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 (cropped).jpg
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Since 1800, the youngest serving state leader has been 0-day-old Alfonso XIII, King of Spain, [1] while the oldest has been 96-year-old Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms.

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 in December 14th, 2022.jpg
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.

RankNameStatePositionAssumed officeBornAge
1 Paul Biya Flag of Cameroon.svg Cameroon President 1982 [2] 13 February 193392 years, 241 days
2 Mahmoud Abbas Flag of Palestine.svg Palestine President 2005 [3] 15 November 193589 years, 331 days
3 Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Saudi Arabia King 2015 [4] 31 December 193589 years, 285 days
4 Harald V Flag of Norway.svg Norway King [5] 199121 February 193788 years, 233 days
5 Ali Khamenei Flag of Iran.svg Iran Supreme Leader 1989 [6] 19 April 193986 years, 176 days
6 Jean-Lucien Savi de Tové Flag of Togo (3-2).svg Togo President 20257 May 193986 years, 158 days
7 Muhammad Yunus Flag of Bangladesh.svg Bangladesh Chief Adviser 202428 June 194085 years, 106 days
8 Peter Mutharika Flag of Malawi.svg Malawi President 2025 [7] 18 July 194085 years, 86 days
9 Mishal I Flag of Kuwait.svg Kuwait Emir 202327 September 194085 years, 15 days
10 Michael D. Higgins Flag of Ireland.svg Ireland President 201118 April 194184 years, 177 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
  Currently in office
  Currently living
RankNameStatePositionLast year in office
(reason term ended)		Age at end
1 Giovanni Paolo Lascaris Flag of the Order of St. John (various).svg  Malta 1657 (death)97 years, 47 days
2 Elizabeth II Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms Queen [8] 2022 (death)96 years, 140 days
3 Prem Tinsulanonda Flag of Thailand.svg Thailand Regent 2016 (tenure ended)96 years, 97 days
4 George Tupou I Flag of Tonga.svg Tonga King 1893 (death)95 years, 76 days
5 Mahathir Mohamad Flag of Malaysia.svg Malaysia Prime Minister 2020 (resigned)94 years, 235 days
6 Nicolò da Ponte Flag of the Serene Republic of Venice.svg  Venice Doge of Venice 1585 (death)94 years, 196 days
7 Malietoa Tanumafili II Flag of Samoa.svg Samoa O le Ao o le Malo 2007 (death)94 years, 127 days
8 Robert Mugabe Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Zimbabwe President 2017 (resigned)93 years, 273 days
9 Paul Biya Flag of Cameroon.svg Cameroon President Incumbent92 years, 241 days
10 Beji Caid Essebsi Flag of Tunisia.svg Tunisia President 2019 (death)92 years, 238 days

Youngest serving state leaders

Top ten currently serving

Kristrun Frostadottir, currently the second-youngest serving state leader Kristrun Frostadottir 2021.jpg
Kristrún Frostadóttir, currently the second-youngest serving state leader
RankNameStatePositionAssumed officeBornAge
1 Lorenzo Bugli Flag of San Marino.svg San Marino Captain Regent 202520 February 199530 years, 234 days
2 Kristrún Frostadóttir Flag of Iceland.svg Iceland Prime Minister 202412 May 198837 years, 153 days
3 Ibrahim Traoré Flag of Burkina Faso.svg Burkina Faso 202214 March 198837 years, 212 days
4 Daniel Noboa Flag of Ecuador.svg Ecuador President 202330 November 198737 years, 316 days
5 Milojko Spajić Flag of Montenegro.svg Montenegro Prime Minister 202324 September 198738 years, 18 days
6 Jakov Milatović President 7 December 198638 years, 309 days
7 José Jerí Flag of Peru.svg Peru President 202513 November 198638 years, 333 days
8 Matteo Rossi Flag of San Marino.svg San MarinoCaptain Regent20259 July 198639 years, 95 days
9 Sébastien Lecornu Flag of France.svg France Prime Minister 202511 June 198639 years, 123 days
10 Gabriel Boric Flag of Chile.svg Chile President 202211 February 198639 years, 243 days

