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The longest documented lifespan is the 122 years 164 days of Jeanne Calment (1875–1997). While her stories of meeting Vincent Van Gogh or attending the 1885 funeral of Victor Hugo might have been embellished, her life was documented in the records of her native city of Arles, France, beyond reasonable doubt.

The Guinness Book of World Records in 1978 accepted the claim that Shigechiyo Izumi was born June 29, 1865, and from the 1980 edition considered him the oldest person. He died February 21, 1986 (the 111th birthday of Jeanne Calment). However, there is still doubt as to whether he was wrongly conflated with a brother who died young.

For supercentenarians known for anything other than their extreme age, see centenarians.


Official oldest persons

From May 2004 to August 2005 Hendrikje van Andel of Hoogeveen, Netherlands (June 29, 1890–August 29, 2005) was considered oldest documented person in the world, followed by Elizabeth Bolden (born August 15, 1890) of Memphis, Tennessee.

However, on December 9,2005 Guinness recognized the claim of Maria Esther Capovilla of Ecuador (born September 14, 1889) retroactively displacing Bolden and Van Andel and becoming oldest living since the death of Ramona Trinidad Iglesias-Jordan. Ramona herself had displaced Charlotte Benkner, who was thought to have been the oldest living person for five months (November 2003-April 2004) until Ramona's age was verified.

The following is a list of the people who have held the title of oldest recognized person in the world since 1955:

From To Name Age at death Lived Town, Country
1955 October 24 1955 Betsy Baker 113 August 20 1842–October 241955 USA
October 24 1955 June 25 1959 Martha Graham 114 December 1844–June 251959 USA
June 25 1959 February 10 1961 James Henry Brett Jr. 111 July 25 1849–February 101961 USA
February 10 1961 September 9 1961 James Hull 109 April 23 1852–September 91961 Australia
September 9 1961 February 17 1963 Lovisa Svensson 109 November 20 1853–February 171963 Sweden
February 17 1963 April 21 1963 Kiet Portier-Tan 107 May 13 1855–April 211963 Netherlands
April 21 1963 March 21 1968 John Mosely Turner 111 June 15 1856–March 211968 England, UK
March 21 1968 June 16 1968 Johanna Booyson 111 January 17 1857–June 161968 South Africa
June 16 1968 October 1968 Marie Bernatkova 111 October 221857–October?1968 Czech Republic
October 1968 January 11 1970 Ada Roe 111 February 61858–January 111970 England, UK
January 11 1970 February 27 1973 Josefa Salas Mateo 112 July 141860–February 271973 Spain
February 27 1973 August 18 1973 Alice Stevenson 112 July 101861–August 181973 England, UK
August 18 1973 October 31 1973 Elizabeth Watkins 110 March 101863–October 311973 England, UK
October 31 1973 May 31 1975 Mito Umeta 112 March 271863–May 311975 Japan
May 31 1975 November 16 1976 Niwa Kawamoto 113 August 51863–November 161976 Japan
November 16 1976 February 21 1986 Shigechiyo Izumi 120? June 291865? –February 211986 Japan
February 21 1986 September 20 1986 Mamie Eva Keith 113 March 221873–September 201986 Illinois, United States
September 20 1986 February 2 1987 Mary McKinney 113 May 301873–February 21987 California, United States
February 2 1987 December 27 1987 Anna Eliza Williams 114 June 21873–December 271987 England, UK
December 27 1987 January 11 1988 Florence Knapp 114 October 101873–January 111988 Pennsylvania, USA
January 11 1988 February 14 1991 Carrie C. White 116? November 181874? –February 141991 Florida, United States
February 14 1991 August 4 1997 Jeanne Calment 122 February 211875–August 41997 Arles, France
August 4 1997 April 16 1998 Marie-Louise Meilleur 117 August 291880–April 161998 Corbeil, Ontario, Canada
April 16 1998 December 30 1999 Sarah Knauss 119 September 241880–December 301999 Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA
December 30 1999 November 2 2000 Eva Morris 114 November 81885–November 22000 Stone, Staffordshire, England
November 2 2000 June 6 2001 Marie Brémont 115 April 251886–June 62001 Cande, Maine-et-Loire, France
June 6 2001 March 18 2002 Maude Farris-Luse 115 January 211887–March 182002 Coldwater, Michigan, USA
March 18 2002 October 31 2003 Kamato Hongo 116? September 161887?–October 312003 Kagoshima, Japan
October 31 2003 November 13 2003 Mitoyo Kawate 114 May 151889–November 132003 Hiroshima, Japan
November 13 2003 May 29 2004 Ramona Trinidad Iglesias-Jordan 114 August 311889–May 292004 Utuado, Puerto Rico
May 29 2004 - Maria Esther Capovilla 116* September 14 1889 Guayaquil, Ecuador

