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Oldest people

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 65.81.27.134 (talk) at 07:59, 10 November 2006 (→By nation of death or current residence). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

The following tables list the oldest verified people, in ordinal rank such as 'oldest person' or 'oldest man'. For supercentenarians known for anything other than their extreme age, see List of centenarians.

The longest unambiguously documented lifespan is that of Jeanne Calment of France (1875-1997) who was aged 122 years and 164 days at the time of her death. Jeanne Calment met Vincent Van Gogh when aged 14, and in 1988 this led to her, at age 113, becoming noticed by the media. Subsequent investigation found that her life was documented in the records of her native city of Arles, France beyond reasonable question. In fact, more evidence for the Calment case has been produced than for any other supercentenarian case, which makes her case a 'gold standard' among the 'oldest people' recordholders. This is contrasted with the now-disputed claim of age 120 for the oldest man ever, Shigechiyo Izumi. While recognized by Guinness, even the Japanese authorities have hinted that his age was not certain. This claim was accepted in 1978, but subsequent additional research (as early as 1984) has raised doubt as to whether he was wrongly conflated with a brother who died at a young age.

Presently, the oldest verified living person is 116-year-old Elizabeth Bolden of the USA, born August 15, 1890. The oldest verified living man is 115-year-old Emiliano Mercado del Toro of Puerto Rico, born August 21, 1891.

Official oldest living person

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 verified until the 2000's.

Since August 27, 2006 the title-holder is Elizabeth Bolden of the USA. She was born on August 15, 1890 and is currently aged 116.

From To Name Age at death Lived Town, Country
title began in 1955 24 October 1955 Betsy Baker 113 20 August1842–24 October1955 Nebraska, USA
24 October 1955 25 June 1959 Martha Graham 114 December 1844–25 June1959 USA
25 June 1959 10 February 1961 James Henry Brett Jr. 111? 25 July1849?–10 February1961 USA
10 February 1961 16 March 1962 Joseph Saint-Amour 110 26 February1852–16 March1962 Canada
16 March 1962 17 February 1963 Lovisa Svensson 109 20 November1853–17 February1963 Sweden
17 February 1963 21 April 1963 Kiet Portier-Tan 107 13 May1855–21 April1963 Netherlands
21 April 1963 25 May 1963 Margarethe Zinndorf 107 17 September1855–25 May1963 Germany
25 May 1963 24 July 1965 Auguste Pahl 109 23 November1855–24 July1965 Germany
24 July 1965 10 January 1966 Hannah Smith 110 7 January1856–10 January1966 UK
10 January 1966 21 March 1968 John Mosely Turner 111 15 June1856–21 March1968 England, UK
21 March 1968 16 June 1968 Johanna Booyson 111 17 January1857–16 June1968 South Africa
16 June 1968 October? 1968 Marie Bernatkova 111 22 October1857–fl. October 1968 Czech Republic
October? 1968 11 January 1970 Ada Roe 111 6 February1858–11 January1970 England, UK
11 January 1970 27 February 1973 Josefa Salas Mateo 112 14 July1860–27 February1973 Spain
27 February 1973 18 August 1973 Alice Stevenson 112 10 July1861–18 August1973 England, UK
18 August 1973 31 October 1973 Elizabeth Watkins 110 10 March1863–31 October1973 England, UK
31 October 1973 31 May 1975 Mito Umeta 112 27 March1863–31 May1975 Japan
31 May 1975 16 November 1976 Niwa Kawamoto 113 5 August1863–16 November1976 Japan
16 November 1976 21 February 1986 Shigechiyo Izumi 120? 29 June1865?–21 February1986 Japan
21 February 1986 20 September 1986 Mamie Eva Keith 113 22 March1873–20 September1986 Illinois, United States
20 September 1986 2 February 1987 Mary McKinney 113 30 May1873–2 February1987 California, United States
2 February 1987 27 December 1987 Anna Eliza Williams 114 2 June1873–27 December1987 England, UK
27 December 1987 11 January 1988 Florence Knapp 114 10 October1873–11 January1988 Pennsylvania, USA
11 January 1988 14 February 1991 Carrie C. White 116? 18 November1874?–14 February1991 Palatka, United States
14 February 1991 4 August 1997 Jeanne Calment 122 21 February1875–4 August1997 Arles, France
4 August 1997 16 April 1998 Marie-Louise Meilleur 117 29 August1880–16 April1998 Corbeil, Ontario, Canada
16 April 1998 30 December 1999 Sarah Knauss 119 24 September1880–30 December1999 Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA
30 December 1999 2 November 2000 Eva Morris 114 8 November1885–2 November2000 Stone, Staffordshire, England
2 November 2000 6 June 2001 Marie Brémont 115 25 April1886–6 June2001 Cande, Maine-et-Loire, France
6 June 2001 18 March 2002 Maude Farris-Luse 115 21 January1887–18 March2002 Coldwater, Michigan, USA
18 March 2002 31 October 2003 Kamato Hongo 116? 16 September1887?–31 October2003 Kagoshima, Japan
31 October 2003 13 November 2003 Mitoyo Kawate 114 15 May1889–13 November2003 Hiroshima, Japan
13 November 2003 29 May 2004 Ramona Trinidad Iglesias-Jordan 114 31 August1889–29 May2004 Utuado, Puerto Rico
29 May 2004 27 August 2006 María Capovilla 116 14 September1889–27 August2006 Guayaquil, Ecuador
27 August 2006 present Elizabeth Bolden 116* 15 August1890– Memphis, Tennessee, USA

