List of German Chancellors by longevity

This is a list of German Chancellors since 1871 by longevity. Where the person in question is still living, the longevity is calculated up to 16 February 2012.

Overview

The median age of accession is roughly 53 years and 1 month, which falls between Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg and Philipp Scheidemann. The youngest person to assume office was Joseph Wirth (age 41 years, 246 days). The oldest person to assume office was Chlodwig Viktor (age 75 years, 212 days).

The oldest living Chancellor is Helmut Schmidt, born 23 December 1918 (aged &1000000000000009300000093 years, &1000000000000006600000066 days). On 6 April 2010, Schmidt passed Konrad Adenauer to become the longest lived chancellor in German history. The youngest living former Chancellor is Gerhard Schröder, born 7 April 1944 (aged &1000000000000006700000067 years, &10000000000000326000000326 days). The youngest living Chancellor is the incumbent, Angela Merkel, born 17 July 1954 (aged &1000000000000005700000057 years, &10000000000000225000000225 days).

The shortest-lived Chancellor was Gustav Stresemann, who died at the age of 51 years, 146 days.

German Chancellors

#
 Chancellor
 Date of birth
 Date of
inauguration		 Age at
inauguration		 End of term Length of
retirement		 Date of death
 Lifespan
1 von Bismarck, OttoOtto von Bismarck 1815-04-011 April 1815(1815-04-01) 21 March 1871 (1871-03-21) 55-354&1000000000000005500000055 years, &10000000000000354000000354 days 20 March 1890 (1890-03-20) 03,0543,054 days 1898-07-3030 July 1898(1898-07-30) 30,436 days (&1000000000000008300000083 years, &10000000000000120000000120 days)
2 von Caprivi, LeoLeo von Caprivi 1831-02-2424 February 1831(1831-02-24) 20 March 1890 (1890-03-20) 59-024&1000000000000005900000059 years, &1000000000000002400000024 days 26 October 1894 (1894-10-26) 01,5641,564 days 1899-02-066 February 1899(1899-02-06) 24,819 days (&1000000000000006700000067 years, &10000000000000347000000347 days)
3 Hohenlohe, ChlodwigChlodwig von Hohenlohe 1819-03-3131 March 1819(1819-03-31) 29 October 1894 (1894-10-29) 75-212&1000000000000007500000075 years, &10000000000000212000000212 days 17 October 1900 (1900-10-17) 00,262262 days 1901-07-066 July 1901(1901-07-06) 30,047 days (&1000000000000008200000082 years, &1000000000000009700000097 days)
4 von Bulow, BernhardBernhard von Bülow 1849-05-033 May 1849(1849-05-03) 17 October 1900 (1900-10-17) 51-167&1000000000000005100000051 years, &10000000000000167000000167 days 14 July 1909 (1909-07-14) 07,4117,411 days 1929-10-2828 October 1929(1929-10-28) 29,397 days (&1000000000000008000000080 years, &10000000000000178000000178 days)
5 von Bethmann-Hollweg, TheobaldTheobald von Bethmann-Hollweg 1856-11-2929 November 1856(1856-11-29) 14 July 1909 (1909-07-14) 52-227&1000000000000005200000052 years, &10000000000000227000000227 days 13 July 1917 (1917-07-13) 01,2681,268 days 1921-01-011 January 1921(1921-01-01) 23,408 days (&1000000000000006400000064 years, &1000000000000003300000033 days)
6 Michaelis, GeorgGeorg Michaelis 1857-09-088 September 1857(1857-09-08) 14 July 1917 (1917-07-14) 59-309&1000000000000005900000059 years, &10000000000000309000000309 days 31 October 1917 (1917-10-31) 06,8416,841 days 1936-07-2424 July 1936(1936-07-24) 28,808 days (&1000000000000007800000078 years, &10000000000000320000000320 days)
7 von Hertling, GeorgGeorg von Hertling 1843-08-3131 August 1843(1843-08-31) 1 November 1917 (1917-11-01) 74-062&1000000000000007400000074 years, &1000000000000006200000062 days 30 September 1918 (1918-09-30) 00,09696 days 1919-01-044 January 1919(1919-01-04) 27,519 days (&1000000000000007500000075 years, &10000000000000126000000126 days)
8 von Baden, MaximilianMaximilian von Baden 1867-07-1010 July 1867(1867-07-10) 3 October 1918 (1918-10-03) 51-085&1000000000000005100000051 years, &1000000000000008500000085 days 9 November 1918 (1918-11-09) 04,0154,015 days 1929-11-066 November 1929(1929-11-06) 22,764 days (&1000000000000006200000062 years, &10000000000000119000000119 days)
