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Editor's note: the below article is currently out-of-date.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

See 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 EnglandENG,United Kingdom UK (born)
United StatesUSA (Nebraska) (died)
24 Oct 1955 25 Jun 1959 Martha Graham 110–114 27? Dec 1844 – 25 Jun 1959 F United StatesUSA (North Carolina)
25 Jun 1959 10 Feb 1961 James Henry Brett, Jr. 110–111? 25 Jun 1849? – 10 Feb 1961 M United StatesUSA (Texas)
10 Feb 1961 16 Mar 1962 Joseph Saint-Amour 108–110 26 Feb 1852 – 16 Mar 1962 M CanadaCAN (Quebec)
16 Mar 1962 17 Feb 1963 Lovisa Svensson 108–109 20 Nov 1853 – 17 Feb 1963 F SwedenSWE
17 Feb 1963 8 Oct 1963 Ellen Dart [2] 108 1 Nov 1854 – 8 Oct 1963 F EnglandENG,United Kingdom UK
8 Oct 1963 6 Mar 1965 Elizabeth Kensley [3] 108–109 12 May 1855 – 6 Mar 1965 F EnglandENG,United Kingdom UK
6 Mar 1965 24 Jul 1965 Auguste Pahl 109 23 Nov 1855 – 24 July 1965 F GermanyGER
24 Jul 1965 10 Jan 1966 Hannah Smith 109–110 7 Jan 1856 – 10 Jan 1966 F EnglandENG,United Kingdom UK
10 Jan 1966 21 Mar 1968 John Mosley Turner 109–111 15 June 1856 – 21 Mar 1968 M EnglandENG,United Kingdom UK
21 Mar 1968 16 Jun 1968 Johanna Booysen 111 17 Jan 1857 – 16 June 1968 F South AfricaZAF (Transvaal)
16 Jun 1968 4 May 1969 Marie Bernatkova [4] 110–111 22 Oct 1857 – 4 May 1969 F Czech RepublicCZE (Czechoslovakia)
4 May 1969 11 Jan 1970 Ada Roe 110–111 6 Feb 1858 – 11 Jan 1970 F EnglandENG,United Kingdom UK
11 Jan 1970 27 Feb 1973 Josefa Salas Mateo 109–112 14 July 1860 – 27 Feb 1973 F SpainESP
27 Feb 1973 18 Aug 1973 Alice Stevenson 111–112 10 July 1861 – 18 Aug 1973 F EnglandENG,United Kingdom UK
18 Aug 1973 31 Oct 1973 Elizabeth Watkins 110 10 Mar 1863 – 31 Oct 1973 F  NIR,United Kingdom UK (born)
EnglandENG,United Kingdom UK (died)
31 Oct 1973 31 May 1975 Mito Umeta 110–112 27 Mar 1863 – 31 May 1975 F JapanJPN (Kyushu)
31 May 1975 16 Nov 1976 Niwa Kawamoto 111–113 5 Aug 1863 – 16 Nov 1976 F JapanJPN (Kansai)
16 Nov 1976 21 Feb 1986 Shigechiyo Izumi 111–120? 29 Jun 1865? – 21 Feb 1986 M JapanJPN (Kyushu)
20 Feb 1986 20 Sep 1986 Mamie Eva Keith 112–113 22 Mar 1873 – 20 Sep 1986 F United StatesUSA (Illinois)
20 Sep 1986 2 Feb 1987 Mary McKinney 113 30 May 1873 – 2 Feb 1987 F United StatesUSA (California)
2 Feb 1987 27 Dec 1987 Anna Eliza Williams 113–114 2 June 1873 – 27 Dec 1987 F EnglandENG,United Kingdom UK (born)
WalesWAL,United Kingdom UK (died)
