Editor's note: the below article is currently out-of-date. It may be edited (repaired) in the future. Until then, please view the below material as "archival".
The following tables list only the oldest validated people in ordinal rank, such as oldest person or oldest man. For centenarians known for anything other than their extreme age, see list of oldest living notable people.
The longest unambiguously documented lifespan is that of Jeanne Calment of France (1875–1997), who died aged 122 years, 164 days. She met Vincent van Gogh at age 14.[1] This led to her being noticed by the media in 1988, at age 113. Subsequent investigation found that her life was documented in the records of her native city of Arles beyond reasonable question. More evidence (over 25 documents) for the Calment case has been produced than for almost any other supercentenarian case, which makes her case a gold standard among the oldest people recordholders. The oldest verified man ever is Jiroemon Kimura of Japan (1897–2013) who lived to 116 years, 54 days old.
Oldest living people
World's Oldest Person Titleholders (as of 2013)
The following is a list of the people who have held the title of oldest recognized person in the world since 1955 (the year Guinness Records began). This list does not reflect the original lists, but is instead retroactive - for example, the Betsy Baker case was not independently verified until the 2010s.
From | To | Name | Age when oldest |
Lived | Sex | Country |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Title began in 1955 |
24 Oct 1955 | Betsy Baker | ? –113 | 20 Aug 1842 – 24 Oct 1955 | F | ENG, UK (born) USA (Nebraska) (died) |
24 Oct 1955 | 25 Jun 1959 | Martha Graham | 110–114 | 27? Dec 1844 – 25 Jun 1959 | F | USA (North Carolina) |
25 Jun 1959 | 10 Feb 1961 | James Henry Brett, Jr. | 110–111? | 25 Jun 1849? – 10 Feb 1961 | M | USA (Texas) |
10 Feb 1961 | 16 Mar 1962 | Joseph Saint-Amour | 108–110 | 26 Feb 1852 – 16 Mar 1962 | M | CAN (Quebec) |
16 Mar 1962 | 17 Feb 1963 | Lovisa Svensson | 108–109 | 20 Nov 1853 – 17 Feb 1963 | F | SWE |
17 Feb 1963 | 8 Oct 1963 | Ellen Dart [2] | 108 | 1 Nov 1854 – 8 Oct 1963 | F | ENG, UK |
8 Oct 1963 | 6 Mar 1965 | Elizabeth Kensley [3] | 108–109 | 12 May 1855 – 6 Mar 1965 | F | ENG, UK |
6 Mar 1965 | 24 Jul 1965 | Auguste Pahl | 109 | 23 Nov 1855 – 24 July 1965 | F | GER |
24 Jul 1965 | 10 Jan 1966 | Hannah Smith | 109–110 | 7 Jan 1856 – 10 Jan 1966 | F | ENG, UK |
10 Jan 1966 | 21 Mar 1968 | John Mosley Turner | 109–111 | 15 June 1856 – 21 Mar 1968 | M | ENG, UK |
21 Mar 1968 | 16 Jun 1968 | Johanna Booysen | 111 | 17 Jan 1857 – 16 June 1968 | F | ZAF (Transvaal) |
16 Jun 1968 | 4 May 1969 | Marie Bernatkova [4] | 110–111 | 22 Oct 1857 – 4 May 1969 | F | CZE (Czechoslovakia) |
4 May 1969 | 11 Jan 1970 | Ada Roe | 110–111 | 6 Feb 1858 – 11 Jan 1970 | F | ENG, UK |
11 Jan 1970 | 27 Feb 1973 | Josefa Salas Mateo | 109–112 | 14 July 1860 – 27 Feb 1973 | F | ESP |
27 Feb 1973 | 18 Aug 1973 | Alice Stevenson | 111–112 | 10 July 1861 – 18 Aug 1973 | F | ENG, UK |
18 Aug 1973 | 31 Oct 1973 | Elizabeth Watkins | 110 | 10 Mar 1863 – 31 Oct 1973 | F | NIR, UK (born) ENG, UK (died) |
31 Oct 1973 | 31 May 1975 | Mito Umeta | 110–112 | 27 Mar 1863 – 31 May 1975 | F | JPN (Kyushu) |
