The Oldest Presidents in U.S. History, Based on Their Age at the Time of Inauguration
Mar. 15, 2025(Left) Joe Biden on June 2, 2023; (Middle) Donald Trump on May 1, 2023; (Right) Ronald Reagan in 1980.Photo:Jim Watson-Pool/Getty Images; Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images; Harry Langdon/Getty Images
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Jim Watson-Pool/Getty Images; Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images; Harry Langdon/Getty Images
On Inauguration Day 2025,Donald Trump, 78, reclaimed his former title as theoldest American to take the presidential oath of office. Trump’s swearing-in ceremony marked the third inauguration in a row that the record has been set, inspiring a look back at the oldest sitting presidents in U.S. history so far.While the Constitutionstatesthat presidents must be at least 35 years old, the median age of U.S. presidents on the day of their first inauguration was 55 as of 2023, according to thePew Research Center. Many enter the highest office in the land with backgrounds in the military, law or government — and for the oldest presidents to date, some additional life experiences.Here are the 10 oldest people to be sworn in as president of the United States, including multiple recent office-holders.
On Inauguration Day 2025,Donald Trump, 78, reclaimed his former title as theoldest American to take the presidential oath of office. Trump’s swearing-in ceremony marked the third inauguration in a row that the record has been set, inspiring a look back at the oldest sitting presidents in U.S. history so far.
While the Constitutionstatesthat presidents must be at least 35 years old, the median age of U.S. presidents on the day of their first inauguration was 55 as of 2023, according to thePew Research Center. Many enter the highest office in the land with backgrounds in the military, law or government — and for the oldest presidents to date, some additional life experiences.
Here are the 10 oldest people to be sworn in as president of the United States, including multiple recent office-holders.
01of 10Donald TrumpJustin Sullivan/GettyYears in office:2017-2021; 2025-presentAge at inauguration:78 years, 220 daysAge at end of term:IncumbentLifespan after presidency:Still living
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Donald Trump
Justin Sullivan/Getty
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Years in office:2017-2021; 2025-present
Age at inauguration:78 years, 220 days
Age at end of term:Incumbent
Lifespan after presidency:Still living
02of 10Joe BidenPresident Joe Biden at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois on Aug. 19, 2024.David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via GettyYears in office:2021-2025Age at inauguration:78 years, 61 daysAge at end of term:82 years, 61 daysLifespan after presidency:Still living
02of 10
Joe Biden
President Joe Biden at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois on Aug. 19, 2024.David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty
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David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty
Years in office:2021-2025
Age at inauguration:78 years, 61 days
Age at end of term:82 years, 61 days
03of 10Ronald ReaganRonald Reagan poses for a portrait in Los Angeles, California in 1980.Harry Langdon/GettyYears in office:1981-1989Age at inauguration:69 years, 349 daysAge at end of term:77 years, 349 daysLifespan after presidency:15 years, 137 days
03of 10
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan poses for a portrait in Los Angeles, California in 1980.Harry Langdon/Getty
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Harry Langdon/Getty
Years in office:1981-1989
Age at inauguration:69 years, 349 days
Age at end of term:77 years, 349 days
Lifespan after presidency:15 years, 137 days
04of 10William Henry HarrisonWilliam Henry Harrison.Heritage Art/Heritage Images via Getty ImagesYears in office:1841Age at inauguration:68 years, 23 daysAge at end of term:68 years, 34 daysLifespan after presidency:Died in office of pneumonia, making his 32-day tenure the shortest in U.S. presidential history
04of 10
William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison.Heritage Art/Heritage Images via Getty Images
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Heritage Art/Heritage Images via Getty Images
Years in office:1841
Age at inauguration:68 years, 23 days
Age at end of term:68 years, 34 days
Lifespan after presidency:Died in office of pneumonia, making his 32-day tenure the shortest in U.S. presidential history
05of 10James BuchananJames Buchanan.Heritage Art/Heritage Images via Getty ImagesYears in office:1857-1861Age at inauguration:65 years, 315 daysAge at end of term:69 years, 315 daysLifespan after presidency:7 years, 89 days
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James Buchanan
James Buchanan.Heritage Art/Heritage Images via Getty Images
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Years in office:1857-1861
Age at inauguration:65 years, 315 days
Age at end of term:69 years, 315 days
Lifespan after presidency:7 years, 89 days
06of 10George H. W. BushGeorge H.W. Bush.Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesYears in office:1989-1993Age at inauguration:64 years, 222 daysAge at end of term:68 years, 222 daysLifespan after presidency:25 years, 314 days
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George H. W. Bush
George H.W. Bush.Hulton Archive/Getty Images
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Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Years in office:1989-1993
Age at inauguration:64 years, 222 days
Age at end of term:68 years, 222 days
Lifespan after presidency:25 years, 314 days
07of 10Zachary TaylorZachary Taylor.Bettmann/GettyYears in office:1849-1850Age at inauguration:64 years, 100 daysAge at end of term:65 years, 227 daysLifespan after presidency:Died in office after falling ill, making his 16-month presidency the third-shortest in U.S. history
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Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor.Bettmann/Getty
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Bettmann/Getty
Years in office:1849-1850
Age at inauguration:64 years, 100 days
Age at end of term:65 years, 227 days
Lifespan after presidency:Died in office after falling ill, making his 16-month presidency the third-shortest in U.S. history
08of 10Dwight D. EisenhowerDwight D. Eisenhower poses for a portrait at the White House in Wahington, D.C. in 1956.Bettmann/GettyYears in office:1953-1961Age at inauguration:62 years, 98 daysAge at end of term:70 years, 98 daysLifespan after presidency:8 years, 67 days
08of 10
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower poses for a portrait at the White House in Wahington, D.C. in 1956.Bettmann/Getty
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Years in office:1953-1961
Age at inauguration:62 years, 98 days
Age at end of term:70 years, 98 days
Lifespan after presidency:8 years, 67 days
09of 10Andrew JacksonAndrew Jackson.Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesYears in office:1829-1837Age at inauguration:61 years, 354 daysAge at end of term:69 years, 354 daysLifespan after presidency:8 years, 96 days
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Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson.Hulton Archive/Getty Images
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Years in office:1829-1837
Age at inauguration:61 years, 354 days
Age at end of term:69 years, 354 days
Lifespan after presidency:8 years, 96 days
10of 10John AdamsJohn Adams.Stock Montage/Stock Montage/Getty ImagesYears in office:1797-1801Age at inauguration:61 years, 125 daysAge at end of term:65 years, 125 daysLifespan after presidency:25 years, 122 days
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John Adams
John Adams.Stock Montage/Stock Montage/Getty Images
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Stock Montage/Stock Montage/Getty Images
Years in office:1797-1801
Age at inauguration:61 years, 125 days
Age at end of term:65 years, 125 days
Lifespan after presidency:25 years, 122 days
source: people.com
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