27 Dec 1987 11 Jan 1988 Florence Knapp 114 10 Oct 1873 – 11 Jan 1988 F United StatesUSA (Pennsylvania)
11 Jan 1988 14 Feb 1991 Carrie White 113–116? 18 Nov 1874? – 14 Feb 1991 F United StatesUSA (Florida)
14 Feb 1991 4 Aug 1997 Jeanne Calment 115–122 21 Feb 1875 – 4 Aug 1997 F FranceFRA (Provence)
4 Aug 1997 16 Apr 1998 Marie-Louise Meilleur 116–117 29 Aug 1880 – 16 Apr 1998 F CanadaCAN (Ontario)
16 Apr 1998 30 Dec 1999 Sarah Knauss 117–119 24 Sep 1880 – 30 Dec 1999 F United StatesUSA (Pennsylvania)
30 Dec 1999 2 Nov 2000 Eva Morris 114 8 Nov 1885 – 2 Nov 2000 F EnglandENG,United Kingdom UK
2 Nov 2000 6 Jun 2001 Marie Bremont 114–115 25 Apr 1886 – 6 June 2001 F FranceFRA (Anjou)
5 Jun 2001 18 Mar 2002 Maud Farris-Luse 114–115 21 Jan 1887 – 18 Mar 2002 F United StatesUSA (Michigan)
19 Mar 2002 31 Oct 2003 Kamato Hongo 114–116? 16 Sep 1887? – 31 Oct 2003 F JapanJPN (Kyushu)
31 Oct 2003 13 Nov 2003 Mitoyo Kawate 114 15 May 1889 – 13 Nov 2003 F JapanJPN (Chugoku)
13 Nov 2003 29 May 2004 Ramona Trinidad Iglesias-Jordan 114 31 Aug 1889 – 29 May 2004 F Puerto RicoPRI,United StatesUSA
29 May 2004 27 Aug 2006 Maria Capovilla 114–116 14 Sep 1889 – 27 Aug 2006 F EcuadorECU
27 Aug 2006 11 Dec 2006 Elizabeth Bolden 116 15 Aug 1890 – 11 Dec 2006 F United StatesUSA (Tennessee)
11 Dec 2006 24 Jan 2007 Emiliano Mercado del Toro 115 21 Aug 1891 – 24 Jan 2007 M Puerto RicoPRI,United StatesUSA
24 Jan 2007 28 Jan 2007 Emma Tillman 114 22 Nov 1892 – 28 Jan 2007 F United StatesUSA (Connecticut)
29 Jan 2007 13 Aug 2007 Yone Minagawa 114 4 Jan 1893 – 13 Aug 2007 F JapanJPN (Kyushu)
13 Aug 2007 26 Nov 2008 Edna Parker 114–115 20 Apr 1893 – 26 Nov 2008 F United StatesUSA (Indiana)
26 Nov 2008 2 Jan 2009 Maria de Jesus 115 10 Sep 1893 – 2 Jan 2009 F PortugalPOR (Tomar)
2 Jan 2009 11 Sep 2009 Gertrude Baines 114–115 6 Apr 1894 – 11 Sep 2009 F United StatesUSA (California)
11 Sep 2009 2 May 2010 Kama Chinen 114 10 May 1895 – 2 May 2010 F JapanJPN (Okinawa)
2 May 2010 4 November 2010 Eugenie Blanchard 114 16 February 1896 – 4 November 2010 F FranceFRA (Caribbean)
4 November 2010 21 June 2011 Maria Gomes Valentim 114 9 July 1896 – 21 June 2011 F BrazilBRA
21 June 2011 4 December 2012 Besse Cooper 114–116 26 August 1896 – 4 December 2012 F United StatesUSA
4 December 2012 17 December 2012 Dina Manfredini 115 4 April 1897 – 17 December 2012 F Italy ITA (born)
United StatesUSA (died)
17 December 2012 12 June 2013 Jiroemon Kimura 115–116 19 April 1897 – 12 June 2013 M JapanJPN

