It is a rare thing in American history to have a crowded stage of former leaders. Right now, in early 2026, we are living through one of those periods. Usually, the "Presidents Club" is a tiny, exclusive group of men who understand a burden no one else can truly grasp. But as of today, January 18, 2026, the count of living U.S. Presidents stands at six.
That includes the current guy in the Oval Office and five former commanders-in-chief.
Honestly, the list is a bit of a miracle when you look at the ages involved. We have the oldest living president in history still hanging on in Georgia, a comeback president currently running the show, and a few "younger" guys in their 60s and 70s who are still surprisingly active in global affairs.
The Current List of Living US Presidents
If you're looking for the quick roll call, here it is. These are the men who have held the highest office in the land and are still with us today:
- Jimmy Carter (39th President)
- Bill Clinton (42nd President)
- George W. Bush (43rd President)
- Barack Obama (44th President)
- Joe Biden (46th President)
- Donald Trump (45th and 47th President)
It is a fascinating mix. You've got Democrats and Republicans, baby boomers and a centenarian, and a sitting president who is technically his own predecessor's successor.
Jimmy Carter: The Centenarian Defying the Odds
Jimmy Carter is, frankly, a medical marvel. He turned 101 back in October 2025. Think about that for a second. He was born in 1924. When he took office in 1977, the world was a completely different place—the Disco era was peaking, and the internet was a pipe dream.
He has been in home hospice care in Plains, Georgia, since February 2023. Most people expected he’d have a few weeks, maybe months. Instead, he has stayed with us for nearly three years in that status. His grandson, Jason Carter, has been pretty open about the fact that while the former president is "physically diminished," his spirit remains sharp. He even made it a goal to vote in the 2024 election, which he successfully did.
Today, he spends his time at his modest home, the same one he lived in before he was famous. He isn't out building houses for Habitat for Humanity anymore, but his longevity has fundamentally changed how Americans think about hospice and end-of-life care.
Bill Clinton: The Elder Statesman at 79
Bill Clinton often feels like he belongs to a different era, but he’s actually the same age as George W. Bush and Donald Trump. All three were born in 1946. Clinton has had his fair share of health scares over the years—quadruple bypass surgery in 2004 and a serious infection that landed him in the ICU in 2021—but he’s still active.
In late 2024 and throughout 2025, he was back on the campaign trail and working with the Clinton Foundation. Lately, though, he's been in the news for less celebratory reasons. Just this month, in January 2026, there’s been a bit of a stir regarding subpoenas from the House Committee on Oversight. He reportedly missed a deposition date on January 13, citing a funeral. It’s a reminder that even decades after leaving the White House, these guys never truly escape the political fray.
George W. Bush: Painting and Podcasts
"W" has taken perhaps the most "retired" approach of the bunch. You don't see him on the news cycle every day, and that seems to be exactly how he likes it. He’s 79 now and spends a lot of his time at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, or at the Bush Center in Dallas.
His post-presidency has been defined by two things: oil painting (mostly portraits of veterans and world leaders) and his "Strategerist" podcast. In fact, he’s scheduled to record a live episode with NBA legend Dirk Nowitzki later this month on January 24, 2026. He’s largely stayed out of the current political mudslinging, which has helped his approval ratings climb significantly since he left office in 2009.
Barack Obama: The "Young" One
At 64, Barack Obama is the youngster of the group. While the older presidents are focusing on legacy and health, Obama is still very much in the "doing" phase of his post-White House life.
The big news for him right now is the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago. It’s been a long road with construction starting back in 2021, but it’s finally slated to open its doors in June 2026. It’s not just a library; it’s a massive 19-acre campus in Jackson Park. He and Michelle are also still heavy hitters in the media world through Higher Ground Productions, winning Emmys and producing everything from documentaries to podcasts.
Joe Biden: The Newest Member of the Club
Joe Biden joined the ranks of former presidents exactly one year ago, in January 2025. After a long career in the Senate and eight years as VP, his four-year term as the 46th president ended as Donald Trump returned to office.
Biden is 83 now. His post-presidency has been relatively quiet compared to his predecessors. After the whirlwind of the 2024 election cycle, he’s retreated somewhat from the public eye, focusing on his family and likely his upcoming memoirs. He did issue several high-profile pardons toward the end of his term, which kept the pundits talking well into the spring of 2025.
Donald Trump: The 45th and 47th
Donald Trump is in a category of his own. He is currently the sitting President of the United States. Because he served from 2017–2021 and then was inaugurated again in 2025, he holds the unique distinction of being both a "former" president and the "current" one simultaneously.
At 79, his schedule is as packed as ever. Just in the last two weeks of January 2026, he’s been dealing with a major military operation in Venezuela and making calls to NATO allies about Greenland and trade tariffs. He remains the most polarizing figure on this list, but undeniably the one with the most current power.
Why the Number of Living Presidents Matters
It isn't just a trivia fact. Having this many living presidents provides a unique "consulting firm" for the country, even if they don't always get along. Traditionally, the sitting president can call on the former ones for diplomatic missions or advice.
However, that "club" has been pretty fractured lately. The relationship between Trump and his predecessors (especially Obama and Biden) is famously icy. We haven't seen the "big photo op" of all living presidents together in quite some time. The last time a large group gathered was for the funeral of George H.W. Bush in 2018.
The Longevity Gap
It’s wild to think about how much longer presidents are living now compared to the 1800s. Back then, if you survived the stress of the office, you were lucky to make it another decade.
- James K. Polk died just 103 days after leaving office.
- George Washington lasted only two years.
Contrast that with Jimmy Carter, who has been a "former president" for 45 years. He has been out of office longer than some current members of Congress have been alive.
Summary of the Living Presidents (As of Jan 2026)
| President | Current Age | Years Since Leaving Office |
|---|---|---|
| Jimmy Carter | 101 | 45 |
| Bill Clinton | 79 | 25 |
| George W. Bush | 79 | 17 |
| Barack Obama | 64 | 9 |
| Joe Biden | 83 | 1 |
| Donald Trump | 79 | N/A (Current) |
What You Can Do Next
If you’re a history buff or just curious about how these men spend their final chapters, there are a few things you can actually go do:
- Visit Plains, Georgia: You can’t go into Jimmy Carter’s house, but the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park is a trip back in time. It’s worth seeing the peanut farm that shaped a century of life.
- Check out the Bush Center's Podcasts: If you want to hear George W. Bush speak in a non-political setting, his "Strategerist" podcast is actually pretty entertaining.
- Plan a trip to Chicago for June 2026: The opening of the Obama Presidential Center is going to be a massive cultural event. If you want to be there for the ribbon-cutting, start looking at travel plans now.
- Follow the National Archives: They maintain the official digital libraries for all these men. If you want to see the real documents behind the decisions, archives.gov is the gold mine.