Philosophy · Literature · Politics · 1818–1883

Karl Marx — Age, Birthday & Biography

Born: 5 May 1818 · Died: 14 March 1883 · Age: 64

German philosopher and economist who co-wrote The Communist Manifesto and Das Kapital, inspiring socialist and communist movements worldwide

Did you know?He is buried in Highgate Cemetery in London, where his tomb is a Grade I listed monument.

Quick facts

  • Date of birth5 May 1818
  • Date of death14 March 1883
  • Age at death64
  • Cause of deathLung disease
  • NationalityGerman
  • BirthplaceTrier, Germany
  • Occupationeconomist, journalist, historian

Editor's Take:

Marx is unusual among philosophers in that his ideas were not just debated but used to build entire states. He spent much of his working life in London, often in poverty, researching in the British Museum Reading Room and supported by his friend and collaborator Friedrich Engels. His central argument, that history is driven by conflict between economic classes, changed how economists, historians and sociologists think about society. The governments later built in his name, from the Soviet Union to China, went far beyond anything he described, and many became notoriously repressive. Whether admired or criticised, he remains one of the most cited thinkers of all time.

Key Milestones

  1. 1843: Moves to Paris and meets Friedrich Engels
  2. 1848: Publishes The Communist Manifesto with Engels
  3. 1849: Settles in London in exile
  4. 1864: Helps found the First International
  5. 1867: Publishes the first volume of Das Kapital
  6. 1883: Dies in London

Karl Marx (German:; 5 May 1818 – 14 March 1883) was a German philosopher, social and political theorist, and revolutionary socialist.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

“Workers of the world, unite!”
— Karl Marx, The Communist Manifesto
“Religion is the opium of the people.”
— Karl Marx, 1843 essay

Profile

Karl Marx: Author of Das Kapital

German philosopher and economist, born 1818

Karl Marx was born in Trier on 5 May 1818.

He co-wrote The Communist Manifesto with Friedrich Engels in 1848.

He published the first volume of Das Kapital in 1867.

He died in London on 14 March 1883.

Career highlights

  1. 1843Paris: exile begins
  2. 1848Communist Manifesto: with Engels
  3. 1849London: settles for life
  4. 1864First International: co-founds
  5. 1867Das Kapital: volume one

Did you know?He is buried in Highgate Cemetery, London.

Age at death
64
Years since death
143

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Questions people ask

Frequently asked questions

When is Karl Marx's birthday?
Karl Marx's birthday is May 5. He was born on May 5, 1818 in Trier, Germany.
How old was Karl Marx when he died?
Karl Marx died on March 14, 1883, aged 64.
Who shares a birthday with Karl Marx?
Famous people who share Karl Marx's May 5 birthday include Søren Kierkegaard, Henryk Sienkiewicz, Adele, Henry Cavill and Chris Brown.

Born on the same day6

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Photo: Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America · CC BY-SA 2.0

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Reviewed by the Who Shares My Birthday editorial team.

Last reviewed: October 2026