How old is Joe Biden? The former US president is 83 years old — he was born on 20 November 1942 in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and celebrated his 83rd birthday in November 2025. As the 46th President of the United States, serving from January 2021 to January 2025, Biden is the oldest person ever to hold the office, having been inaugurated at the age of 78.
This biography brings together the key facts about Biden’s age alongside the story of a political career that spanned more than half a century: six terms in the US Senate, two terms as vice president under Barack Obama, and a single term in the White House.
Quick facts: Joe Biden at a glance
| Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Full name | Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. |
| Date of birth | 20 November 1942 |
| Age | 83 |
| Birthplace | Scranton, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Offices held | 46th President of the United States (2021–2025); 47th Vice President of the United States (2009–2017); US Senator for Delaware (1973–2009) |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Spouse | Jill Biden (married 1977) |
| Children | Four: Beau (died 2015), Hunter, Naomi (died 1972), Ashley |
How old is Joe Biden?
Born on 20 November 1942, Joe Biden is 83 years old as of October 2026. His age has bookended his career in striking fashion: he was one of the youngest senators in American history when elected in 1972, and nearly five decades later became the oldest person ever elected president when he won the 2020 election at the age of 77, taking office the following January at 78.
In November 2022, Biden became the first sitting US president to turn 80 while in office, and he celebrated his 82nd birthday in the White House in November 2024, two months before the end of his term.
Early life and Senate career
Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, the eldest of four children in a Catholic family of Irish descent. When he was ten, the family moved to Claymont, Delaware, where he spent the rest of his childhood. As a boy he worked hard to overcome a stammer — an experience he has spoken about publicly throughout his life and which made him a well-known advocate for people who stutter.
Biden’s long road through elected office echoes the careers of politicians such as Andy Burnham.
Biden graduated from the University of Delaware in 1965 with degrees in history and political science, and earned a law degree from Syracuse University College of Law in 1968. Admitted to the Delaware bar, he briefly practised law before entering politics, first winning a seat on the New Castle County Council in 1970.
Elected to the Senate at 29
In 1972, at the age of 29, Biden ran for the US Senate from Delaware and defeated the long-serving Republican incumbent J. Caleb Boggs in a major upset. He turned 30 — the minimum age required by the US Constitution — just weeks before being sworn in on 5 January 1973, making him one of the youngest people ever elected to the chamber.
Weeks after the election, tragedy struck the family: on 18 December 1972, Biden’s wife Neilia and their 13-month-old daughter Naomi were killed in a car accident, while their young sons Beau and Hunter were seriously injured. Biden was sworn in from his sons’ hospital bedside and went on to represent Delaware in the Senate for 36 years, winning re-election six times.
During his long Senate tenure he chaired both the Judiciary Committee and the Foreign Relations Committee, and became known for his work on crime legislation, arms control and foreign policy. He sought the Democratic presidential nomination twice, in 1988 and again in 2008, without success.
Vice presidency (2009–2017)
After withdrawing from the 2008 presidential race, Biden was chosen by Democratic nominee Barack Obama as his running mate. The Obama–Biden ticket won the November 2008 election, and Biden served as the 47th Vice President of the United States from January 2009 to January 2017.
As vice president, Biden was handed significant portfolios, including oversight of the implementation of the 2009 economic stimulus package and the administration’s policy on Iraq. In 2015, following the death of his son Beau from brain cancer at the age of 46, Biden launched the “Cancer Moonshot” initiative to accelerate cancer research — a cause he continued to champion in later years.
Presidency (2021–2025)
Biden launched his third presidential campaign in April 2019 and secured the Democratic nomination in 2020. In the November 2020 general election he defeated incumbent president Donald Trump, winning 306 electoral votes and more than 81 million popular votes. He was inaugurated as the 46th President of the United States on 20 January 2021, at the age of 78 — the oldest person ever to assume the office.
During his presidency Biden met King Charles on several occasions.
His presidency began amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and its early months were dominated by a nationwide vaccination campaign and the passage of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan relief package in March 2021. Later legislative achievements included the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (November 2021) and the Inflation Reduction Act (August 2022), which combined climate, health and tax measures.
On foreign policy, Biden oversaw the completion of the US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, ending America’s longest war, and rallied Western support for Ukraine following Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. During his term, NATO expanded to include Finland and Sweden.
Biden announced a re-election bid in April 2023 but withdrew from the race on 21 July 2024, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee. He completed his term and left office on 20 January 2025.
Life after the presidency
Since leaving the White House in January 2025, Biden has kept a comparatively low public profile, making occasional public appearances and statements. Like other former presidents, he has been involved in plans for his presidential library and in reflecting on his time in office in writing. He continues to reside in Delaware with his wife, Jill.
Personal life
Biden married educator Jill Jacobs in 1977, five years after the death of his first wife. Their daughter Ashley was born in 1981. Biden is the father of four children in total — Beau, Hunter, Naomi and Ashley — and has several grandchildren. He is a practising Roman Catholic, the second Catholic president in US history after John F. Kennedy.
For decades Biden was famous for his daily commute, travelling by Amtrak train between his home in Wilmington, Delaware, and Washington, D.C. during his Senate years — a habit that earned him the nickname “Amtrak Joe”. Independent estimates have placed the Bidens’ net worth in the region of $10 million, largely reflecting book advances and speaking fees earned after his vice presidency, though no official figure has ever been published and estimates vary between sources.
Frequently asked questions
When was Joe Biden born?
Joe Biden was born on 20 November 1942 in Scranton, Pennsylvania, USA.
How old was Joe Biden when he became president?
He was 78 years old when he was inaugurated on 20 January 2021, making him the oldest person ever to assume the US presidency.
Is Joe Biden the oldest US president in history?
Yes. He is the oldest person to have been elected to and to have served as President of the United States, becoming the first sitting president to turn 80 while in office in November 2022.
Who is Joe Biden’s wife?
His wife is Dr Jill Biden, an educator and former First Lady of the United States. They married in 1977.
How many children does Joe Biden have?
Biden has four children: Beau, Hunter, Naomi and Ashley. His eldest son Beau died of brain cancer in 2015, and his daughter Naomi died as an infant in a 1972 car accident.
What is Joe Biden’s net worth?
There is no officially published figure. Independent media estimates have generally placed his net worth in the region of $10 million, though such figures are approximate and vary between sources.
