Date of birth: December 18, 1878
Date of death: March 5, 1953 (aged 74 years)
Height: 5′ 4″ (163 cm)
Weight: unknown
Hair color: Salt and Pepper
Eye color: Dark brown
Joseph Stalin was born Ioseb Besarionis dze Jughashvili on December 18, 1878, in Gori, Georgia, then part of the Russian Empire. He joined the Bolshevik movement and used his position as Communist Party general secretary to consolidate control over the Soviet Union.
Stalin ruled as a dictator from the late 1920s until his death. His government carried out forced collectivization, mass deportations, executions and imprisonment in the Gulag; its policies contributed to famine and millions of deaths. He also led the Soviet Union during most of the Second World War.
Stalin died in Moscow on March 5, 1953, at age 74. The old article speculated about his weight control, shooting ability, hunting, horse riding and gardening from inconsistent memoirs. Those anecdotes were removed because they do not form a reliable health or fitness profile.
Updated details
Biographical and career details were reviewed and the article text was updated on September 7, 2026. Historical measurements and past routine descriptions are identified as such.
