𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

The world’s oldest living president could possibly extend his term following Cameroon’s 2025 election. Experts forecast that President Paul Biya, aged 92, will triumph in the presidential election in Cameroon, as millions cast their votes on Sunday, October 12.

The results of the election are anticipated by October 26 at the latest, however, opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary has unilaterally declared himself the victor already and called for incumbent Biya to concede and accept the end of his decades-long reign. Cameroon employs a single round voting system where the candidate with the most votes is declared the winner. Since gaining independence in 1960, Cameroon has only had two leaders, with one of them being Biya. Many of the 7.8 million eligible voters in Cameroon can recall no other leader than Biya, who has maintained a firm grip on the country’s presidency since 1982, succeeding Cameroon’s first president, Ahmadou Ahidjo, who resigned. Biya has governed the central African nation ever since and has been proclaimed the victor in seven subsequent elections – with a potential eighth term on the horizon. A divided opposition of 11 candidates is challenging Biya, who, despite his advanced age and deteriorating health, has brushed off calls for him to step down.

If re-elected, Biya would prolong his rule by another seven years, reaching the age of 99 by the end of his term.

Biya isn’t the only leader well into life’s winter that’s serving as a president though.

Several other state leaders around the world are well into their 80s and serving their country in an official capacity at the highest level.

Here’s a list of the world’s five oldest living presidents currently still in office:

Born on February 13, 1933, Cameroon’s president assumed office back in 1982 and has continually served as the president of the Central African country for seven terms since then.

Palestine’s president, born on November 15, 1935, is currently 89 years of age, with his 90th birthday just around the corner. He assumed office in 2005 and is also the chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the general commander of the Fatah movement.

The Togolese politician and civil servant has been serving as the country’s fifth president since May 3, 2025, after Togo’s Parliament unanimously elected him as President of the Republic.

Born on July 18, 1940, Arthur Peter Mutharika has been serving as Malawi’s seventh president since October 4, 2025. The Malawian politician and lawyer also served as the country’s fifth president from 2014 to 2020, and has been leading the Democratic Progressive Party since 2012.

Born on April 18, 1941, Michael D. Higgins was the president of the Labour Party from 2003 to 2011, after which he resigned following his election as the President of Ireland in 2011. He’s been in office since 2011 and is also a poet, sociologist, and broadcaster.