Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is 69 years old as of October 2026. He was born on 28 October 1956.
Hardline former mayor of Tehran who served as President of Iran from 2005 to 2013 and expanded its nuclear programme
Did you know?Before his political career, he earned a PhD in traffic and transport planning and worked as a university lecturer.
Quick facts
Date of birth28 October 1956
Age69
NationalityIranian
BirthplaceAradan, Iran
Occupationuniversity teacher, engineer, head of state
Editor's Take:
Ahmadinejad rose from mayor of Tehran to become one of the most confrontational leaders of his era. As president of Iran he pressed ahead with the country's nuclear programme and made inflammatory statements that alarmed Western governments. His disputed re-election in 2009 sparked the largest protests Iran had seen in decades. Later he fell out with the country's clerical leadership and was barred from standing again. He remains a polarising figure at home and abroad.
Key Milestones
2003: Mayor of Tehran – elected
2005: President – first term
2009: Re-election – protests
2013: Leaves office – term ends
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (né Sabbaghian; born 28 October 1956) is an Iranian politician who served as the president of Iran from 2005 to 2013. Ideologically a principlist and nationalist, he was a member of the Expediency Discernment Council.
