Why Are Politicians So Old?
Patrick Boyle On Finance
Patrick Boyle
4.9 • 308 Ratings
🗓️ 4 March 2025
⏱️ 19 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
The average American is 39 years old - which is half the age of the sitting president - Donald Trump. When Ronald Reagan was inaugurated at 69 years old, he became the oldest person to have ever served as president. Donald Trump and Joe Biden are even older and are now - the two oldest men to ever be inaugurated as president. The average ages in the House and Senate at 58 and 64, are significantly older than the average American. A word often used to describe the nation’s governing class is “gerontocracy” - meaning government based on rule by old people. It's not just in the US either - around the world our political leaders are older than ever before. Why has this happened?Patrick's Books:Statistics For The Trading Floor: https://amzn.to/3eerLA0Derivatives For The Trading Floor: https://amzn.to/3cjsyPFCorporate Finance: https://amzn.to/3fn3rvC Ways To Support The Channel:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PatrickBoyleOnFinanceBuy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/patrickboyleVisit our website: https://www.onfinance.orgFollow Patrick on Twitter Here: https://bsky.app/profile/pboyle.bsky.socialBusiness Inquiries ➡️ sponsors@onfinance.org
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Busy routines can make it hard to focus on your health goals, but MedExpress offers a simple way to explore weight management treatment online. |
| 0:08.0 | Complete our short eligibility consultation with no need for face-to-face appointments or travel. |
| 0:13.0 | If eligible, treatment is delivered discreetly, with UK registered clinicians offering support along the way. |
| 0:19.1 | Visit Medexpress.co.com.ukes slash podcast to get started today. |
| 0:23.7 | Heda, it's your big McDonald's hunger calling. |
| 0:26.4 | And it's not just any kind of hunger. |
| 0:28.0 | It's the kind that calls for Big Arch. |
| 0:30.0 | Start with juicy beef, cheddar cheese and big arch sauce. |
| 0:33.4 | Oh, and don't forget those crispy onions. |
| 0:35.6 | Hungry? |
| 0:36.4 | You are now. |
| 0:39.8 | Saved from 11am, subject to availability. Price and participation may vary. |
| 0:43.7 | The average age of world leaders has been rising over the last 50 years. Back in 1975, the average |
| 0:51.2 | president or prime minister was 55 years old. Today the average is 62. Not just that, |
| 0:58.8 | but nine out of the 10 most populated countries in the world today have leaders over the age of 70. |
| 1:05.5 | That's an improvement. In 2024, it was all 10. In African countries where the populations are youngest, the leaders are amongst the oldest. |
| 1:15.9 | The Central African Republic has the youngest population in the world, with a median age |
| 1:21.2 | of 14 years old. |
| 1:23.3 | But its president is 67 years old. |
| 1:26.3 | In Uganda, where the median age is 18, the leader is 80 years |
| 1:30.7 | old. And the president of Cameroon is the oldest serving state leader at 92 in a country |
| 1:37.7 | where the average age is once again 18. According to the economist, countries that have less of a say in who they're governed by |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Patrick Boyle, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of Patrick Boyle and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.