31 May 1975 | 16 Nov 1976 | Niwa Kawamoto | 111–113 | 5 Aug 1863 – 16 Nov 1976 | F | JPN (Kansai) |
16 Nov 1976 | 21 Feb 1986 | Shigechiyo Izumi | 111–120? | 29 Jun 1865? – 21 Feb 1986 | M | JPN (Kyushu) |
20 Feb 1986 | 20 Sep 1986 | Mamie Eva Keith | 112–113 | 22 Mar 1873 – 20 Sep 1986 | F | USA (Illinois) |
20 Sep 1986 | 2 Feb 1987 | Mary McKinney | 113 | 30 May 1873 – 2 Feb 1987 | F | USA (California) |
2 Feb 1987 | 27 Dec 1987 | Anna Eliza Williams | 113–114 | 2 June 1873 – 27 Dec 1987 | F | ENG, UK (born) WAL, UK (died) |
27 Dec 1987 | 11 Jan 1988 | Florence Knapp | 114 | 10 Oct 1873 – 11 Jan 1988 | F | USA (Pennsylvania) |
11 Jan 1988 | 14 Feb 1991 | Carrie White | 113–116? | 18 Nov 1874? – 14 Feb 1991 | F | USA (Florida) |
14 Feb 1991 | 4 Aug 1997 | Jeanne Calment | 115–122 | 21 Feb 1875 – 4 Aug 1997 | F | FRA (Provence) |
4 Aug 1997 | 16 Apr 1998 | Marie-Louise Meilleur | 116–117 | 29 Aug 1880 – 16 Apr 1998 | F | CAN (Ontario) |
16 Apr 1998 | 30 Dec 1999 | Sarah Knauss | 117–119 | 24 Sep 1880 – 30 Dec 1999 | F | USA (Pennsylvania) |
30 Dec 1999 | 2 Nov 2000 | Eva Morris | 114 | 8 Nov 1885 – 2 Nov 2000 | F | ENG, UK |
2 Nov 2000 | 6 Jun 2001 | Marie Bremont | 114–115 | 25 Apr 1886 – 6 June 2001 | F | FRA (Anjou) |
5 Jun 2001 | 18 Mar 2002 | Maud Farris-Luse | 114–115 | 21 Jan 1887 – 18 Mar 2002 | F | USA (Michigan) |
19 Mar 2002 | 31 Oct 2003 | Kamato Hongo | 114–116? | 16 Sep 1887? – 31 Oct 2003 | F | JPN (Kyushu) |
31 Oct 2003 | 13 Nov 2003 | Mitoyo Kawate | 114 | 15 May 1889 – 13 Nov 2003 | F | JPN (Chugoku) |
13 Nov 2003 | 29 May 2004 | Ramona Trinidad Iglesias-Jordan | 114 | 31 Aug 1889 – 29 May 2004 | F | PRI,USA |
29 May 2004 | 27 Aug 2006 | Maria Capovilla | 114–116 | 14 Sep 1889 – 27 Aug 2006 | F | ECU |
27 Aug 2006 | 11 Dec 2006 | Elizabeth Bolden | 116 | 15 Aug 1890 – 11 Dec 2006 | F | USA (Tennessee) |
11 Dec 2006 | 24 Jan 2007 | Emiliano Mercado del Toro | 115 | 21 Aug 1891 – 24 Jan 2007 | M | PRI,USA |
24 Jan 2007 | 28 Jan 2007 | Emma Tillman | 114 | 22 Nov 1892 – 28 Jan 2007 | F | USA (Connecticut) |
29 Jan 2007 | 13 Aug 2007 | Yone Minagawa | 114 | 4 Jan 1893 – 13 Aug 2007 | F | JPN (Kyushu) |
13 Aug 2007 | 26 Nov 2008 | Edna Parker | 114–115 | 20 Apr 1893 – 26 Nov 2008 | F | USA (Indiana) |
26 Nov 2008 | 2 Jan 2009 | Maria de Jesus | 115 | 10 Sep 1893 – 2 Jan 2009 | F | POR (Tomar) |
2 Jan 2009 | 11 Sep 2009 | Gertrude Baines | 114–115 | 6 Apr 1894 – 11 Sep 2009 | F | USA (California) |
11 Sep 2009 | 2 May 2010 | Kama Chinen | 114 | 10 May 1895 – 2 May 2010 | F | JPN (Okinawa) |
2 May 2010 | 4 November 2010 | Eugenie Blanchard | 114 | 16 February 1896 – 4 November 2010 | F | FRA (Caribbean) |
4 November 2010 | 21 June 2011 | Maria Gomes Valentim | 114 | 9 July 1896 – 21 June 2011 | F | BRA |
21 June 2011 | 4 December 2012 | Besse Cooper | 114–116 | 26 August 1896 – 4 December 2012 | F | USA |
4 December 2012 | 17 December 2012 | Dina Manfredini | 115 | 4 April 1897 – 17 December 2012 | F | ITA (born) USA (died) |
17 December 2012 | 12 June 2013 | Jiroemon Kimura | 115–116 | 19 April 1897 – 12 June 2013 | M | JPN |