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 CanadaCAN (Quebec)
16 Mar 1962 21 Mar 1968 John Mosley Turner 105–111 15 June 1856 – 21 Mar 1968 EnglandENG,United Kingdom UK
21 Mar 1968 5 May 1973 Friedrich Wedeking 105–110 10 Oct 1862 – 5 May 1973 GermanyGER (West Germany)
5 May 1973 9 Mar 1974 Frederick Butterfield 109–110 28 Feb 1864 – 9 Mar 1974 EnglandENG,United Kingdom UK
9 Mar 1974 21 Feb 1986 Shigechiyo Izumi 108–120? 29 Jun 1865? – 21 Feb 1986 JapanJPN (Kyushu)
20 Feb 1986 14 Dec 1986 Joe Thomas 110–111 1 May 1875 – 14 Dec 1986 United StatesUSA (Louisiana)
14 Dec 1986 5 Jan 1987 Herman Smith-Johannsen 111 15 June 1875 – 5 Jan 1987 NorwayNOR
CanadaCAN (Quebec))
5 Jan 1987 25 Nov 1988 Alphaeus Philemon Cole 110–112 12 July 1876 – 25 Nov 1988 United StatesUSA (New Jersey)
25 Nov 1988 10 Jun 1990 John Evans 111–112 19 Aug 1877 – 10 Jun 1990 WalesWAL,United Kingdom UK
10 Jun 1990 18 Jun 1990 Henri Perignon 110 14 Oct 1879 – 18 June 1990 FranceFRA (Normandy)
18 Jun 1990 16 Oct 1991 James Wiggins 110–112 15 Oct 1879 – 16 Oct 1991 United StatesUSA (Arkansas)
16 Oct 1991 14 Jun 1993 Frederick Frazier 111–113 27 Jan 1880 – 14 June 1993 United StatesUSA (Alabama)
14 Jun 1993 25 Apr 1998 Christian Mortensen 110–115 16 Aug 1882 – 25 Apr 1998 DenmarkDEN (born)
United StatesUSA (California) (died)
25 Apr 1998 17 July 1998 Johnson Parks 113 15 Oct 1884 – 17 July 1998 United StatesUSA (Florida)
17 July 1998 25 Dec 1998 Walter Richardson 112–113 7 Nov 1885 – 25 Dec 1998 United StatesUSA (Illinois)
25 Dec 1998 29 Apr 1999 Denzo Ishisaki 112 20 Oct 1886 – 29 Apr 1999 JapanJPN (Kanto)
29 Apr 1999 15 Nov 1999 Antonio Urrea-Hernandez 111 16 Feb 1888 – 15 Nov 1999 SpainESP (Catalonia)
15 Nov 1999 1 Mar 2001 John Painter 111–112 20 Sept 1888 – 1 Mar 2001 United StatesUSA (Tennessee)
1 Mar 2001 3 Jan 2002 Antonio Todde 112 22 Jan 1889 – 3 Jan 2002 Italy ITA (Sardinia)
3 Jan 2002 28 Sep 2003 Yukichi Chuganji 112-114 23 Mar 1889 – 28 Sep 2003 JapanJPN (Kyushu)
28 Sep 2003 5 Mar 2004 Joan Riudavets 113-114 15 Dec 1889 – 5 Mar 2004 SpainESP (Minorca)
5 Mar 2004 19 Nov 2004 Fred Hale, Sr. 113 1 Dec 1890 – 19 Nov 2004 United StatesUSA (Maine)
19 Nov 2004 24 Jan 2007 Emiliano Mercado del Toro 113-115 21 Aug 1891 – 24 Jan 2007 Puerto RicoPRI,United StatesUSA
24 Jan 2007 19 Jun 2009 Tomoji Tanabe 111–113 18 Sept 1895 – 19 Jun 2009 JapanJPN (Kyushu)
19 Jun 2009 18 Jul 2009 Henry Allingham 113 6 Jun 1896 – 18 Jul 2009 EnglandENG,United Kingdom UK (Ovingdean)
18 Jul 2009 14 Apr 2011 Walter Breuning 112–114 21 Sep 1896 – 14 Apr 2011 United StatesUSA (Montana)
14 Apr 2011 12 June 2013 Jiroemon Kimura 113–116 19 Apr 1897 – 12 June 2013 JapanJPN

