Today’s low oil prices are probably not the result, even in part, of elderly men ruling over the world’s major energy-exporting nations. Still, it may be worth noting that the royal sons of Saudi Arabia’s modern founder Abdulaziz bin Saud are mostly older now than they have been in the past, and that the leaders of energy-endowed countries like Iran, Algeria, Angola, Oman, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan have now reached old age after multiple decades in office. Even Vladimir Putin is 63 years old, up from 47 when he first came to power. As Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak and Libya’s Moammar Gaddafi arguably showed in 2011, longtime aging rulers can sometimes give way to political upheaval that causes their country’s oil and gas production to fall. An unfortunate spate of heart attacks among some of the following leaders – particularly the ones allied with the West, and most notably the Sunni Arab countries – might indeed cause global energy exports to fall, and then perhaps even prices to rise:
Kuwait – Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah – 86 years old – In power since 2006
Sabah’s presumed successor, Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, is 78 years old. As recently as 2012, Kuwait was the world’s largest oil exporter outside of Russia and Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia – Salman bin Abdulazin bin Saud – 80 years old – In power since 2015
Salman will probably be the last king to be chosen from among the 45 or so sons of the founder of modern Saudi Arabia, Abdulaziz bin Saud. Salman’s youngest living sibling, his half-brother Muqrin, is turning 71 this year and, as of last year, is no longer the designated Crown Prince. The Saudi Crown Prince has since become Muhammad bin Nayef (56), Salman’s nephew, but the Deputy Crown Prince is now Salman’s own son Mohammad bin Salman, 30.
Algeria – Abdulaziz Bouteflika – 79 years old – In power since 1999