Oldest recognized living man

Name Born Died Age at Death Notes
John Mosely Turner 15 June 1856 21 March 1968 111 English
Friedrich Wedeking 10 October 1862 5 May 1973 110 German
Shigechiyo Izumi 29 June 1865? 21 February 1986 120? Oldest man recognized by Guinness Book of Records
Joe Thomas 1 May 1875 14 December 1986 111 American from Louisiana
Herman Smith-Johannsen 15 June 1875 5 January 1987 111 Norwegian-Canadian cross-country skier
Alphaeus Philemon Cole 12 July 1876 25 November 1988 112 Engraver
John Evans 19 August 1877 10 June 1990 112 British male recordholder
Henri Pérignon 14 October 1879 18 June 1990 110 France
James W. Wiggins 15 October 1879 16 October 1991 112 USA
Frederick L. Frazier 27 January 1880 14 June 1993 113 USA
Christian Mortensen 16 August 1882 25 April 1998 115 Danish immigrant to USA, oldest undisputed man
Johnson Parks 15 October 1884 17 July 1998 113 Afro-American, lived in Florida
Walter Richardson 7 November 1885 25 December 1998 113 American from Illinois
Denzo Ishisaki 20 October 1886 29 April 1999 112 Only man in post-Izumi years to be oldest person in Japan
Antonio Urrea-Hernandez 16 February 1888 15 November 1999 111 Spaniard, case validated 7 December 2005
John Painter 20 September 1888 1 March 2001 112 American from Tennessee, oldest record available (1900 census) supports the September 1888 birthdate
Antonio Todde 22 January 1889 3 January 2002 112 Sardinian
Yukichi Chuganji 23 March 1889 28 September 2003 114 Oldest recognized man in world January 2002–September 2003, in Ogori
Joan Riudavets 15 December 1889 5 March 2004 114 Oldest person in history of Spain, was oldest recognized European, world's oldest recognized man 2003–4; he rode a bicycle to age 110, on Minorca
Fred Harold Hale, Sr. 1 December 1890 19 November 2004 113 Born in Maine, oldest man in world March–November 2004, died in Jamesville, New York
Emiliano Mercado del Toro 21 August 1891 - - From Puerto Rico, accepted by Guinness as "oldest living man" on 17 January 2005 (retroactively would be "oldest living man" since 19 November 2004)

Among the oldest ever

Name Age Born Died Notes
Jeanne Calment 122 21 February 1875 4 August 1997 Oldest documented supercentenarian
Shigechiyo Izumi 120? 29 June 1865? 21 February 1986 Oldest documented male supercentenarian (disputed)
Sarah Knauss 119 24 September 1880 30 December 1999 Oldest in United States history, oldest recognized in world 1998–99
Lucy Hannah 117 16 July 1875 21 March 1993 Oldest African American
Marie-Louise Meilleur 117 29 August 1880 16 April 1998 Oldest Canadian, oldest recognized in world 1997 – 98
Tane Ikai 116 18 January 1879 12 July 1995 Oldest Japanese woman
Maria Esther Capovilla 116 14 September 1889 - Oldest in world, oldest in Ecuador ever
Carrie C. White 116? 18 November 1874? 14 February 1991 Formerly oldest in United States history, 3rd-oldest American ever recorded (disputed)
Kamato Hongo 116? 16 September 1887? 31 October 2003 Third-oldest Japanese person (disputed)
Maggie Barnes 115 6 March 1882 19 January 1998 North Carolina woman
Christian Mortensen 115 16 August 1882 25 April 1998 Oldest undisputed male, Danish immigrant to US
Charlotte Marion Milburn Hughes 115 1 August 1877 17 March 1993 British longevity recordholder
Elizabeth "Lizzie" Bolden 115 15 August 1890 -
Margaret Skeete 115 27 October 1878 4 May 1994 record holder for state of Texas

Among the oldest men ever (Top 10)

Name Age Born Died Notes
Shigechiyo Izumi 120? 29 June 1865? 21 February 1986 Oldest documented male supercentenarian (disputed)
Christian Mortensen 115 16 August 1882 25 April 1998 Oldest undisputed male, Danish immigrant to US
Mathew Beard 114 9 July 1870 16 February 1985 Oldest native-born American man
Yukichi Chuganji 114 23 March 1889 28 September 2003 Second-oldest Japanese man
Emiliano Mercado del Toro 114 21 August 1891 - Oldest living man (since November 19, 2004)
Joan Riudavets 114 15 December 1889 5 March 2004 Spanish longevity recordholder
Fred H. Hale, Sr. 113 1 December 1890 19 November 2004 Born in Maine, oldest man in world March–November 2004, died in Jamesville, New York
Johnson Parks 113 15 October 1884 17 July 1998 Black American, lived in Florida
John Ingram McMorran 113 19 June 1889 24 February 2003 American, lived in Florida
Frederick L. Frazier 113 27 January 1880 14 June 1993 American, lived in Alabama

Among the oldest, currently living (Top 10)