Official oldest living man (since 1968)

Note: Guinness World Records began the category of 'oldest living man' in 2000. Prior to 2000 is a reconstruction

From To Name Age at death Lived Town, Country
- 21 March 1968 John Mosely Turner 111 15 June 1856–21 March 1968 UK
21 March 1968 5 May 1973 Friedrich Wedeking 110 10 October 1862–5 May 1973 Germany
5 May 1973 9 March 1974 Frederick Butterfield 110 28 February 1864–9 March 1974 England, UK
9 March 1974 21 February 1986 Shigechiyo Izumi 120? 29 June 1865?–21 February 1986 Japan
21 February 1986 14 December 1986 Joe Thomas 111 1 May 1875–14 December 1986 Louisiana, USA
14 December 1986 5 January 1987 Herman Smith-Johannsen 111 15 June 1875–5 January 1987 Norway, lived in Canada
5 January 1987 25 November 1988 Alphaeus Philemon Cole 112 12 July 1876–25 November 1988 New Jersey, USA
25 November 1988 10 June 1990 John Evans 112 19 August 1877–10 June 1990 Wales, United Kingdom
10 June 1990 18 June 1990 Henri Pérignon 110 14 October 1879–18 June 1990 France
18 June 1990 16 October 1991 James W. Wiggins 112 15 October 1879–16 October 1991 USA
16 October 1991 14 June 1993 Frederick L. Frazier 113 27 January 1880–14 June 1993 USA
14 June 1993 25 April 1998 Christian Mortensen 115 16 August 1882–25 April 1998 b. Denmark, d. California, USA
25 April 1998 17 July 1998 Johnson Parks 113 15 October 1884–17 July 1998 Florida, USA
17 July 1998 25 December 1998 Walter Richardson 113 7 November 1885–25 December 1998 Illinois, USA
25 December 1998 29 April 1999 Denzo Ishisaki 112 20 October 1886–29 April 1999 Japan
29 April 1999 15 November 1999 Antonio Urrea-Hernández 111 16 February 1888–15 November 1999 Spain
15 November 1999 1 March 2001 John Painter 112 20 September 1888–1 March 2001 Tennessee, USA
1 March 2001 3 January 2002 Antonio Todde 112 22 January 1889–3 January 2002 Sardinia, Italy
3 January 2002 28 September 2003 Yukichi Chuganji 114 23 March 1889–28 September 2003 Ogori, Fukuoka, Japan
28 September 2003 5 March 2004 Joan Riudavets 114 15 December 1889–5 March 2004 Minorca, Spain
5 March 2004 19 November 2004 Fred Harold Hale, Sr. 113 1 December 1890–19 November 2004 b. Maine, d. Jamesville, New York, USA
19 November 2004 present Emiliano Mercado del Toro 115* 21 August 1891– Puerto Rico

Among the oldest ever (115+)