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 FranceFRA
2 Kane Tanaka F 2 Jan 1903 19 Apr 2022 119 years, 107 days JapanJPN
3 Sarah Knauss F 24 Sept 1880 30 Dec 1999 119 years, 97 days United StatesUSA
4 Lucile Randon F 11 Feb 1904 17 Jan 2023 118 years, 340 days FranceFRA
5 Nabi Tajima F 4 Aug 1900 21 Apr 2018 117 years, 260 days JapanJPN
6 Marie-Louise Meilleur F 29 Aug 1880 16 Apr 1998 117 years, 230 days CanadaCAN
7 Violet Brown F 10 Mar 1900 15 Sept 2017 117 years, 189 days JamaicaJAM
8 Emma Morano-Martinuzzi F 29 Nov 1899 15 Apr 2017 117 years, 137 days Italy ITA
9 Chiyo Miyako F 2 May 1901 22 July 2018 117 years, 81 days JapanJPN
10 Delphia Welford F 9 Sep 1875 14 Nov 1992 117 years, 66 days United StatesUSA
11 Misao Okawa F 5 Mar 1898 1 Apr 2015 117 years, 27 days JapanJPN
12 Francisca Celsa dos Santos F 21 Oct 1904 5 Oct 2021 116 years, 349 days BrazilBRA
13 Maria Esther de Capovilla F 14 Sept 1889 27 Aug 2006 116 years, 347 days EcuadorECU
14 Susannah Mushatt Jones F 6 July 1899 12 May 2016 116 years, 311 days United StatesUSA
15 Gertrude Weaver F 4 July 1898 6 Apr 2015 116 years, 276 days United StatesUSA
16 Fusa Tatsumi F 25 Apr 1907 12 Dec 2023 116 years, 231 days JapanJPN
17 Antonia da Santa Cruz F 13 June 1905 23 Jan 2022 116 years, 224 days BrazilBRA
18 Tane Ikai F 18 Jan 1879 12 July 1995 116 years, 175 days JapanJPN
19 Jeanne Bot F 14 Jan 1905 22 May 2021 116 years, 128 days FranceFRA
20 Elizabeth Bolden F 15 Aug 1890 11 Dec 2006 116 years, 118 days United StatesUSA
21 Besse Cooper F 26 Aug 1896 4 Dec 2012 116 years, 100 days United StatesUSA
22 Maria Giuseppa Robucci-Nargiso F 20 Mar 1903 18 June 2019 116 years, 90 days Italy ITA
23 Tekla Juniewicz F 10 June 1906 19 Aug 2022 116 years, 70 days UkraineUKRPolandPOL
24 Jiroemon Kimura M 19 Apr 1897 12 June 2013 116 years, 54 days JapanJPN
25 Ana Vela-Rubio F 29 Oct 1901 15 Dec 2017 116 years, 47 days SpainESP
26 Giuseppina Projetto-Frau F 30 May 1902 6 July 2018 116 years, 37 days Italy ITA
27 Jeralean Talley F 23 May 1899 17 June 2015 116 years, 25 days United StatesUSA
28 Shigeyo Nakachi F 1 Feb 1905 11 Jan 2021 115 years, 345 days JapanJPN
29 Maggie Barnes F 6 Mar 1882 19 Jan 1998 115 years, 319 days United StatesUSA
30 Dina Manfredini F 4 Apr 1897 17 Dec 2012 115 years, 257 days Italy ITA United StatesUSA
31 Shimoe Akiyama F 19 May 1903 29 Jan 2019 115 years, 255 days JapanJPN
32 Christian Mortensen M 16 Aug 1882 25 Apr 1998 115 years, 252 days DenmarkDENUnited StatesUSA
33 Hester Ford F 15 Aug 1905 17 Apr 2021 115 years, 245 days United StatesUSA
34 Charlotte Hughes F 1 Aug 1877 17 Mar 1993 115 years, 228 days United Kingdom UK
35 Edna Parker F 20 Apr 1893 26 Nov 2008 115 years, 220 days United StatesUSA
36 Mary Ann Rhodes F 12 Aug 1882 3 Mar 1998 115 years, 203 days CanadaCAN
37 Anonymous (Tokyo) F 15 Mar 1900 27 Sept 2015 115 years, 196 days JapanJPN
38 Margaret Skeete F 27 Oct 1878 7 May 1994 115 years, 192 days United StatesUSA
39 Bernice Madigan F 24 July 1899 3 Jan 2015 115 years, 163 days United StatesUSA
40 Gertrude Baines F 6 Apr 1894 11 Sept 2009 115 years, 158 days United StatesUSA
41 Emiliano Mercado del Toro M 21 Aug 1891 24 Jan 2007 115 years, 156 days Puerto RicoPRI,United StatesUSA
42 Bettie Wilson F 13 Sept 1890 13 Feb 2006 115 years, 153 days United StatesUSA
43 Shin Matsushita F 30 Mar 1904 27 Aug 2019 115 years, 150 days JapanJPN
44 Iris Westman F 28 Aug 1905 3 Jan 2021 115 years, 128 days United StatesUSA
45 Julie Winnefred Bertrand F 16 Sept 1891 18 Jan 2007 115 years, 124 days CanadaCAN
46 Maria de Jesus F 10 Sept 1893 2 Jan 2009 115 years, 114 days PortugalPOR
47 Marie-Josephine Gaudette F 25 Mar 1902 13 July 2017 115 years, 110 days United StatesUSAItaly ITA
48 Susie Gibson F 31 Oct 1890 16 Feb 2006 115 years, 108 days United StatesUSA
Thelma Sutcliffe F 1 Oct 1906 17 Jan 2022 115 years, 108 days United StatesUSA
49 Augusta Holtz F 3 Aug 1871 21 Oct 1986 115 years, 79 days GermanyGERUnited StatesUSA
50 Valentine Ligny F 22 Oct 1906 4 Jan 2022 115 years, 74 days FranceFRA
51 Hendrikje van Andel-Schipper F 29 June 1890 30 Aug 2005 115 years, 62 days NetherlandsNED
52 Maud Farris-Luse F 21 Jan 1887 18 Mar 2002 115 years, 56 days United StatesUSA
53 Mina Kitagawa F 3 Nov 1905 19 Dec 2020 115 years, 46 days JapanJPN
54 Marie Bremont F 25 Apr 1886 6 June 2001 115 years, 42 days FranceFRA
55 Yoshi Otsunari F 17 Dec 1906 26 Jan 2022 115 years, 40 days JapanJPN
56 Koto Okubo F 24 Dec 1897 12 Jan 2013 115 years, 19 days JapanJPN
57 Antonia Gerena Rivera F 19 May 1900 2 June 2015 115 years, 14 days Puerto RicoPRI,United StatesUSA
United StatesUSA
58 Chiyono Hasegawa F 20 Nov 1896 2 Dec 2011 115 years, 12 days JapanJPN
59 Annie Jennings F 12 Nov 1884 20 Nov 1999 115 years, 8 days United Kingdom UK
60 Anonymous of Hyogo F 29 Apr 1907 30 Apr 2022 115 years, 1 day JapanJPN

