A decade ago, only one leader among the ten most populous countries in the world, India, was aged 70 or older. Today, this scenario is mirrored in eight countries, placing at least half of the world's population under the leadership of individuals in their 70s and 80s. According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, Chinese President Xi Jinping began his third term as head of the Communist Party in 2022 at the age of 69. Russian President Vladimir Putin, who rose to power in Russia at 47, has remained in office for nearly 25 years. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is widely expected to win a third term this year at the age of 73. Sheikh Hasina, aged 76, won an unprecedented fifth term as Prime Minister of Bangladesh in January.
What about America? Most American voters prefer a president younger than 70, according to a 2023 Pew Research Center survey. Many are concerned that declining health could pose a hurdle for 81-year-old President Joe Biden or 77-year-old Donald Trump. Turmoil and confusion in Washington have made headlines, with Biden recently referring to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi as the leader of Mexico, and Trump confusing his Republican rival Nikki Haley with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Additionally, Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who turned 82 this month, froze in front of the cameras twice last summer.
Haley has called for mandatory mental competency tests for politicians over 75, and last year, Republican Congressman John James from Michigan proposed a constitutional amendment to prevent anyone who is 75 during their term from running for Congress or the presidency.
In Europe, which has a population exceeding that of the United States, leaders are "breaking the trend of older leaders," allowing their parliamentary democracies to provide more space for younger politicians, such as right-wing Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who became her country’s first female leader in 2022 at the age of 45.
On the other hand, many wonder if the older generation of presidents and prime ministers can effectively lead in the 21st century amidst technological advancements and major challenges. Political scientists fear that young people may disengage from politics if they feel stuck with politicians from their grandparents' generation. Some older politicians are attempting to bridge the age gap: Biden, who was born during World War II, joined TikTok this month, while 72-year-old former general Prabowo Subianto, who won the presidential election in Indonesia in mid-February, embraced his cat on Instagram and danced during a rapidly popular campaign.