Name Age Born Died Notes
Jeanne Calment 122 yr 164 d 21 February 1875 4 August 1997 Oldest documented and fully validated supercentenarian ever
Shigechiyo Izumi 120? yr 237 d 29 June 1865? 21 February 1986 Oldest documented male supercentenarian (disputed)
Sarah Knauss 119 yr 97 d 24 September 1880 30 December 1999 Oldest in USA history, oldest recognized in world 1998–99
Lucy Hannah 117 yr 248 d 16 July 1875 21 March 1993 Oldest African American
Marie-Louise Meilleur 117 yr 230 d 29 August 1880 16 April 1998 Oldest Canadian, oldest recognized in world 1997 – 98
María Capovilla 116 yr 347 d 14 September 1889 27 August 2006 Oldest in Ecuador ever, oldest living person 2004 – 2006
Tane Ikai 116 yr 175 d 18 January 1879 12 July 1995 Oldest Japanese woman
Carrie C. White 116? yr 88 d 18 November 1874? 14 February 1991 Formerly oldest in USA history, 3rd-oldest American ever recorded (disputed)
Elizabeth Bolden 116 yr + 15 August 1890 - Oldest living person, Tennesseean
Kamato Hongo 116? yr 45 d 16 September 1887? 31 October 2003 Third-oldest Japanese person (disputed)
Maggie Barnes 115 yr 319 d 6 March 1882 19 January 1998 North Carolina woman
Christian Mortensen 115 yr 252 d 16 August 1882 25 April 1998 Oldest undisputed male, Danish immigrant to USA
Charlotte Hughes 115 yr 228 d 1 August 1877 17 March 1993 British longevity recordholder
Margaret Skeete 115 yr 192 d 27 October 1878 7 May 1994 Was oldest living American 1993-1994; Texas state recordholder
Anitica Butariu 115? yr 157 d 17 June 1882? 21 November 1997 Romania
Bettie Wilson 115 yr 153 d 13 September 1890 13 February 2006 USA
Susie Gibson 115 yr 108 d 31 October 1890 16 February 2006 USA
Emiliano Mercado del Toro 115 yr + 21 August 1891 - Oldest living man, oldest in Puerto Rico ever
Hendrikje van Andel-Schipper 115 yr 62 d 29 June 1890 30 August 2005 Netherlands Oldest Dutch person ever
Maud Farris-Luse 115 yr 56 d 21 January 1887 18 March 2002 USA
Julie Winnefred Bertrand 115 yr + 16 September 1891 - Canada
Marie Brémont 115 yr 42 d 25 April 1886 6 June 2001 France
Annie Jennings 115 yr 8 d 12 November 1884 20 November 1999 UK

The oldest men ever (top 10)

Name Age Born Died Notes
Shigechiyo Izumi 120? yr 237 d 29 June 1865? 21 February 1986 Oldest documented male supercentenarian (disputed)
Christian Mortensen 115 yr 252 d 16 August 1882 25 April 1998 Oldest undisputed male, Danish immigrant to USA
Emiliano Mercado del Toro 115 yr + 21 August 1891 - Oldest living man (since November 19, 2004)
Mathew Beard 114 yr 222d 9 July 1870 16 February 1985 Oldest native-born American man
Yukichi Chuganji 114 yr 189 d 23 March 1889 28 September 2003 Second-oldest Japanese man
Joan Riudavets 114 yr 81 d 15 December 1889 5 March 2004 Spanish longevity recordholder
Fred H. Hale, Sr. 113 yr 354 d 1 December 1890 19 November 2004 Born in Maine, oldest man in the world March-November 2004, died in Jamesville, New York
Moses Hardy 113 (or 112) yr + 6 January 1893 (or 1894) - Black American, lives in Mississippi
Johnson Parks 113 yr 275 d 15 October 1884 17 July 1998 Black American, lived in Florida
John Ingram McMorran 113 yr 250 d 19 June 1889 24 February 2003 American, lived in Florida

The oldest people currently living (top 10)

# Name Age Sex Born Notes
1 Elizabeth Bolden 116 F 15 August 1890 Oldest living person in the world, lives in Tennessee; was previously thought to be oldest in the world from August 30 to December 9 2005 until superceded by María Capovilla; regained title on August 27 2006
2 Emiliano Mercado del Toro 115 M 21 August 1891 Oldest living man in the world (since November 192004)
3 Julie Winnefred Bertrand 115 F 16 September 1891 Oldest living person in Canada
4 Emma Tillman 113 F 22 November 1892 Oldest living person in Connecticut
5 Yone Minagawa 113 F 4 January 1893 Oldest living person in Japan
6 Moses Hardy 113 (or 112) M 6 January 1893 (or 1894) Oldest living man in the United States
7 Edna Parker 113 F 20 April 1893 Oldest living person in Indiana
8 Maria de Jesus 113 F 10 September 1893 Oldest living person in Europe, lives in Portugal
9 Helen Stetter 112 F 18 November 1893 Oldest living person in Nebraska
10 Bertha Fry 112 F 1 December 1893 Second-oldest living person in Indiana

The oldest men currently living (110 and over)

# Name Age Born Notes
1 Emiliano Mercado del Toro 115 21 August 1891 Oldest living man in the world (since November 19 2004), lives in Puerto Rico
2 Moses Hardy 113 (or 112) 6 January 1893 (or 1894) Oldest living man in the United States, lives in Mississippi
3 Maurice Floquet 111 25 December 1894 Oldest living man in France
4 Ernest Pusey 111 5 May 1895 Lives in Florida, USA
5 Thomas Nelson Sr 111 8 July 1895 Lives in Texas, USA
6 Tomoji Tanabe 111 18 September 1895 Oldest living man in Japan, lives in Miyazaki
7 Antonio Pierro 110 22 February 1896 Lives in Massachusetts, USA (born in Italy)
8 Sukesaburo Nakanishi 110 15 March 1896 Lives in Japan
9 Henry Allingham 110 6 June 1896 Lives in England, UK
10 Walter Breuning 110 21 September 1896 Lives in Montana, USA
11 Walter H. Seward 110 13 October 1896 Lives in New Jersey, USA

