Over the weekend, Joe Biden became the first person in history to turn 79 while serving as president of the United States. The landmark achievement also means that Biden has successfully exceeded U.S. life expectancy, which was 78.8 years as of 2019, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Biden was born on Nov. 20, 1942, several years before the invention of the vinyl record jukebox. Earlier this year, Biden demolished the record for oldest person to be inaugurated president. Biden was almost eight years older than the previous record holder, former president Donald Trump, who was 70 years old at the time of his inauguration.
Life expectancy at birth represents "the average number of years that a group of infants would live if they were to experience throughout life the age-specific death rates prevailing during a specific period," according to the CDC. Biden's age is significantly higher than the life expectancy for American men, which was 76.3 years in 2019. For sake of comparison, life expectancy for American men was just 64.7 years when Biden was born.
Life expectancy for American women is higher than for men, according to the data. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.), for example, will celebrate her 82nd birthday in March 2022. That makes her several months older than the U.S. life expectancy for women, which was 81.4 as of 2019. Pelosi's top two deputies in the House—Reps. Steny Hoyer (D., Md.) and James Clyburn (D., S.C.)—are 82 and 81, respectively.
Biden's age could become a significant factor heading into the 2024 presidential election. He has reportedly been telling aides and allies that he plans to run for reelection, but doubts remain. If successful, Biden would be 82 by the time his second term begins. Polls suggest the American people are already deeply concerned about his health, and even more concerned about the prospect of Vice President Kamala Harris receiving the ultimate promotion.
READ MORE: Traumatized Ex-Harris Staffers Terrified at Thought of Her Becoming President