Length of retirement is determined from the day a prime minister leaves office for the final time until their death.

Contents

Two measures of longevity are given; this is to allow for the differing number of leap days occurring within the life of each prime minister. The first figure is the number of days between date of birth and date of death, allowing for leap days; in parentheses the same period given in years and days, with the number of whole years that the prime minister had lived, and the days being the remaining number of days from their last birthday. Where the prime minister in question is still living, their longevity is measured up to 1 March 2025.

List of prime ministers

Living as of March 2025[ citation needed ]
Prime MinisterDate of birthPremiership
John Major [1] 29 March 1943 (age 81)19901997
Gordon Brown [1] 20 February 1951 (age 74)20072010
Tony Blair [1] 6 May 1953 (age 71)19972007
Theresa May [1] 1 October 1956 (age 68)20162019
Keir Starmer [1] 2 September 1962 (age 62)2024present
Boris Johnson [1] 19 June 1964 (age 60)20192022
David Cameron [1] 9 October 1966 (age 58)20102016
Liz Truss [1] 26 July 1975 (age 49)2022
Rishi Sunak [1] 12 May 1980 (age 44)20222024
Key to table

  Living
  Currently in office
  Prime Ministers who served two or more non-consecutive terms
a   indicates the prime minister died in office.

No.NameBornDate of first appointmentAgeFinal end of serviceAgePostpremiership/
Time period between two non-consecutive tenures (in italics)
DeathLifespan
1 Robert Walpole 26 August 16763 April 172144 years, 220 days11 February 174265 years, 169 days3 years, 35 days18 March 174568 years, 204 days
(25,040 days)
2 Spencer Compton, 1st Earl of Wilmington 167316 February 174268–69 years2 July 17430 days2 July 1743a69–70 years
(25,577 days)
3 Henry Pelham 25 September 169427 August 174348 years, 336 days6 March 175459 years, 162 days0 days6 March 1754a59 years, 162 days
(21,711 days)
4 Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle 21 July 169316 March 175460 years, 238 days26 May 176268 years, 309 days6 years, 175 days17 November 176875 years, 119 days
(27,512 days)
5 William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire 8 May 172016 November 175636 years, 192 days29 June 175737 years, 52 days7 years, 95 days2 October 176444 years, 147 days
(16,218 days)
6 John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute 25 May 171326 May 176249 years, 1 day8 April 176349 years, 318 days28 years, 337 days10 March 179278 years, 290 days
(28,779 days)
7 George Grenville 14 October 171216 April 176350 years, 184 days10 July 176552 years, 269 days5 years, 126 days13 November 177058 years, 30 days
(21,214 days)
8 Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham 13 May 173013 July 176535 years, 61 days1 July 178252 years, 49 days0 days1 July 1782a52 years, 49 days
(19,042 days)
9 William Pitt the Elder 15 November 170830 July 176657 years, 257 days14 October 176859 years, 334 days9 years, 209 days11 May 177869 years, 177 days
(25,379 days)
10 Augustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton 28 September 173514 October 176833 years, 16 days28 January 177034 years, 122 days41 years, 45 days14 March 181175 years, 167 days
(27,560 days)
11 Frederick North, Lord North 13 April 173228 January 177037 years, 290 days27 March 178249 years, 348 days10 years, 131 days5 August 179260 years, 114 days
(22,029 days)
12 William Petty, 2nd Earl of Shelburne 2 May 17374 July 178245 years, 63 days26 March 178345 years, 328 days22 years, 42 days7 May 180568 years, 5 days
(24,841 days)
13 William Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland 14 April 17382 April 178344 years, 353 days4 October 180971 years, 173 days26 days30 October 180971 years, 199 days
(26,131 days)
14 William Pitt the Younger 28 May 175919 December 178324 years, 205 days23 January 180646 years, 240 days0 days23 January 1806a46 years, 240 days
(17,041 days)
15 Henry Addington 30 May 175717 March 180143 years, 291 days10 May 180446 years, 346 days39 years, 281 days15 February 184486 years, 261 days
(31,671 days)
16 William Grenville 25 October 175911 February 180646 years, 109 days25 March 180747 years, 151 days26 years, 293 days12 January 183474 years, 79 days
(27,107 days)
17 Spencer Perceval 1 November 17624 October 180946 years, 337 days11 May 181249 years, 192 days0 days11 May 1812a49 years, 192 days