}

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 JapanJPN Oldest validated man ever
2 Christian Mortensen 115 years, 252 days 16 Aug 1882 25 April 1998 DenmarkDENUnited StatesUSA Oldest male migrant. Danish immigrant to U.S.
3 Emiliano Mercado del Toro 115 years, 156 days 21 Aug 1891 24 Jan 2007 Puerto RicoPRI,United StatesUSA Oldest Puerto Rican and oldest living person 2006–2007
4 Juan Vicente Perez Mora 114 years, 311 days 27 May 1909 VenezuelaVEN Oldest living man 2022-2024
5 Walter Breuning 114 years, 205 days 21 Sep 1896 14 April 2011 United StatesUSA
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 SpainESP Oldest Spaniard and oldest living man 2003–2004
8 Fred Hale, Sr. 113 years, 354 days 1 Dec 1890 19 Nov 2004 United StatesUSA Oldest living man 2004
9 Israel Kristal 113 years, 330 days 15 Sep 1903 11 Aug 2017 PolandPOLIsrael ISR
10 Efrain Antonio Rios Garcia 113 years, 282 days 15 Oct 1884 11 January 2024 ColombiaCOL

Oldest validated people currently living (2024)

See Oldest living people

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)

See List of oldest living men

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 NetherlandsNED; earliest supercentenarian recognized by Guinness World Records
Geert Boomgaard 1788 1899 110 years, 135 days M NetherlandsNED; earliest supercentenarian recognized by some scholars
Margaret Ann Neve 1792 1903 110 years, 321 days F GuernseyGGY,United Kingdom UK , Channel Islands
Ann Pouder 1807 1917 110 years, 93 days F EnglandENG,United Kingdom UK Born
United StatesUSA (Nebraska) Died
Louisa Thiers 1814 1926 111 years, 138 days F United StatesUSA (New York)
Delina Filkins 1815 1928 113 years, 214 days F United StatesUSA New York, U.S.
Miriam Banister 1817 1928 111 years, 21 days F United Kingdom UK England, UK Born
United StatesUSA Missouri, U.S. Died
Demetrius Philipovitch 1818 1928 110 years 144+ days M Yugoslavia
Katherine Plunket 1820 1932 111 years 327 days F Ireland IRL Ireland
Anna Wheeler 1833 1943 110 years 288 days F United StatesUSA New York, U.S.
Velgjer Svien 1842 1953 110 years 105 days F NorwayNOR Born
United StatesUSA Minnesota, U.S. Died