Followed by Eugenie Blanchard (dos Santos) and Maria Gomes Valentim. The longest consecutive time with the title of World's Oldest Person held was by Shigechiyo Izumi of Japan for 3384 days from 16 November 1976 to 21 February 1986. The shortest consecutive time was by Emma Tillman of the United States for 4 days from 24 January 2007 to 28 January 2007. The average length of time served as World's Oldest Person for the 37 people following Betsy Baker (prior to Kama Chinen) has been approximately 511.6 days. (This figure would drop to 431.8 days if Izumi were not included in the statistic). The country with the most people on the list is the United States with 12 (14 including Puerto Rico), followed by the United Kingdom with 9, and Japan with 6. This graph represents the list of people who have held the record as the oldest living person of which there is data, each person is represented by a single grey dot placed in the place of their final age and the date of when it was. The red circles represent the list of people who have progressively become the oldest people in history. The blue placemark indicates the recent oldest person in the world, Kama Chinen. The case of Shigechiyo Izumi is disputed, therefore, all people in his supposed record time period are counted, including Mathew Beard. However, if his case was proven, then he would be counted and all people under him would be erased.
Oldest living men (since 1961)
Note: Guinness World Records has only maintained the category of oldest living man intermittently over the years, not establishing it permanently until the year 2010. Persons listed prior to 2010 may be based on an historical reconstruction.
From | To | Name | Age when oldest |
Lived | Country |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
10 Feb 1961 | 16 Mar 1962 | Joseph Saint-Amour | 108–110 | 26 Feb 1852 – 16 Mar 1962 | CAN (Quebec) |
16 Mar 1962 | 21 Mar 1968 | John Mosley Turner | 105–111 | 15 June 1856 – 21 Mar 1968 | ENG, UK |
21 Mar 1968 | 5 May 1973 | Friedrich Wedeking | 105–110 | 10 Oct 1862 – 5 May 1973 | GER (West Germany) |
5 May 1973 | 9 Mar 1974 | Frederick Butterfield | 109–110 | 28 Feb 1864 – 9 Mar 1974 | ENG, UK |
9 Mar 1974 | 21 Feb 1986 | Shigechiyo Izumi | 108–120? | 29 Jun 1865? – 21 Feb 1986 | JPN (Kyushu) |
20 Feb 1986 | 14 Dec 1986 | Joe Thomas | 110–111 | 1 May 1875 – 14 Dec 1986 | USA (Louisiana) |
14 Dec 1986 | 5 Jan 1987 | Herman Smith-Johannsen | 111 | 15 June 1875 – 5 Jan 1987 | NOR CAN (Quebec)) |
5 Jan 1987 | 25 Nov 1988 | Alphaeus Philemon Cole | 110–112 | 12 July 1876 – 25 Nov 1988 | USA (New Jersey) |
25 Nov 1988 | 10 Jun 1990 | John Evans | 111–112 | 19 Aug 1877 – 10 Jun 1990 | WAL, UK |
10 Jun 1990 | 18 Jun 1990 | Henri Perignon | 110 | 14 Oct 1879 – 18 June 1990 | FRA (Normandy) |
18 Jun 1990 | 16 Oct 1991 | James Wiggins | 110–112 | 15 Oct 1879 – 16 Oct 1991 | USA (Arkansas) |
16 Oct 1991 | 14 Jun 1993 | Frederick Frazier | 111–113 | 27 Jan 1880 – 14 June 1993 | USA (Alabama) |
14 Jun 1993 | 25 Apr 1998 | Christian Mortensen | 110–115 | 16 Aug 1882 – 25 Apr 1998 | DEN (born) USA (California) (died) |
25 Apr 1998 | 17 July 1998 | Johnson Parks | 113 | 15 Oct 1884 – 17 July 1998 | USA (Florida) |
17 July 1998 | 25 Dec 1998 | Walter Richardson | 112–113 | 7 Nov 1885 – 25 Dec 1998 | USA (Illinois) |
25 Dec 1998 | 29 Apr 1999 | Denzo Ishisaki | 112 | 20 Oct 1886 – 29 Apr 1999 | JPN (Kanto) |