(18,078 days)
18 Robert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool 7 June 17708 June 181242 years, 1 day9 April 182756 years, 306 days1 year, 239 days4 December 182858 years, 180 days
(21,364 days)
19 George Canning 11 April 177012 April 182757 years, 1 day8 August 182757 years, 119 days0 days8 August 1827a57 years, 119 days
(20,937 days)
20 F. J. Robinson, 1st Viscount Goderich 1 November 178231 August 182744 years, 303 days8 January 182845 years, 68 days31 years, 20 days28 January 185976 years, 88 days
(27,846 days)
21 Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington 1 May 176922 January 182858 years, 266 days9 December 183465 years, 222 days17 years, 280 days14 September 185283 years, 136 days
(30,451 days)
22 Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey 13 March 176422 November 183066 years, 254 days9 July 183470 years, 118 days11 years, 8 days17 July 184581 years, 126 days
(29,710 days)
23 William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne 15 March 177916 July 183455 years, 123 days30 August 184162 years, 168 days7 years, 86 days24 November 184869 years, 254 days
(25,456 days)
24 Robert Peel 5 February 178810 December 183446 years, 308 days29 June 184658 years, 144 days4 years, 3 days2 July 185062 years, 147 days
(22,792 days)
25 Lord John Russell 18 August 179230 June 184653 years, 316 days26 June 186673 years, 312 days11 years, 336 days28 May 187885 years, 283 days
(31,328 days)
26 Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby 29 March 179923 February 185252 years, 331 days25 February 186868 years, 333 days1 year, 240 days23 October 186970 years, 208 days
(25,775 days)
27 George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen 28 January 178419 December 185268 years, 326 days30 January 185571 years, 2 days5 years, 319 days14 December 186076 years, 321 days
(28,079 days)
28 Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston 20 October 17846 February 185570 years, 109 days18 October 186580 years, 363 days0 days18 October 1865a80 years, 363 days
(29,582 days)
29 Benjamin Disraeli
(Term 1)
21 December 180427 February 186863 years, 68 days1 December 186863 years, 346 days5 years, 83 days19 April 188176 years, 119 days
(27,878 days)
30 William Ewart Gladstone
(Term 1)
29 December 18093 December 186858 years, 340 days17 February 187464 years, 51 days6 years, 67 days19 May 189888 years, 141 days
(32,283 days)
(29.) Benjamin Disraeli
(Term 2)
21 December 180420 February 187469 years, 71 days21 April 188075 years, 122 days363 days19 April 188176 years, 119 days
(27,878 days)
(30.) William Ewart Gladstone
(Term 2)
29 December 180923 April 188070 years, 116 days9 June 188575 years, 163 days238 days19 May 189888 years, 141 days
(32,283 days)
31 Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury
(Term 1)
3 February 183023 June 188555 years, 140 days28 January 188655 years, 359 days179 days22 August 190373 years, 200 days
(26,862 days)
(30.) William Ewart Gladstone
(Term 3)
29 December 18091 February 188676 years, 35 days21 July 188676 years, 205 days6 years, 21 days19 May 189888 years, 141 days
(32,283 days)
(31.) Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury
(Term 2)
3 February 183025 July 188656 years, 172 days11 August 189262 years, 189 days2 years, 313 days22 August 190373 years, 200 days
(26,862 days)
(30.) William Ewart Gladstone
(Term 4)
29 December 180911 August 189282 years, 226 days2 March 189484 years, 63 days4 years, 78 days19 May 189888 years, 141 days
(32,283 days)
32 Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery 7 May 18475 March 189446 years, 302 days22 June 189548 years, 46 days33 years, 333 days21 May 192982 years, 14 days
(29,964 days)
(31.) Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury
(Term 3)
3 February 183025 June 189565 years, 142 days11 July 190272 years, 158 days1 year, 42 days22 August 190373 years, 200 days
(26,862 days)
33 Arthur Balfour 25 July 184812 July 190253 years, 352 days4 December 190557 years, 132 days24 years, 105 days19 March 193081 years, 237 days
(29,821 days)
34 Henry Campbell-Bannerman 7 September 18365 December 190569 years, 89 days3 April 190871 years, 211 days19 days22 April 190871 years, 228 days
(26,159 days)
35 H. H. Asquith 12 September 18525 April 190855 years, 206 days5 December 191664 years, 84 days11 years, 72 days15 February 192875 years, 156 days
(27,548 days)