Notably early among supercentenarians (before 1950)

Name Born Died Notes
Thomas Peters 1745 1857 The Netherlands, earliest supercentenarian recognized by the Guinness Book of Records
Geert Adriaans Boomgaard 1788 1899 The Netherlands, earliest supercentenarian recognized by scholars
Margaret Ann Neve 1792 1903 Recordholder for the Channel Islands (UK)
Ann Pouder 1807 1917 USA
Louisa Kirwan Thiers 1814 1926 New York
Delina Filkins 1815 1928 Herkimer County, New York
Katherine Plunket 1820 1932 Oldest person in the history of Ireland

National longevity recordholders

Main article: National longevity recordholders

By nation of death or current residence

Country Age Sex Name Born Died
France 122 yr 164 d F Jeanne Calment 21 February 1875 4 August 1997
Japan 120? y 237 d M Shigechiyo Izumi 29 June 1865? 21 February 1986
U.S. 119 yr 97 d F Sarah Knauss 24 September 1880 30 December 1999
Canada 117 yr 230 d F Marie-Louise Meilleur 29 August 1880 16 April 1998
Ecuador 116 yr 347 d F María Capovilla 14 September 1889 27 August 2006
UK 115 yr 228 d F Charlotte Hughes 1 August 1877 17 March 1993
Romania 115? yr 157 d F Anitica Butariu 17 June 1882? 21 November 1997
Puerto Rico 115 yr + M Emiliano Mercado del Toro 21 August 1891 -
Netherlands 115 yr 62 d F Hendrikje van Andel-Schipper 29 June 1890 30 August 2005
Portugal 114 yr 274 d F Maria do Couto Maia-Lopes 24 October 1890 25 July 2005
Australia 114 yr 148 d F Christina Cock 25 December 1887 22 May 2002
Spain 114 yr 81 d M Joan Riudavets 15 December 1889 5 March 2004
Italy 114 yr 4 d F Virginia Dighero-Zolezzi 24 December 1891 28 December 2005
Germany 112 yr 362 d F Maria Laqua 12 February 1889 9 February 2002
Finland 112 yr 259 d F Lempi Maria Rothovius 2 October 1887 17 June 2000
Belgium 112 yr 186 d F Joanna DeRoover 3 June 1890 6 December 2002
Austria 112 yr 178 d F Maria Mika 23 May 1882 17 November 1994
Sweden 112 yr 150 d F Elsa Moberg 30 June 1889 27 November 2001
Norway 112 yr 61 d F Maren Bolette Torp 21 December 1876 20 February 1989
Ireland 111 yr 327 d F Katherine Plunket 22 November 1820 14 October 1932
South Africa 111 yr 151 d F Johanna Booyson 17 January 1857 16 June 1968
Denmark 111 yr 114 d F Anne Matthiesen 26 November 1884 19 March 1996
Uruguay 111 yr 107 d F Manolita Pina 24 February 1883 11 June 1994
New Zealand 110 yr 55 d F Ethel Booth 25 December 1890 18 February 2001

Emigrant records

(listed for countries where an emigrant lived longer than any lifelong resident)

Country Age Sex Name Born Died Notes
Denmark 115 yr 252 d M Christian Mortensen 16 August 1882 25 April 1998 died U.S.
Cape Verde 114 yr 183 d F Adelina Domingues 19 February 1888 21 August 2002 died U.S.
Germany 114 yr 178 d F Charlotte Benkner 16 November 1889 14 May 2004 died U.S.
Algeria 114 yr 172 d F Anne Primout 5 October 1890 26 March 2005 died France
India 113 yr 197 d F Lucy d'Abreu 24 May 1892 7 December 2005 died U.K.
Morocco 111 yr 282 d F Consuelo Moreno-López 5 February 1893 13 November 2004 died U.S.
Hungary 111 yr + F Elizabeth Stefan 13 May 1895 - lives in Connecticut, U.S.
Greece 110 yr 341 d M Gregory Pandazes 15 January 1873 22 December 1983 died U.S.
Peru 110 yr 106 d F Julia Dougherty 20 August 1893 4 December 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 21st century gerontology is benefiting from the improvements in record-keeping in the industrialized world from the latter part of the 19th 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.

The population and lifespans of the world's oldest people are continually increasing due to improvements in healthcare and lifestyle during the 19th and 20th centuries, and the increasing world population. While in 1837 the oldest verified person was aged 108 years, it is now (2006) 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

  • 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. (For a time in the 1960s the oldest living person did not reach 110.)
  • Britannica
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