29 Apr 1999 | 15 Nov 1999 | Antonio Urrea-Hernandez | 111 | 16 Feb 1888 – 15 Nov 1999 | ESP (Catalonia) |
15 Nov 1999 | 1 Mar 2001 | John Painter | 111–112 | 20 Sept 1888 – 1 Mar 2001 | USA (Tennessee) |
1 Mar 2001 | 3 Jan 2002 | Antonio Todde | 112 | 22 Jan 1889 – 3 Jan 2002 | ITA (Sardinia) |
3 Jan 2002 | 28 Sep 2003 | Yukichi Chuganji | 112-114 | 23 Mar 1889 – 28 Sep 2003 | JPN (Kyushu) |
28 Sep 2003 | 5 Mar 2004 | Joan Riudavets | 113-114 | 15 Dec 1889 – 5 Mar 2004 | ESP (Minorca) |
5 Mar 2004 | 19 Nov 2004 | Fred Hale, Sr. | 113 | 1 Dec 1890 – 19 Nov 2004 | USA (Maine) |
19 Nov 2004 | 24 Jan 2007 | Emiliano Mercado del Toro | 113-115 | 21 Aug 1891 – 24 Jan 2007 | PRI,USA |
24 Jan 2007 | 19 Jun 2009 | Tomoji Tanabe | 111–113 | 18 Sept 1895 – 19 Jun 2009 | JPN (Kyushu) |
19 Jun 2009 | 18 Jul 2009 | Henry Allingham | 113 | 6 Jun 1896 – 18 Jul 2009 | ENG, UK (Ovingdean) |
18 Jul 2009 | 14 Apr 2011 | Walter Breuning | 112–114 | 21 Sep 1896 – 14 Apr 2011 | USA (Montana) |
14 Apr 2011 | 12 June 2013 | Jiroemon Kimura | 113–116 | 19 Apr 1897 – 12 June 2013 | JPN |
Followed by Walter Breuning and Jiroemon Kimura.
The longest consecutive time with the title of World's Oldest Man held was by Shigechiyo Izumi of Japan for 4,367 days from March 9, 1974 to February 21, 1986. The shortest consecutive time was by Henri Perignon of France for 8 days from June 10, 1990 to June 18, 1990. The country with the most people on the list is the United States with 9, followed by Japan with 4, and the United Kingdom with 3.
Oldest people ever (115+)
See List of oldest validated supercentenarians
Deceased Living Disputable Pending
Rank | Name | Sex | Birth | Death | Age | Country |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Jeanne Calment | F | 21 Feb 1875 | 4 Aug 1997 | 122 years, 164 days | FRA |
2 | Kane Tanaka | F | 2 Jan 1903 | 19 Apr 2022 | 119 years, 107 days | JPN |
3 | Sarah Knauss | F | 24 Sept 1880 | 30 Dec 1999 | 119 years, 97 days | USA |
4 | Lucile Randon | F | 11 Feb 1904 | 17 Jan 2023 | 118 years, 340 days | FRA |
5 | Nabi Tajima | F | 4 Aug 1900 | 21 Apr 2018 | 117 years, 260 days | JPN |
6 | Marie-Louise Meilleur | F | 29 Aug 1880 | 16 Apr 1998 | 117 years, 230 days | CAN |
7 | Violet Brown | F | 10 Mar 1900 | 15 Sept 2017 | 117 years, 189 days | JAM |
8 | Emma Morano-Martinuzzi | F | 29 Nov 1899 | 15 Apr 2017 | 117 years, 137 days | ITA |
9 | Chiyo Miyako | F | 2 May 1901 | 22 July 2018 | 117 years, 81 days | JPN |
10 | Delphia Welford | F | 9 Sep 1875 | 14 Nov 1992 | 117 years, 66 days | USA |
11 | Misao Okawa | F | 5 Mar 1898 | 1 Apr 2015 | 117 years, 27 days | JPN |
12 | Francisca Celsa dos Santos | F | 21 Oct 1904 | 5 Oct 2021 | 116 years, 349 days | BRA |
13 | Maria Esther de Capovilla | F | 14 Sept 1889 | 27 Aug 2006 | 116 years, 347 days | ECU |
14 | Susannah Mushatt Jones | F | 6 July 1899 | 12 May 2016 | 116 years, 311 days | USA |
15 | Gertrude Weaver | F | 4 July 1898 | 6 Apr 2015 | 116 years, 276 days | USA |
16 | Fusa Tatsumi | F | 25 Apr 1907 | 12 Dec 2023 | 116 years, 231 days | JPN |
17 | Antonia da Santa Cruz | F | 13 June 1905 | 23 Jan 2022 | 116 years, 224 days | BRA |
18 | Tane Ikai | F | 18 Jan 1879 | 12 July 1995 | 116 years, 175 days | JPN |
19 | Jeanne Bot | F | 14 Jan 1905 | 22 May 2021 | 116 years, 128 days | FRA |
