Trump turns 80: If you think that’s old, there are 16 world leaders senior to him

Donald Trump will turn 80 on June 14, 2026, but he is not the oldest leader globally. According to a Pew Research Center analysis of 186 UN member states, 16 current national leaders are older than Trump, with a median age of 63 among world leaders. Among the oldest is Cameroon’s 93-year-old President Paul Biya, who won a disputed October 2025 election with 54% of the vote amid allegations of irregularities, including deceased voters on rolls and ballot-box stuffing. Post-election protests turned deadly, with government reports citing 16 deaths, though other sources claim 30 to 55 fatalities. Opposition figures fled or died in custody, deepening Cameroon’s political and succession crisis. Saudi Arabia’s 90-year-old King Salman, though largely a figurehead, oversees a kingdom with strong economic growth, surpassing $1.3 trillion in GDP by late 2025. However, Vision 2030’s final phase faces challenges, including scaled-back megaprojects like the $500 billion NEOM development, while regional conflicts and oil-price volatility add pressure. Malawi’s 86-year-old President Peter Mutharika returned to power after winning 56.8% in September 2025, inheriting a struggling economy with 1.9% GDP growth, 28.4% inflation, and 76.6% poverty rates. Kuwait’s 86-year-old Emir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad dissolved parliament and suspended parts of the constitution shortly after taking the throne in December 2023, shifting governance toward decree-based rule. Ivory Coast’s 84-year-old President Alassane Ouattara secured a fourth term in October 2025 with 89.77% of the vote after barring key rivals, reinforcing concerns over democratic decline. Seven of the world’s 10 oldest leaders govern countries classified as 'not free' by Freedom House, raising questions about governance and stability in aging leadership systems.