The Complete List of Living U.S. Presidents
A former commander-in-chief still draws breath. A few men stand outside the White House gates with that title permanently etched into their legacy. Here is the current list of living U.S. presidents. Guys, explore more in Guides And Explainers and list of living us presidents.
Why This List Shifts Over Time
The roster of living presidents is a small club. Death removes members. Inauguration adds new faces. Tracking this group offers a strange look at American power.
Right now, five individuals carry the weight of the presidency from years past. They span nearly five decades of executive history. Their post-White House lives vary wildly in focus and visibility.
The Five Living Presidents
The current count stands at five former presidents breathing air on American soil. Here is the list of living us presidents as of mid-2024.
Joe Biden
Age: 81 (born November 20, 1942) Party: Democratic In Office: 2021–2025
Biden occupies a unique position on the list. He currently holds the active presidency. His tenure continues despite age and political scrutiny. He previously served as a senator from Delaware for 36 years.
Donald Trump
Age: 79 (born June 14, 1946) Party: Republican In Office: 2017–2021
Trump returned to the political arena after his 2020 loss. He secured the 2024 presidential election. This makes him the second president to serve non-consecutive terms. His business empire and media presence dominate the news cycle constantly.
Barack Obama
Age: 63 (born August 4, 1961) Party: Democratic In Office: 2009–2017
Obama maintains a lower public profile than his successors. He focuses heavily on the Obama Foundation and memoir work. His presidency marked a historic racial milestone in the executive branch.
George W. Bush
Age: 78 (born July 6, 1946) Party: Republican In Office: 2001–2009
Bush retreated from the spotlight after leaving office. He paints landscapes in his private time. His library and museum sit on the SMU campus in Dallas.
Bill Clinton
Age: 78 (born August 19, 1946) Party: Democratic In Office: 1993–2001
Clinton remains one of the most active former presidents. The Clinton Foundation dominates his post-White House efforts. His wife, Hillary, also ran for the presidency in 2016.
The Longest and Shortest Retirement
Harry Truman set the precedent for a brief post-presidency. He died just 20 years after leaving office in 1972. Jimmy Carter holds the opposite record. His retirement stretched across 40 years and 364 days. He passed away on December 29, 2024, making his longevity the benchmark for all future ex-presidents. The current living list lacks the sheer age gap that once defined early American politics.
The Post-Presidency Power Dynamic
What do these men actually do with their remaining years? Some write books. Some build libraries. Some whisper politically in the background.
The transition from the world's most powerful person to a private citizen hits different for everyone. Bush took up painting. Obama launched a Netflix production deal. Trump immediately began plotting his 2024 comeback. The contrast in post-office behavior reveals deep personality differences.
Source: The full historical record of U.S. presidents is maintained by the Office of the Historian at the U.S. Department of State.