20 | Elizabeth Bolden | F | 15 Aug 1890 | 11 Dec 2006 | 116 years, 118 days | USA |
21 | Besse Cooper | F | 26 Aug 1896 | 4 Dec 2012 | 116 years, 100 days | USA |
22 | Maria Giuseppa Robucci-Nargiso | F | 20 Mar 1903 | 18 June 2019 | 116 years, 90 days | ITA |
23 | Tekla Juniewicz | F | 10 June 1906 | 19 Aug 2022 | 116 years, 70 days | UKRPOL |
24 | Jiroemon Kimura | M | 19 Apr 1897 | 12 June 2013 | 116 years, 54 days | JPN |
25 | Ana Vela-Rubio | F | 29 Oct 1901 | 15 Dec 2017 | 116 years, 47 days | ESP |
26 | Giuseppina Projetto-Frau | F | 30 May 1902 | 6 July 2018 | 116 years, 37 days | ITA |
27 | Jeralean Talley | F | 23 May 1899 | 17 June 2015 | 116 years, 25 days | USA |
28 | Shigeyo Nakachi | F | 1 Feb 1905 | 11 Jan 2021 | 115 years, 345 days | JPN |
29 | Maggie Barnes | F | 6 Mar 1882 | 19 Jan 1998 | 115 years, 319 days | USA |
30 | Dina Manfredini | F | 4 Apr 1897 | 17 Dec 2012 | 115 years, 257 days | ITA USA |
31 | Shimoe Akiyama | F | 19 May 1903 | 29 Jan 2019 | 115 years, 255 days | JPN |
32 | Christian Mortensen | M | 16 Aug 1882 | 25 Apr 1998 | 115 years, 252 days | DENUSA |
33 | Hester Ford | F | 15 Aug 1905 | 17 Apr 2021 | 115 years, 245 days | USA |
34 | Charlotte Hughes | F | 1 Aug 1877 | 17 Mar 1993 | 115 years, 228 days | UK |
35 | Edna Parker | F | 20 Apr 1893 | 26 Nov 2008 | 115 years, 220 days | USA |
36 | Mary Ann Rhodes | F | 12 Aug 1882 | 3 Mar 1998 | 115 years, 203 days | CAN |
37 | Anonymous (Tokyo) | F | 15 Mar 1900 | 27 Sept 2015 | 115 years, 196 days | JPN |
38 | Margaret Skeete | F | 27 Oct 1878 | 7 May 1994 | 115 years, 192 days | USA |
39 | Bernice Madigan | F | 24 July 1899 | 3 Jan 2015 | 115 years, 163 days | USA |
40 | Gertrude Baines | F | 6 Apr 1894 | 11 Sept 2009 | 115 years, 158 days | USA |
41 | Emiliano Mercado del Toro | M | 21 Aug 1891 | 24 Jan 2007 | 115 years, 156 days | PRI,USA |
42 | Bettie Wilson | F | 13 Sept 1890 | 13 Feb 2006 | 115 years, 153 days | USA |
43 | Shin Matsushita | F | 30 Mar 1904 | 27 Aug 2019 | 115 years, 150 days | JPN |
44 | Iris Westman | F | 28 Aug 1905 | 3 Jan 2021 | 115 years, 128 days | USA |
45 | Julie Winnefred Bertrand | F | 16 Sept 1891 | 18 Jan 2007 | 115 years, 124 days | CAN |
46 | Maria de Jesus | F | 10 Sept 1893 | 2 Jan 2009 | 115 years, 114 days | POR |
47 | Marie-Josephine Gaudette | F | 25 Mar 1902 | 13 July 2017 | 115 years, 110 days | USA ITA |
48 | Susie Gibson | F | 31 Oct 1890 | 16 Feb 2006 | 115 years, 108 days | USA |
Thelma Sutcliffe | F | 1 Oct 1906 | 17 Jan 2022 | 115 years, 108 days | USA | |
49 | Augusta Holtz | F | 3 Aug 1871 | 21 Oct 1986 | 115 years, 79 days | GERUSA |
50 | Valentine Ligny | F | 22 Oct 1906 | 4 Jan 2022 | 115 years, 74 days | FRA |
51 | Hendrikje van Andel-Schipper | F | 29 June 1890 | 30 Aug 2005 | 115 years, 62 days | NED |
52 | Maud Farris-Luse | F | 21 Jan 1887 | 18 Mar 2002 | 115 years, 56 days | USA |
53 | Mina Kitagawa | F | 3 Nov 1905 | 19 Dec 2020 | 115 years, 46 days | JPN |
54 | Marie Bremont | F | 25 Apr 1886 | 6 June 2001 | 115 years, 42 days | FRA |
55 | Yoshi Otsunari | F | 17 Dec 1906 | 26 Jan 2022 | 115 years, 40 days | JPN |
56 | Koto Okubo | F | 24 Dec 1897 | 12 Jan 2013 | 115 years, 19 days | JPN |
57 | Antonia Gerena Rivera | F | 19 May 1900 | 2 June 2015 | 115 years, 14 days | PRI,USA USA |
