The Five U.S. Presidents Still Living: Who Holds The Title Of Oldest (and Why The Record Changed Recently)

As of today, December 13, 2025, the oldest living U.S. President is Joe Biden, who turned 82 on November 20, 2024. This title, however, is a recent transition, following a significant event in late 2024 that reshaped the list of the nation's most senior leaders. The title of the longest-lived U.S. President in history will forever belong to the late Jimmy Carter, who passed away in December 2024 at the remarkable age of 100 years, 89 days, making him the first U.S. President to become a centenarian. The current landscape of presidential longevity is unprecedented, with five former and current leaders still living—all of whom have navigated the most intense job in the world. The question of "who is the oldest living president" is no longer a simple curiosity but a point of ongoing public discussion and a key factor in the current political climate, especially as the nation continues to debate the age and health of its leaders. This article provides the definitive, up-to-date ranking of all living U.S. Presidents.

The Definitive Ranking of Living U.S. Presidents by Age (December 2025)

The death of President Jimmy Carter in December 2024 meant that the title of the oldest living U.S. President shifted to the next most senior leader, Joe Biden. The current list of living U.S. Presidents, including the 46th President, is comprised of five individuals, all of whom have lived through momentous periods of American history, from the Cold War to the digital age. Here is the complete biographical profile and age ranking of the five living U.S. Presidents, accurate as of December 13, 2025:

1. Joe Biden (46th President)

• Full Name: Joseph Robinette Biden Jr.
• Date of Birth: November 20, 1942
• Current Age: 82 years, 23 days
• Term of Office: 2021–2025
• Key Biographical Notes: Oldest person ever inaugurated as President (78 years old); Longest-serving U.S. Senator to become President; Former Vice President under Barack Obama (2009–2017).

2. Donald Trump (45th President)

• Full Name: Donald John Trump
• Date of Birth: June 14, 1946
• Current Age: 79 years, 5 months, 29 days
• Term of Office: 2017–2021
• Key Biographical Notes: First U.S. President with no prior military or governmental service; The second oldest person to be inaugurated (70 years old).

3. George W. Bush (43rd President)

• Full Name: George Walker Bush
• Date of Birth: July 6, 1946
• Current Age: 79 years, 5 months, 7 days
• Term of Office: 2001–2009
• Key Biographical Notes: Son of former President George H.W. Bush; Former Governor of Texas; Led the nation during the September 11 attacks and the subsequent War on Terror.

4. Bill Clinton (42nd President)

• Full Name: William Jefferson Clinton
• Date of Birth: August 19, 1946
• Current Age: 79 years, 3 months, 24 days
• Term of Office: 1993–2001
• Key Biographical Notes: Former Governor of Arkansas; First President born after World War II; Oversaw the longest period of peacetime economic expansion in American history.

5. Barack Obama (44th President)

• Full Name: Barack Hussein Obama II
• Date of Birth: August 4, 1961
• Current Age: 64 years, 4 months, 9 days
• Term of Office: 2009–2017
• Key Biographical Notes: First African American President of the United States; Former U.S. Senator for Illinois; The youngest of the five living presidents by a significant margin.

The New Oldest: Joe Biden’s Place in Presidential Longevity

Joe Biden’s ascension to the title of the oldest living U.S. President is a continuation of his record-breaking status since his inauguration. At 78, he became the oldest person ever to assume the presidency, surpassing Ronald Reagan, who was 77 when he left office in 1989. Biden’s age—and the implications of presidential longevity—has been a constant subject of political and media scrutiny. Despite the intense public focus on his age, President Biden’s medical reports have consistently described him as "healthy, vigorous," and "fit to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency." His White House medical team has emphasized his commitment to a healthy lifestyle, which includes regular exercise and a non-smoking, non-drinking history, all factors contributing to his remarkable longevity in high-pressure public service. This modern era of older presidents marks a distinct shift from the historical median age of U.S. Presidents at inauguration, which stands at around 55 years and 6 months. The current political environment suggests that age is becoming less of a barrier to the highest office, a trend that began with Ronald Reagan and has continued with the recent candidacies of both Biden and Donald Trump.

A Tribute to the Centenarian: Jimmy Carter's Unbreakable Record

The discussion of the oldest living president is incomplete without acknowledging the legacy of Jimmy Carter, the 39th U.S. President. Prior to his passing in December 2024, Carter held the title for many years and, most significantly, set a record that may stand for generations: he was the longest-lived U.S. President in history. Carter’s life extended well beyond his single term in the White House (1977–1981). His post-presidency was defined by humanitarian work, global diplomacy through The Carter Center, and advocacy for human rights, which earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. His achievement of reaching 100 years old made him the first U.S. President to become a centenarian, a milestone that underscores the increasing life expectancy of modern American leaders. Carter’s longevity, despite facing several serious health issues in his later years, including metastatic melanoma, is a testament to modern medicine and his personal resilience. His passing closed a historic chapter and immediately shifted the focus of presidential seniority to the remaining five leaders.

Presidential Longevity: Key Historical Entities and Records

The age of a U.S. President is a constant source of fascination, leading to several key records in American history that provide context for the current living presidents. Understanding these records helps solidify the topical authority of the discussion around the "oldest living president."

Oldest and Youngest Presidential Records

The record for the oldest president on inauguration day has been repeatedly broken in the modern era. Prior to Joe Biden, Donald Trump was the oldest at his first inauguration (70 years old), surpassing Ronald Reagan (69 years old). At the other end of the spectrum, the youngest person ever to assume the presidency was Theodore Roosevelt, who took office at the age of 42 years and 322 days following the assassination of William McKinley in 1901. However, the youngest person *elected* to the office was John F. Kennedy, who was 43 years old at his inauguration in 1961.

The Longevity Factor and Public Service

It is a curious historical fact that U.S. Presidents, despite the immense stress of the office, tend to live longer than the average American male of their time. Historically, many early presidents, such as John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, lived well into their 90s, a remarkable feat for the 18th and 19th centuries. The current cohort of living presidents—Biden, Trump, Bush, Clinton, and Obama—are all part of a trend of increasing presidential longevity. The ages of the living presidents are not just trivia; they represent a significant pool of historical knowledge and experience. Their continued presence in public life, offering advice and commentary, ensures that the nation’s history is still being shaped by its most senior leaders. The current oldest living president, Joe Biden, continues to serve in the highest office, setting a new benchmark for age and endurance in the American presidency.