36 David Lloyd George 17 January 18636 December 191653 years, 324 days22 October 192259 years, 278 days22 years, 155 days26 March 194582 years, 68 days
(30,018 days)
37 Bonar Law 16 September 185823 October 192264 years, 37 days20 May 192364 years, 246 days163 days30 October 192365 years, 44 days
(23,784 days)
38 Stanley Baldwin
(Term 1)
3 August 186722 May 192355 years, 292 days22 January 192456 years, 173 days288 days14 December 194780 years, 133 days
(29,352 days)
39 Ramsay MacDonald
(Term 1)
12 October 186622 January 192457 years, 102 days4 November 192458 years, 23 days4 years, 213 days9 November 193771 years, 28 days
(25,960 days)
(38.) Stanley Baldwin
(Term 2)
3 August 18674 November 192457 years, 93 days5 June 192961 years, 306 days6 years, 2 days14 December 194780 years, 133 days
(29,352 days)
(39.) Ramsay MacDonald
(Term 2)
12 October 18665 June 192962 years, 236 days7 June 193568 years, 238 days2 years, 155 days9 November 193771 years, 28 days
(25,960 days)
(38.) Stanley Baldwin
(Term 3)
3 August 18677 June 193567 years, 308 days28 May 193769 years, 298 days10 years, 200 days14 December 194780 years, 133 days
(29,352 days)
40 Neville Chamberlain 18 March 186928 May 193768 years, 71 days10 May 194071 years, 53 days183 days9 November 194071 years, 236 days
(26,168 days)
41 Winston Churchill
(Term 1)
30 November 187410 May 194065 years, 162 days26 July 194570 years, 238 days6 years, 93 days24 January 196590 years, 55 days
(32,927 days)
42 Clement Attlee 3 January 188326 July 194562 years, 204 days26 October 195168 years, 296 days15 years, 347 days8 October 196784 years, 278 days
(30,958 days)
(41.) Winston Churchill
(Term 2)
30 November 187426 October 195176 years, 330 days6 April 195580 years, 126 days9 years, 294 days24 January 196590 years, 55 days
(32,927 days)
43 Anthony Eden 12 June 18976 April 195557 years, 298 days9 January 195759 years, 211 days20 years, 5 days14 January 197779 years, 216 days
(29,070 days)
44 Harold Macmillan 10 February 189410 January 195762 years, 335 days18 October 196369 years, 250 days23 years, 72 days29 December 198692 years, 322 days
(33,924 days)
45 Alec Douglas-Home 2 July 190319 October 196360 years, 109 days16 October 196461 years, 106 days30 years, 358 days9 October 199592 years, 99 days
(33,702 days)
46 Harold Wilson
(Term 1)
11 March 191616 October 196448 years, 219 days19 June 197054 years, 100 days3 years, 259 days24 May 199579 years, 74 days
(28,928 days)
47 Edward Heath 9 July 191619 June 197053 years, 345 days4 March 197457 years, 238 days31 years, 135 days17 July 200589 years, 8 days
(32,515 days)
(46.) Harold Wilson
(Term 2)
11 March 19164 March 197457 years, 358 days5 April 197660 years, 25 days19 years, 49 days24 May 199579 years, 74 days
(28,928 days)
48 James Callaghan 27 March 19125 April 197664 years, 9 days4 May 197967 years, 38 days25 years, 326 days26 March 200592 years, 364 days
(33,967 days)
49 Margaret Thatcher 13 October 19254 May 197953 years, 203 days28 November 199065 years, 46 days22 years, 131 days8 April 201387 years, 177 days
(31,954 days)
50 John Major 29 March 194328 November 199047 years, 244 days2 May 199754 years, 34 days27 years, 303 days81 years, 337 days
(29,923 days)
51 Tony Blair 6 May 19532 May 199743 years, 361 days27 June 200754 years, 52 days17 years, 247 days71 years, 299 days
(26,232 days)
52 Gordon Brown 20 February 195127 June 200756 years, 127 days11 May 201059 years, 80 days14 years, 294 days74 years, 9 days
(27,038 days)
53 David Cameron 9 October 196611 May 201043 years, 214 days13 July 201649 years, 278 days8 years, 231 days58 years, 143 days
(21,328 days)
54 Theresa May 1 October 195613 July 201659 years, 286 days24 July 201962 years, 296 days5 years, 220 days68 years, 151 days
(24,988 days)
55 Boris Johnson 19 June 196424 July 201955 years, 35 days6 September 202258 years, 79 days2 years, 176 days60 years, 255 days
(22,170 days)
56 Liz Truss 26 July 19756 September 202247 years, 42 days25 October 202247 years, 91 days2 years, 127 days49 years, 218 days
(18,116 days)
57 Rishi Sunak 12 May 198025 October 202242 years, 166 days5 July 202444 years, 54 days239 days44 years, 293 days
(16,364 days)
58 Keir Starmer 2 September 19625 July 202461 years, 307 daysIncumbent62 years, 180 days
(22,826 days)
No.NameBornDate (first appointment)AgeEnd of serviceAgePostpremiership/Time period between two non-consecutive tenures (in italics)Date of deathLifespan

