Lech Wałęsa is 83 years old as of October 2026. He was born on 29 September 1943.
Gdańsk shipyard electrician who led the Solidarity trade union against communism, won the Nobel Peace Prize and became Poland's president
Did you know?He was working as an electrician in a shipyard when he began the strikes that eventually changed Polish history.
Quick facts
Date of birth29 September 1943
Age83
NationalityPolish
BirthplacePopowo, Poland
Occupationpolitician, electrician, trade unionist
Editor's Take:
Lech Wałęsa's story shows how one worker's courage can help bring down a political system. In 1980 he led strikes at the Gdańsk shipyard that gave birth to Solidarity, the first independent trade union in the Soviet bloc. Solidarity grew into a movement of around ten million members, challenging communist rule across Poland. Although the union was banned and Wałęsa was detained, its pressure eventually forced negotiations and free elections in 1989. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983 and later became Poland's first democratically elected president.
Key Milestones
1980: Leads the Gdańsk shipyard strike
1983: Wins the Nobel Peace Prize
1989: Takes part in the Round Table talks
1990: Elected President of Poland
Lech Wałęsa (born 29 September 1943) is a Polish statesman, anticommunist dissident and Nobel Peace Prize laureate who served as the president of Poland between 1990 and 1995.
Lech Wałęsa's birthday is September 29. He was born on September 29, 1943 in Popowo, Poland.
How old is Lech Wałęsa?
Lech Wałęsa is 83 years old, and turns 84 on his next birthday, September 29.
Who shares a birthday with Lech Wałęsa?
Famous people who share Lech Wałęsa's September 29 birthday include Miguel de Cervantes, Enrico Fermi, Silvio Berlusconi, Michelle Bachelet and Caravaggio.