National longevity recordholders

Main article: National longevity recordholders

Nation of death (oldest first)

Country Age Sex Name Born Died
FranceFRA 122 years, 164 days F Jeanne Calment 21 Feb 1875 4 Aug 1997
JapanJPN 119 years, 107 days F Kane Tanaka 2 Jan 1903 19 Apr 2022
United StatesUSA 119 years, 97 days F Sarah Knauss 24 Sep 1880 30 Dec 1999
CanadaCAN 117 years, 230 days F Marie-Louise Meilleur 29 Aug 1880 16 Apr 1998
JamaicaJAM 117 years, 189 days F Violet Brown 10 Mar 1900 15 Sept 2017
Italy ITA 117 years, 137 days F Emma Morano 29 Nov 1899 15 Apr 2017
BrazilBRA 116 years, 349 days F Francisca Celsa dos Santos 21 Oct 1904 5 Oct 2021
EcuadorECU 116 years, 347 days F Maria Capovilla 14 Sep 1889 27 Aug 2006
SpainESP 116 years, 47 days F Ana Vela-Rubio 29 Oct 1901 15 Dec 2017
United Kingdom UK 115 years, 228 days F Charlotte Hughes 1 Aug 1877 17 Mar 1993
RomaniaROU 115? years, 157 days F Anitica Butariu 30 Jun 1882? 21 Nov 1997
PortugalPOR 115 years, 114 days F Maria de Jesus 10 Sep 1893 2 Jan 2009
NetherlandsNED 115 years, 62 days F Hendrikje van Andel-Schipper 29 Jun 1890 30 Aug 2005
AustraliaAUS 114 years, 148 days F Christina Cock 25 Dec 1887 22 May 2002
New ZealandNZL 113 years, 109 days F Florence Finch 22 Dec 1893 10 Apr 2007
SwedenSWE 113 years, 0 days F Astrid Zachrison 15 May 1895 15 May 2008
GermanyGER 112 years, 362 days F Maria Laqua 12 Feb 1889? 9 Feb 2002
SwitzerlandSUI 112 years, 327 days F Rosa Rein 24 Mar 1897 14 Feb 2010
FinlandFIN 112 years, 259 days F Lempi Maria Rothovius 2 Oct 1887 17 Jun 2000
BelgiumBEL 112 years, 186 days F Joanna Deroover 3 Jun 1890 6 Dec 2002
AustriaAUT 112 years, 178 days F Maria Mika 23 May 1882? 17 Nov 1994
NorwayNOR 112 years, 61 days F Maren Bolette Torp 21 Dec 1876 20 Feb 1989
Ireland IRL 111 years, 327 days F Hon. Katherine Plunket 22 Nov 1820 14 Oct 1932
South AfricaZAF 111 years, 151 days F Johanna Booysen 17 Jan 1857 16 Jun 1968
DenmarkDEN 111 years, 114 days F Anne Matthiesen 26 Nov 1884 19 Mar 1996
UruguayURU 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
DenmarkDEN 115 years, 252 days M Christian Mortensen 16 Aug 1882 25 Apr 1998 United StatesUSA
Cape VerdeCPV 114 years, 183 days F Adelina Domingues 19 Feb 1888 21 Aug 2002 United StatesUSA
GermanyGER 114 years, 180 days F Charlotte Benkner 16 Nov 1889 14 May 2004 Died U.S.A.
AlgeriaALG 114 years, 172 days F Anne Primout 5 Oct 1890 26 Mar 2005 Died France
IndiaIND 113 years, 197 days F Lucy d'Abreu 24 May 1892 7 Dec 2005 Died UK
HungaryHUN 112 years, 332 days F Elizabeth Stefan 13 May 1895 9 Apr 2008 Died U.S.
MoroccoMAR 111 years, 282 days F Consuelo Moreno-Lopez 5 Feb 1893 13 Nov 2004 Died U.S.
GreeceGRE 110 years, 341 days M Gregory Pandazes 15 Jan 1873 22 Dec 1983 Died U.S.
PeruPER 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

  1. Craig R. Whitney (1997-08-05). "Jeanne Calment, World's Elder, Dies at 122". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-03-02. 
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. First included in the 1970 Guinness Book of Records, she was the oldest recognized living person in the world.

External links

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