Ursula von der Leyen is 68 years old as of October 2026. She was born on 8 October 1958.
German politician and former defence minister who became the first female President of the European Commission in 2019
Did you know?She lived in London under a pseudonym while her father was a prominent politician to avoid potential security threats.
Quick facts
Date of birth8 October 1958
Age68
NationalityGerman
Occupationphysician, politician, equestrian
Editor's Take:
Ursula von der Leyen is the first woman to lead the European Commission. She was born and raised in Brussels, where her father was a senior European official. She trained as a doctor and raised seven children. She entered politics in her forties and served in all of Angela Merkel's cabinets. She was Germany's first woman defence minister. In 2019 she became Commission president. She led the EU through the pandemic and its response to Russia's war on Ukraine. She was re-elected in 2024.
Key Milestones
2005: Family minister – Germany
2009: Labour minister – Germany
2013: Defence minister – first woman
2019: Commission president – elected
Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen (née Albrecht; born 8 October 1958) is a German politician and physician who has served as President of the European Commission since 2019.
Ursula von der Leyen: President of the European Commission
German politician, born 1958
Ursula von der Leyen was born in Ixelles, Brussels, on 8 October 1958.
She trained as a doctor.
She was defence minister from 2013.
She became Commission president in 2019.
Career highlights
2005Family minister: Germany
2009Labour minister: Germany
2013Defence minister: first woman
2019Commission president: elected
2024Second term: elected
Did you know?She grew up in Brussels, where her father worked for the European Commission.
Age
68
Status
Living
Family
Father
Ernst Albrecht
Mother
Adele Albrecht
Spouse
Heiko von der Leyen
Children
David von der Leyen, Egmont von der Leyen, Gracia von der Leyen, Johanna von der Leyen, Maria Donata von der Leyen, Sophie von der Leyen, Victoria von der Leyen