9 Ebert, FriedrichFriedrich Ebert 1871-02-044 February 1871(1871-02-04) 9 November 1918 (1918-11-09) 47-278&1000000000000004700000047 years, &10000000000000278000000278 days 11 February 1919 (1919-02-11) 02,2092,209 days 1925-02-2828 February 1925(1925-02-28) 19,747 days (&1000000000000005400000054 years, &1000000000000002400000024 days)
10 Scheidemann, PhiliippPhilipp Scheidemann 1865-07-2626 July 1865(1865-07-26) 13 February 1919 (1919-02-13) 53-202&1000000000000005300000053 years, &10000000000000202000000202 days 20 June 1919 (1919-06-20) 07,4677,467 days 1939-11-2929 November 1939(1939-11-29) 27,153 days (&1000000000000007400000074 years, &10000000000000126000000126 days)
11 Bauer, GustavGustav Bauer 1870-01-066 January 1870(1870-01-06) 21 June 1919 (1919-06-21) 49-166&1000000000000004900000049 years, &10000000000000166000000166 days 26 March 1920 (1920-03-26) 08,9408,940 days 1944-09-1616 September 1944(1944-09-16) 27,281 days (&1000000000000007400000074 years, &10000000000000254000000254 days)
12 Muller, HermannHermann Müller 1876-05-1818 May 1876(1876-05-18) 27 March 1920 (1920-03-27)[1] 43-314&1000000000000004300000043 years, &10000000000000314000000314 days 8 June 1920 (1920-06-08) 03,3003,300 days[2] 1931-03-2020 March 1931(1931-03-20) 20,028 days (&1000000000000005400000054 years, &10000000000000306000000306 days)
13 Fehrenbach, KonstantinKonstantin Fehrenbach 1852-01-1111 January 1852(1852-01-11) 21 June 1920 (1920-06-21) 68-162&1000000000000006800000068 years, &10000000000000162000000162 days 10 May 1921 (1921-05-10) 01,7811,781 days 1926-03-2626 March 1926(1926-03-26) 27,102 days (&1000000000000007400000074 years, &1000000000000007400000074 days)
14 Wirth, JosephJoseph Wirth 1879-09-066 September 1879(1879-09-06) 10 May 1921 (1921-05-10) 41-246&1000000000000004100000041 years, &10000000000000246000000246 days 14 November 1922 (1922-11-14) 12,10312,103 days 1956-01-033 January 1956(1956-01-03) 27,877 days (&1000000000000007600000076 years, &10000000000000119000000119 days)
15 Cuno, WilhelmWilhelm Cuno 1876-07-022 July 1876(1876-07-02) 22 November 1922 (1922-11-22) 46-143&1000000000000004600000046 years, &10000000000000143000000143 days 12 August 1923 (1923-08-12) 03,4323,432 days 1933-01-033 January 1933(1933-01-03) 20,638 days (&1000000000000005600000056 years, &10000000000000185000000185 days)
16 Stresemann, GustavGustav Stresemann 1878-05-1010 May 1878(1878-05-10) 13 August 1923 (1923-08-13) 56-095&1000000000000005600000056 years, &1000000000000009500000095 days 23 November 1923 (1923-11-23) 02,1412,141 days 1929-10-033 October 1929(1929-10-03) 18,773 days (&1000000000000005100000051 years, &10000000000000146000000146 days)
17 Marx, WilhelmWilhelm Marx 1863-01-1515 January 1863(1863-01-15) 30 November 1923 (1923-11-30)[1] 60-319&1000000000000006000000060 years, &10000000000000319000000319 days 15 January 1925 (1925-01-15) 07,1157,115 days[2] 1946-08-055 August 1946(1946-08-05) 30,517 days (&1000000000000008300000083 years, &10000000000000202000000202 days)
18 Luther, HansHans Luther 1879-03-1010 March 1879(1879-03-10) 15 January 1925 (1925-01-15) 45-311&1000000000000004500000045 years, &10000000000000311000000311 days 12 May 1926 (1926-05-12) 13,14813,148 days 1962-05-1111 May 1962(1962-05-11) 30,377 days (&1000000000000008300000083 years, &1000000000000006200000062 days)
19 Marx, WilhelmWilhelm Marx 1863-01-1515 January 1863(1863-01-15) 17 May 1926 (1926-05-17)[1] 63-122&1000000000000006300000063 years, &10000000000000122000000122 days 12 June 1928 (1928-06-12) 07,1157,115 days[2] 1946-08-055 August 1946(1946-08-05) 30,517 days (&1000000000000008300000083 years, &10000000000000202000000202 days)
20 Muller, HermannHermann Müller 1876-05-1818 May 1876(1876-05-18) 28 June 1928 (1928-06-28)[1] 52-041&1000000000000005200000052 years, &1000000000000004100000041 days 27 March 1930 (1930-03-27) 03,3003,300 days[2] 1931-03-2020 March 1931(1931-03-20) 20,028 days (&1000000000000005400000054 years, &10000000000000306000000306 days)