58 | Chiyono Hasegawa | F | 20 Nov 1896 | 2 Dec 2011 | 115 years, 12 days | JPN |
59 | Annie Jennings | F | 12 Nov 1884 | 20 Nov 1999 | 115 years, 8 days | UK |
60 | Anonymous of Hyogo | F | 29 Apr 1907 | 30 Apr 2022 | 115 years, 1 day | JPN |
}
Oldest men ever (top 10)
See List of male supercentenarians
# | Name | Age | Born | Died | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Jiroemon Kimura | 116 years, 54 days | 19 April 1897 | 12 June 2013 | JPN Oldest validated man ever |
2 | Christian Mortensen | 115 years, 252 days | 16 Aug 1882 | 25 April 1998 | DEN –USA Oldest male migrant. Danish immigrant to U.S. |
3 | Emiliano Mercado del Toro | 115 years, 156 days | 21 Aug 1891 | 24 Jan 2007 | PRI,USA Oldest Puerto Rican and oldest living person 2006–2007 |
4 | Juan Vicente Perez Mora | 114 years, 311 days | 27 May 1909 | VEN | Oldest living man 2022-2024 |
5 | Walter Breuning | 114 years, 205 days | 21 Sep 1896 | 14 April 2011 | USA |
6 | Yukichi Chuganji | 114 years, 189 days | 23 Mar 1889 | 28 Sep 2003 | World's oldest person 2002-2003 |
7 | Joan Riudavets | 114 years, 81 days | 15 Dec 1889 | 5 Mar 2004 | ESP Oldest Spaniard and oldest living man 2003–2004 |
8 | Fred Hale, Sr. | 113 years, 354 days | 1 Dec 1890 | 19 Nov 2004 | USA Oldest living man 2004 |
9 | Israel Kristal | 113 years, 330 days | 15 Sep 1903 | 11 Aug 2017 | POL ISR |
10 | Efrain Antonio Rios Garcia | 113 years, 282 days | 15 Oct 1884 | 11 January 2024 | COL |
Oldest validated people currently living (2024)
Name | Age | Sex | Born | Residence |
---|---|---|---|---|
Maria Branyas Morera | 117 years, 46 days | F | 4 March 1907 | Lives in Olot, Catalonia, Spain |
Tomiko Itooka | 115 years, 331 days | F | 23 May 1908 | Lives in Ashiya, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan |
Inah Canabarro Lucas | 115 years, 315 days | F | 8 June 1908 | Lives in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil |
Elizabeth Francis | 114 years, 268 days | F | 25 July 1909 | Lives in Houston, Texas, USA |
Ethel Caterham | 114 years, 241 days | F | 21 August 1909 | Lives in Surrey Heath, Surrey, England, United Kingdom |
Okagi Hayashi | 114 years, 229 days | F | 2 September 1909 | Lives in Tsumagicho, Toki City, Gifu Prefecture, Japan |
Masa Matsumoto | 114 years, 141 days | F | 29 November 1909 | Lives in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan |
Charlotte Kretschmann | 114 years, 137 days | F | 03 December 1909 | Lives in Kirchheim unter Teck, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany |
Kikue Taira | 113 years, 358 days | F | 26 April 1910 | Lives in Yomitan, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan |
Hisako Shiroishi | 113 years, 335 days | F | 26 April 1910 | Lives Higashichichibu, Saitama Prefecture, Japan |
Oldest men currently living (January 2024)
Name | Age | Born | Residence | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
John Tinniswood | 111 years, 236 days | 26 Aug 1912 | Lives in Southport, Merseyside, UK |
Supercentenarians who died before 1955
Name | Born | Died | Age | Sex | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thomas Peters | 1745 | 1857 | 111 years, 354 days | M | NED; earliest supercentenarian recognized by Guinness World Records |
