List of Nigerian heads of state by age

This is a list of heads of state of Nigeria by age.

Overview

The youngest person to become head of state was Yakubu Gowon, who at the age of 31, assumed office after the assassination of Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi during the July 1966 counter-coup. The youngest civilian head of state to assume the presidency was Goodluck Jonathan, who at the age of 52, succeeded to the office after the death of Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, he was also the youngest person elected to the office at the age of 53. The youngest to become head of state by election was Shehu Shagari, who was inaugurated at age 54. The oldest person to assume the presidency was Muhammadu Buhari who was inaugurated at age 72.

Assassinated at age 37, Murtala Muhammed was the youngest head of state at the end of his tenure, and his lifespan was the shortest of any head of state, he was the only head of state not to have lived to the age of 40. At age 40, Yakubu Gowon was the youngest person to become a former head of state. The oldest head of state at the end of his tenure was also Muhammadu Buhari at 80.

Buhari's second retirement, now 1 year, 1 day, is currently the shortest, Yakubu Gowon's retirement, now 48 years, is the longest in Nigeria's history. At age 89, Gowon is also the oldest of the seven living heads of state. Shehu Shagari who died in 2018 aged 93 is the nation's longest-lived head of state. Only two heads of state (Shehu Shagari and Nnamdi Azikiwe) have lived into their 90s. The youngest living head of state is Goodluck Jonathan, age 66.

List of heads of state by age at assuming office

This is a list of heads of state of Nigeria by age at assuming office from the youngest to the oldest.

List of heads of state by longevity

This table shows heads of state by their longevity (living heads of state in gold).

Nigerian heads of state's ages

This table charts the age of each head of state of Nigeria at the time of assuming office, upon leaving office, and at the time of death. Where the head of state is still living, their lifespan and post head of state timespan are calculated up to 30 May 2024.

Notes

References

1. President of Nigeria
2. List of current heads of state and government
3. List of salaries of heads of state and government
4. List of current state leaders by date of assumption of office
5. Timeline of Nigerian history
6. Vice President of Nigeria
7. List of assassinated and executed heads of state and government
8. List of state leaders in the 18th century
9. List of oldest living state leaders
10. Biafra
11. Golden Age of Nigerian Cinema
12. Edo State
13. List of state leaders in 2024
14. Yakubu Gowon
15. Law of Nigeria
16. Bola Tinubu
17. Plateau State
18. Rivers State
19. Nigeria Police Force
20. Air transports of heads of state and government