# Name Age Sex Born Notes
1 Maria Capovilla 116 f 14 September 1889 Oldest living in the world since 30 May 2004, oldest ever in Ecuador
2 Elizabeth "Lizzie" Bolden 115 f 15 August 1890 Oldest verified living American, was thought to be oldest in world from 30 August 2005 to 9 December 2005
3 Emiliano Mercado del Toro 114 m 21 August 1891 Oldest living man (since 19 November 2004)
4 Julie Winnefred Bertrand 114 f 16 September 1891 Oldest living Canadian
5 Camille Loiseau 114 f 13 February 1892 Oldest living French person
6 Emma Tillman 113 f 22 November 1892 Oldest living person in Connecticut
7 Yone Minagawa 113 f 4 January 1893 Oldest living person in Japan
8 Moses Hardy 113 m 6 January 1893 Oldest living man in the United States
9 Edna Parker 112 f 20 April 1893 Oldest living woman in Indiana
10 Grace Jones 112 f 4 June 1893 Oldest living woman in Virginia

Among the oldest men, currently living (Top 10 or 110+)

# Name Age Born Notes
1 Emiliano Mercado del Toro 114 21 August 1891 Oldest living man (since 19 November 2004)
2 Moses Hardy 113 6 January 1893 Oldest living man in the United States
3 George Johnson 111 1 May 1894 Lives in California
4 Maurice Floquet 111 25 December 1894 Oldest living man in France
5 Ernest Pusey 110 5 May 1895 Lives in Florida
6 Nijiro Tokuda 110 10 June 1895 Oldest living man in Japan
7 Tomoji Tanabe 110 18 September 1895 Lives in Miyazaki Japan
8 Chojo Fukuhara 110 12 October 1895 Oldest living man in Okinawa

Notably early among supercentenarians

Name Born Died Notes
Thomas Peters 1745 1857 Earliest supercentenarian recognized by Guinness Book of Records
Geert Adriaans Boomgaard 1788 1899 Earliest supercentenarian recognized by scholars
Margaret Ann Neve 1792 1903 recordholder for Channel Islands (UK)
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 f Jeanne Calment 21 February 1875 4 August 1997
Japan 120? m Shigechiyo Izumi 29 June 1865? 21 February 1986
US 119 f Sarah Knauss 24 September 1880 30 December 1999
Canada 117 f Marie-Louise Meilleur 29 August 1880 16 April 1998
Ecuador 116* f Maria Esther Capovilla 14 September 1889 -
UK 115 f Charlotte Hughes 1 August 1877 17 March 1993
Romania 115? f Anitica Batariu 17 June 1882? 21 November 1997
Netherlands 115 f Hendrikje van Andel 29 June 1890 30 August 2005
Portugal 114 f Maria do Couto Maia-Lopes 24 October 1890

25 July 2005

Puerto Rico 114 f Ramona Trinidad Iglesias Jordan 31 August 1889 29 May 2004
Australia 114 f Christina Cock 25 December 1887 22 May 2002
Spain 114 m Joan Riudavets 15 December 1889 5 March 2004
Italy 114 f Virginia Dighero-Zolezzi 24 December 1891 28 December 2005
Germany 112 f Maria Laqua 12 February 1889 9 February 2002
Finland 112 f Lempi Maria Rothovius 2 October 1887 17 June 2000
Belgium 112 f Joanna DeRoover 3 June 1890 6 December 2002
Austria 112 f Maria Mika 23 May 1882 17 November 1994
Sweden 112 f Elsa Moberg 30 June 1889 27 November 2001
Norway 112 f Maren Bolette Torp 21 December 1876 20 February 1989
Ireland 111 f Katherine Plunket 22 November 1820 14 October 1932
South Africa 111 f Johanna Booyson 17 January 1857 16 June 1968
Denmark 111 f Anne Matthiesen 26 November 1884 19 March 1996
Uruguay 111 f Manolita Pina 24 February 1883 11 June 1994
New Zealand 110 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 m Christian Mortensen 16 August 1882 25 April 1998 died U.S.
Cape Verde 114 f Adelina Domingues 19 February 1888 21 August 2002 died U.S.
Germany 114 f Charlotte Benkner 16 November 1889 14 May 2004 died U.S.
Algeria 114 f Anne Primout 5 October 1890 26 March 2005 died France
India 113 f Lucy d'Abreu 24 May 1892 7 December 2005 died U.K.
Morocco 111 f Consuelo Moreno-Lopez 5 February 1893 13 November 2004 died U.S.
Greece 110 m Gregory Pandazes 15 January 1873 22 December 1983 died U.S.
Peru 110 f Julia Dougherty 20 August 1893 4 December 2003 died U.S.

Amalia Ruggieri-Barone, an Italian immigrant to the United States, has been removed from this list; she has been surpassed in age by Virginia Dighero-Zolezzi, a resident Italian, and her status as the oldest emigrant is thus no longer relevant.

See also

External links

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.)
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