Geert Boomgaard | 1788 | 1899 | 110 years, 135 days | M | NED; earliest supercentenarian recognized by some scholars |
Margaret Ann Neve | 1792 | 1903 | 110 years, 321 days | F | GGY, UK , Channel Islands |
Ann Pouder | 1807 | 1917 | 110 years, 93 days | F | ENG, UK Born USA (Nebraska) Died |
Louisa Thiers | 1814 | 1926 | 111 years, 138 days | F | USA (New York) |
Delina Filkins | 1815 | 1928 | 113 years, 214 days | F | USA New York, U.S. |
Miriam Banister | 1817 | 1928 | 111 years, 21 days | F | UK England, UK Born USA Missouri, U.S. Died |
Demetrius Philipovitch | 1818 | 1928 | 110 years 144+ days | M | Yugoslavia |
Katherine Plunket | 1820 | 1932 | 111 years 327 days | F | IRL Ireland |
Anna Wheeler | 1833 | 1943 | 110 years 288 days | F | USA New York, U.S. |
Velgjer Svien | 1842 | 1953 | 110 years 105 days | F | NOR Born USA Minnesota, U.S. Died |
National longevity recordholders
- Main article: National longevity recordholders
Nation of death (oldest first)
Country | Age | Sex | Name | Born | Died |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
FRA | 122 years, 164 days | F | Jeanne Calment | 21 Feb 1875 | 4 Aug 1997 |
JPN | 119 years, 107 days | F | Kane Tanaka | 2 Jan 1903 | 19 Apr 2022 |
USA | 119 years, 97 days | F | Sarah Knauss | 24 Sep 1880 | 30 Dec 1999 |
CAN | 117 years, 230 days | F | Marie-Louise Meilleur | 29 Aug 1880 | 16 Apr 1998 |
JAM | 117 years, 189 days | F | Violet Brown | 10 Mar 1900 | 15 Sept 2017 |
ITA | 117 years, 137 days | F | Emma Morano | 29 Nov 1899 | 15 Apr 2017 |
BRA | 116 years, 349 days | F | Francisca Celsa dos Santos | 21 Oct 1904 | 5 Oct 2021 |
ECU | 116 years, 347 days | F | Maria Capovilla | 14 Sep 1889 | 27 Aug 2006 |
ESP | 116 years, 47 days | F | Ana Vela-Rubio | 29 Oct 1901 | 15 Dec 2017 |
UK | 115 years, 228 days | F | Charlotte Hughes | 1 Aug 1877 | 17 Mar 1993 |
ROU | 115? years, 157 days | F | Anitica Butariu | 30 Jun 1882? | 21 Nov 1997 |
POR | 115 years, 114 days | F | Maria de Jesus | 10 Sep 1893 | 2 Jan 2009 |
NED | 115 years, 62 days | F | Hendrikje van Andel-Schipper | 29 Jun 1890 | 30 Aug 2005 |
AUS | 114 years, 148 days | F | Christina Cock | 25 Dec 1887 | 22 May 2002 |
NZL | 113 years, 109 days | F | Florence Finch | 22 Dec 1893 | 10 Apr 2007 |
SWE | 113 years, 0 days | F | Astrid Zachrison | 15 May 1895 | 15 May 2008 |
GER | 112 years, 362 days | F | Maria Laqua | 12 Feb 1889? | 9 Feb 2002 |
SUI | 112 years, 327 days | F | Rosa Rein | 24 Mar 1897 | 14 Feb 2010 |
FIN | 112 years, 259 days | F | Lempi Maria Rothovius | 2 Oct 1887 | 17 Jun 2000 |
BEL | 112 years, 186 days | F | Joanna Deroover | 3 Jun 1890 | 6 Dec 2002 |
AUT | 112 years, 178 days | F | Maria Mika | 23 May 1882? | 17 Nov 1994 |
NOR | 112 years, 61 days | F | Maren Bolette Torp | 21 Dec 1876 | 20 Feb 1989 |
IRL | 111 years, 327 days | F | Hon. Katherine Plunket | 22 Nov 1820 | 14 Oct 1932 |
ZAF | 111 years, 151 days | F | Johanna Booysen | 17 Jan 1857 | 16 Jun 1968 |
DEN | 111 years, 114 days | F | Anne Matthiesen | 26 Nov 1884 | 19 Mar 1996 |
URU | 111 years, 107 days | F | Manolita Pina | 24 Feb 1883 | 11 Jun 1994 |
Emigrant records (oldest first)
Note: Listed for countries where an emigrant lived longer than any lifelong resident. Some of these essentially moved from colonies back to their mother-country.
