Hans Christian Andersen was 70 years old when he died in 1875.
Andersen was born on 2 April 1805 in Odense, Denmark, and died on 4 August 1875 at the home of his supporters, the Melchior family, near Copenhagen. Because his birthday had already occurred that year, he was 70 at the time of his death.
His final years were affected by declining health, but he remained a celebrated national and international figure. He had spent decades travelling, writing, and meeting prominent artists and intellectuals. His stories had already been translated into many languages before his death.
Age calculations can sometimes produce confusion when biographies list only the years 1805 and 1875. Subtracting the years gives 70, and the dates confirm that the calculation is exact. Andersen’s death year is distinct from the date of his burial at Assistens Cemetery in Copenhagen.