Who are the oldest world leaders on the planet?
US President Joe Biden's age has been the focus of much attention in recent times, so much so he's decided to step out of the running for the upcoming election in November.
While the 81-year-old won't be president next year, he remains the country's head of state and commander-in-chief for now.
He stands head and shoulders above other US presidents when it comes to age, but how does he compare to other world leaders?
Let's take a look at the ten oldest heads of state or government on the planet, plus a few other notable ones.
Note that we're only considering countries that are full United Nations members, so someone like the Pope, who in addition to being a religious leader is the head of state of Vatican City, doesn't make the cut.
10. Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, President of Equatorial Guinea
Born: June 5, 1942
Age: 82
Coming in at number 10 is Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who governs the small African nation of Equatorial Guinea.
In addition to being among the world's oldest leaders, he's also one of longest-serving – he's been in power since October 1982.
9. Alassane Ouattara, President of Cote d'Ivoire
Born: January 1, 1942
Age: 82
Staying in Africa, next on the list is Cote d'Ivoire President Alassane Ouattara at a positively sprightly 82 years young.
8. Nangolo Mbumba, President of Namibia
Born: August 15, 1941
Age: 82
Only a few months older than Ouattara is Namibian counterpart Dr Nangolo Mbumba.
Unlike many other members of this list, Mbumba is quite new to his position, having only become president earlier this year following the death of his predecessor, Hage Geingob (who was a whole 12 days older than his successor).
7. Sergio Mattarella, President of Italy
Born: July 23, 1941
Age: 83
Our first non-African entry here is Italian President Sergio Mattarella. The country's 12th president is also its longest-serving to date, having been elected in 2015.
6. Michael D Higgins, President of Ireland
Born: April 18, 1941
Age: 83
Irish President Michael D Higgins is the sixth-oldest world leader on the planet.
He celebrated his 83rd birthday in April. He was first elected in 2011, then won a second term in a landslide in 2018.
5. Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Emir of Kuwait
Born: September 27, 1940
Age: 83
Former intelligence worker Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah became Emir of Kuwait in December 2023.
He had been the oldest crown prince in the world until his predecessor and half-brother, Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, died late last year.
4. Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of Iran
Born: Sometime between April and July, 1939
Age: 85
Exactly when Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was born is a bit of a mystery. Some list his birthday as April 19, 1939, while others put it at July 15 or 19 of the same year.
Either way, that makes him 85 years old.
He's held the title of supreme leader – the most powerful position in Iran that makes him head of state and the country's commander in chief – since 1989.
3. Harald V, King of Norway
Born: February 21, 1937
Age: 87
While holding largely ceremonial duties in Norway's constitutional monarchy, King Harald V is nonetheless the country's head of state.
He's been around long enough that he had gone into exile during World War II with the rest of the royal family as a result of the Nazi occupation of Norway, spending time in neighbouring Sweden and not-so-neighbouring USA.
He returned to Norway at the end of the war, and was crowned king in January 1991.
2. King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, King of Saudi Arabia
Born: December 31, 1935
Age: 88
The oldest monarch in the world – and second-oldest world leader – is King Salman of Saudi Arabia.
He took the throne in January 2015, and initially also held the role of prime minister, although he passed that title onto his son, Mohammed bin Salman, in 2022.
As the monarch of such a wealthy oil state, it's no surprise to hear that King Salman is one of the richest rulers on the planet, with a net worth estimated to be around $26 billion.
His ruling House of Saud, meanwhile, is estimated to be worth as much as $2.1 trillion, according to some reports.
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