Country | Age | Sex | Name | Born | Died | Died in |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DEN | 115 years, 252 days | M | Christian Mortensen | 16 Aug 1882 | 25 Apr 1998 | USA |
CPV | 114 years, 183 days | F | Adelina Domingues | 19 Feb 1888 | 21 Aug 2002 | USA |
GER | 114 years, 180 days | F | Charlotte Benkner | 16 Nov 1889 | 14 May 2004 | Died U.S.A. |
ALG | 114 years, 172 days | F | Anne Primout | 5 Oct 1890 | 26 Mar 2005 | Died France |
IND | 113 years, 197 days | F | Lucy d'Abreu | 24 May 1892 | 7 Dec 2005 | Died UK |
HUN | 112 years, 332 days | F | Elizabeth Stefan | 13 May 1895 | 9 Apr 2008 | Died U.S. |
MAR | 111 years, 282 days | F | Consuelo Moreno-Lopez | 5 Feb 1893 | 13 Nov 2004 | Died U.S. |
GRE | 110 years, 341 days | M | Gregory Pandazes | 15 Jan 1873 | 22 Dec 1983 | Died U.S. |
PER | 110 years, 106 days | F | Julia Dougherty | 20 Aug 1893 | 4 Dec 2003 | Died U.S. |
Gerontology and the verification of age claims
Gerontology involves the tracking of the longest-lived proven individuals as the bio-markers of the human life span. The study of gerontology is usually credited to Michel Eugène Chevreul, a French chemist who died in 1889, aged 102. In the early years of the twenty first century gerontology is benefiting from the improvements in record-keeping in the industrialized world from the latter part of the nineteenth century. As a result, verification standards have evolved and multiple independent documentary confirmations of birth-date are now required to substantiate a claim, rather than evidence deriving only from the claimant. For claims that have not been satisfactorily confirmed by Guinness World Records, considered the authority, see Longevity Claims (115-129).
Current trends in the lifespans of the oldest humans
The population and lifespans of the world's oldest people are continually increasing due to improvements in health care and lifestyle during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and the increasing world population. Additionally, better record-keeping, both 100+ years ago and today, is increasing the percentage of the world's population whose age can be tracked and verified. This increase has been matched by efforts to harness this data. While in 1837 the oldest verified person was aged 108 years, it is now no longer unheard of for individuals, especially females, to have lived 110 years and more. The term supercentenarian has been coined to describe this emerging population group.
See also
References
- ↑ Craig R. Whitney (1997-08-05). "Jeanne Calment, World's Elder, Dies at 122". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
- ↑ Born in Great Paignton, Devon. Research by Andrew Walton and others at the Gerontology Research Group validated her case in September 2007 as the world's oldest person from February 17, 1963, the death of her predecessor, Lovisa Svensson, until her own death. The original birth and death documents were located for Miss Dart, who never married. Her death was covered by local newspapers, including page 5 of the October 9, 1963 Herald Express and page 12 of the October 12, 1963 Paignton Observer. She was said to have been in good shape until shortly before her death at age 108 years and 341 days.
- ↑ From St Pancras, London, England. Recognized at the time by Guinness World Records as the oldest person to die in the UK at 109 years and 298 days. Her record was broken later that year by Hannah Smith. Born Elizabeth Alice Walker, she was the last person to become the oldest living person at 'just' 108.
- ↑ First included in the 1970 Guinness Book of Records, she was the oldest recognized living person in the world.
External links
- Louis Epstein: The Oldest Human Beings — list of validly-documented supercentenarians (by age and chronological), including a chronological list of the oldest living listed persons since 1955 (however, for a time in the 1960s the oldest living person did not officially reach 110).
- Supercentenarian tables at the Gerontology Research Group
- International Database on Longevity