The Aga Khan Development Network, which employs approximately 96,000 people, finances development programs primarily in Asia and Africa. The Aga Khan passed away "peacefully" on February 4, 2025, at the age of 88, surrounded by his family in Lisbon. His foundation has been at the forefront of global development efforts, impacting millions through initiatives in education, healthcare, and infrastructure.

The Aga Khan, Imam of the Ismaili Muslims, has passed away "peacefully" at the age of 88 in Lisbon, his foundation announced on Tuesday.

"His Highness Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, Aga Khan IV, the 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims and a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), passed away peacefully in Lisbon on 4 February 2025, at the age of 88, surrounded by his family," the Aga Khan Foundation posted on social media.

The statement also mentioned that "the announcement of his designated successor will follow," referring to the individual who will become the fifth person to hold this esteemed position since the 19th century.

Regarded by his followers as a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad, the Aga Khan assumed leadership of the Ismaili Muslim community at the young age of 20 while he was still an undergraduate at Harvard University. Throughout his life, he transformed a material empire, built on billions of dollars in tithes, into a powerful force for development, establishing homes, hospitals, and schools across the world’s poorest regions.

The Aga Khan’s influence extended most notably throughout Central and Southern Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, with the Ismaili community numbering between 12 and 15 million people according to the foundation’s website. The community is a branch of Shia Islam.

Holding both British and Portuguese citizenship, the Aga Khan’s leadership was based in Lisbon, where there is a notable Ismaili community. Despite his significant spiritual role, the Aga Khan often refrained from publicly discussing sensitive issues such as Middle Eastern conflicts, religious fundamentalism, or Sunni-Shiite tensions.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his sorrow at the news of the Aga Khan’s passing, calling him "a symbol of peace, tolerance, and compassion in our troubled world."

Nobel Peace laureate and education campaigner Malala Yousafzai also paid tribute to the Aga Khan’s legacy, stating that his work in education, health, and development would "live on through the incredible work he led for education, health and development around the world."