Top ten since 1795

  Currently living
RankNameStatePositionAssumed officeAge when assuming office
1 Alfonso XIII Flag of Spain (1785-1873 and 1875-1931).svg  Spain King 18860 days [1]
2 Sobhuza II Flag of Swaziland (1894-1902).svg Swaziland King 1899141 days
3 Fuad II Flag of Egypt (1922-1958).svg  Egypt King 1952192 days
4 Girvan Yuddha Flag of Nepal (19th century).svg  Nepal King 17991 year, 140 days
5 Puyi Flag of the Qing Dynasty (1889-1912).svg  China Emperor 19082 years, 299 days
6 Rajendra Flag of Nepal (19th century).svg NepalKing18162 years, 353 days
7 Isabella II Flag of Spain (1785-1873, 1875-1931).svg  Spain Queen18332 years, 354 days
8 Gyanendra Flag of Nepal (1743-1962).svg   NepalKing1950 [9] 3 years, 123 days
9 Guangxu Flag of the Qing Dynasty (1889-1912).svg ChinaEmperor18753 years, 195 days
10 Mwambutsa IV Flag of Burundi (1962-1966).svg Burundi King 19153 years, 224 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
RankNameStatePositionBornAge
1 Guillermo Rodríguez Flag of Ecuador (1900-2009).svg Ecuador Acting President (1972–1976)4 Nov 1923101 years, 342 days
2 Tomiichi Murayama Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg Japan Prime Minister (1994–1996)3 Mar 1924101 years, 223 days
3 Mahathir Mohamad Flag of Malaysia.svg Malaysia Prime Minister (1981–2003; 2018–2020)10 Jul 1925100 years, 94 days
4 Mohammad Hasan Sharq Flag of Afghanistan (1987-1992).svg  Afghanistan Chairman of the Council of Ministers (1988–1989)17 Jul 1925100 years, 87 days
5 Abdoulaye Wade Flag of Senegal.svg Senegal President (2000–2012)29 May 192699 years, 136 days
6 Valdas Adamkus Flag of Lithuania.svg Lithuania President (1998–2003; 2004–2009)3 Nov 192698 years, 343 days
7 Raif Dizdarević Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg  Yugoslavia President of the Presidency (1988–1989)9 Dec 192698 years, 307 days
8 Kim Yong-nam Flag of North Korea.svg North Korea Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly (1998–2019)4 Feb 192897 years, 250 days
9 Arthur Foulkes Flag of the Bahamas.svg Bahamas Governor-General (2010–2014)11 May 192897 years, 154 days
10 Péter Boross Flag of Hungary.svg Hungary Prime Minister (1993–1994)27 Aug 192897 years, 46 days

Top ten since 1800

Chau Sen Cocsal Chhum, the longest-lived state leader Chau-Sen-Cocsal, Souverains et notabilites d'Indochine (cropped).jpg
Chau Sen Cocsal Chhum, the longest-lived state leader
  Currently living
RankNameStatePositionBornDiedAge
1 Chau Sen Cocsal Chhum Flag of Cambodia.svg  Cambodia Acting Prime Minister (1962)19052009103 years, 143 days
2 Celâl Bayar Flag of Turkey.svg Turkey
18831986103 years, 98 days
3 Antoine Pinay Flag of France (1794-1815).svg  France Prime Minister (1952–1953)18911994102 years, 348 days
4 André Prunet-Foch Flag of Andorra (civil).svg Andorra French Viguier (1977–1980)19142017102 years, 211 days
5 Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni Merchant flag of Japan (1870).svg  Japan Prime Minister (1945)18871990102 years, 48 days
6 Guillermo Rodríguez Flag of Ecuador (1900-2009).svg Ecuador Acting President (1972–1976)1923Alive101 years, 342 days
7 Babiker Awadalla Flag of Sudan (1956-1970).svg  Sudan Prime Minister (1969)19172019101 years, 321 days
8 Willem Drees Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Prime Minister (1948–1958)18861988101 years, 314 days
9 Đỗ Mười Flag of Vietnam.svg Vietnam 19172018101 years, 241 days
10 Tomiichi Murayama Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg Japan Prime Minister (1994–1996)1924Alive101 years, 223 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 from 1975–1982.
  3. ↑ Previously served as Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority in 2003.
  4. ↑ Served concurrently as Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia from 2015–2022.
  5. ↑ The Kingdom of Norway includes the dependent territory of Svalbard.
  6. ↑ Previously served as President from 1981–1989.
  7. ↑ Previously served as President from 2014–2020.
  8. ↑ 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.
  9. ↑ Gyanendra's first occupation of the throne was in 1950; he was deposed in the 1951 Nepalese revolution.
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