21 Bruning, HeinrichHeinrich Brüning 1885-11-2626 November 1885(1885-11-26) 30 March 1930 (1930-03-30) 44-124&1000000000000004400000044 years, &10000000000000124000000124 days 30 May 1932 (1932-05-30) 13,81813,818 days 1970-03-3030 March 1970(1970-03-30) 30,804 days (&1000000000000008400000084 years, &10000000000000124000000124 days)
22 von Papen, FranzFranz von Papen 1879-10-2929 October 1879(1879-10-29) 1 June 1932 (1932-06-01) 52-216&1000000000000005200000052 years, &10000000000000216000000216 days 17 November 1932 (1932-11-17) 13,31513,315 days 1969-05-022 May 1969(1969-05-02) 32,692 days (&1000000000000008900000089 years, &10000000000000185000000185 days)
23 von Schleicher, KurtKurt von Schleicher 1882-04-077 April 1882(1882-04-07) 2 December 1932 (1932-12-02) 50-239&1000000000000005000000050 years, &10000000000000239000000239 days 28 January 1933 (1933-01-28) 00,518518 days 1934-06-3030 June 1934(1934-06-30) 19,076 days (&1000000000000005200000052 years, &1000000000000008400000084 days)
24 Hitler, AdolfAdolf Hitler 1889-04-2020 April 1889(1889-04-20) 30 January 1933 (1933-01-30) 43-285&1000000000000004300000043 years, &10000000000000285000000285 days 30 April 1945 (1945-04-30) 00,000N/A[3] 1945-04-3030 April 1945(1945-04-30) 20,463 days (&1000000000000005600000056 years, &1000000000000001000000010 days)
25 Adenauer, KonradKonrad Adenauer 1876-01-055 January 1876(1876-01-05) 15 September 1949 (1949-09-15) 73-253&1000000000000007300000073 years, &10000000000000253000000253 days 16 October 1963 (1963-10-16) 01,2811,281 days 1967-04-1919 April 1967(1967-04-19) 33,341 days (&1000000000000009100000091 years, &10000000000000104000000104 days)
26 Erhard, LudwigLudwig Erhard 1897-02-044 February 1897(1897-02-04) 16 October 1963 (1963-10-16) 66-254&1000000000000006600000066 years, &10000000000000254000000254 days 1 December 1966 (1966-12-01) 03,8083,808 days 1977-05-055 May 1977(1977-05-05) 29,309 days (&1000000000000008000000080 years, &1000000000000009000000090 days)
27 Kiesinger, KurtKurt Kiesinger 1904-04-066 April 1904(1904-04-06) 1 December 1966 (1966-12-01) 62-239&1000000000000006200000062 years, &10000000000000239000000239 days 21 October 1969 (1969-10-21) 06,7146,714 days 1988-03-099 March 1988(1988-03-09) 30,653 days (&1000000000000008300000083 years, &10000000000000338000000338 days)
28 Brandt, WillyWilly Brandt 1913-12-1818 December 1913(1913-12-18) 21 October 1969 (1969-10-21) 55-307&1000000000000005500000055 years, &10000000000000307000000307 days 7 May 1974 (1974-05-07) 06,7296,729 days 1992-10-088 October 1992(1992-10-08) 28,784 days (&1000000000000007800000078 years, &10000000000000295000000295 days)
29 Schmidt, HelmutHelmut Schmidt 1918-12-2323 December 1918(1918-12-23) 16 May 1974 (1974-05-16) 55-144&1000000000000005500000055 years, &10000000000000144000000144 days 1 October 1982 (1982-10-01) 010,74110,741 days 2012-02-27 34,034 days (&1000000000000009300000093 years, &1000000000000006600000066 days)
30 Kohl, HelmutHelmut Kohl 1930-04-033 April 1930(1930-04-03) 1 October 1982 (1982-10-01) 52-181&1000000000000005200000052 years, &10000000000000181000000181 days 27 October 1998 (1998-10-27) 04,8714,871 days 2012-02-27 29,915 days (&1000000000000008100000081 years, &10000000000000330000000330 days)
31 Schroder, GerhardGerhard Schröder 1944-04-077 April 1944(1944-04-07) 27 October 1998 (1998-10-27) 54-203&1000000000000005400000054 years, &10000000000000203000000203 days 22 November 2005 (2005-11-22) 02,2882,288 days 2012-02-27 24,797 days (&1000000000000006700000067 years, &10000000000000326000000326 days)
32 Merkel, AngelaAngela Merkel 1954-07-1717 July 1954(1954-07-17) 22 November 2005 (2005-11-22) 51-128&1000000000000005100000051 years, &10000000000000128000000128 days Incumbent 00,000Incumbent 2012-02-27 21,044 days (&1000000000000005700000057 years, &10000000000000225000000225 days)
# Chancellor Date of birth Date of
inauguration		 Age at
inauguration		 End of term Length of
retirement		 Date of death Lifespan
  1. ^ a b c d Served two non-consecutive terms, which are listed separately.
  2. ^ a b c d Was a former chancellor after his first term, plus again after his second term.
  3. ^ Died in office.

See also