Graphical representation

This is a graphical lifespan timeline of the prime ministers of the United Kingdom and they are listed in order of office.

Keir StarmerRishi SunakLiz TrussBoris JohnsonTheresa MayDavid CameronGordon BrownTony BlairJohn MajorMargaret ThatcherJames CallaghanEdward HeathHarold WilsonAlec Douglas-HomeHarold MacmillanAnthony EdenClement AttleeWinston ChurchillNeville ChamberlainRamsay MacDonaldStanley BaldwinBonar LawDavid Lloyd GeorgeH. H. AsquithHenry Campbell-BannermanArthur BalfourArchibald Primrose, 5th Earl of RoseberyRobert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of SalisburyWilliam Ewart GladstoneBenjamin DisraeliHenry John Temple, 3rd Viscount PalmerstonGeorge Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of AberdeenEdward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of DerbyJohn Russell, 1st Earl RussellRobert PeelWilliam Lamb, 2nd Viscount MelbourneCharles Grey, 2nd Earl GreyArthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of WellingtonF. J. Robinson, 1st Viscount GoderichGeorge CanningRobert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of LiverpoolSpencer PercevalWilliam Grenville, 1st Baron GrenvilleHenry Addington, 1st Viscount SidmouthWilliam Pitt the YoungerWilliam Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of PortlandWilliam Petty, 2nd Earl of ShelburneFrederick North, Lord NorthAugustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of GraftonWilliam Pitt, 1st Earl of ChathamCharles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of RockinghamGeorge GrenvilleJohn Stuart, 3rd Earl of ButeWilliam Cavendish, 4th Duke of DevonshireThomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of NewcastleHenry PelhamSpencer Compton, 1st Earl of WilmingtonRobert WalpoleList of prime ministers of the United Kingdom by age

The following chart shows prime ministers by their age (living prime ministers in green), with the years of their premiership in blue.

List of prime ministers of the United Kingdom by age

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Jones, Ian (5 July 2024). "Sunak defeat means UK will have eight living ex-prime ministers". Evening Standard.