Xi Jinping

1953 – present · age 73^[1][2]

Politics & Leadership

Fun Facts About Xi Jinping

• Xi Jinping spent seven years in the village of Liangjiahe, in what was then one of China's poorest areas, living in a yaodong, a type of cave house found in northern China.^[1]
• Xi's wife, Peng Liyuan, is a famed folk singer who remained far better known in China than Xi until the late 2000s.^[1]
• Unable to stand rural life after being sent to the countryside at 15, Xi ran away to Beijing. He was caught and sent to a work camp to dig ditches, then returned to the village.^[1]
• Xi studied chemical engineering at Tsinghua University from 1975 to 1979, after applying to the university in all three of his allowed choices.^[1]
• Xi is an avid football fan who has said he hopes China will qualify for, host and win a World Cup by 2050.^[1]
• Xi's favorite foreign authors reportedly include Leo Tolstoy, Victor Hugo and Jack London, and he is reported to like films such as The Godfather and Saving Private Ryan.^{[1][3][4][5][6]}
• Xi Jinping was alive at the same time as Henri Matisse — their lives overlapped for 1 year (1953–1954).^[1][2][7][8]
• Xi Jinping's lifetime included this world event: Nelson Mandela released from prison (1990).^[1][2][9]

Xi Jinping is a Chinese politician who is the paramount leader of China. He has served as the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and chairman of the Party Central Military Commission (CMC) since 2012, and as the president of China and chairman of the State Central Military Commission since 2013.^[1]

Contemporaries

Noam Chomsky

73 yr overlap

Wole Soyinka

73 yr overlap

Dalai Lama

73 yr overlap

Woody Allen

73 yr overlap

Francis Ford Coppola

73 yr overlap

Bob Dylan

73 yr overlap

Billie Jean King

73 yr overlap

Aung San Suu Kyi

73 yr overlap

Steven Spielberg

73 yr overlap

Haruki Murakami

73 yr overlap

Tu Youyou

73 yr overlap

Yoko Ono

73 yr overlap

Their World

Questions About Xi Jinping

When was Xi Jinping born?

Xi Jinping was born on June 15, 1953, and is alive today.

How old is Xi Jinping?

Xi Jinping was born on June 15, 1953, and turned 73 on June 15, 2026.

What is Xi Jinping known for?

Xi Jinping is known for: General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party. Xi Jinping is a Chinese politician who is the paramount leader of China. He has served as the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and chairman of the Party Central Military Commission (CMC) since 2012, and as the president of China and chairman of the State Central Military Commission since 2013.

Who was alive at the same time as Xi Jinping?

Xi Jinping's closest contemporary was Noam Chomsky. Their lives overlapped for 73 years.