The following tables list only the verified oldest people in world in ordinal rank, such as oldest person or oldest man. A supercentenarian is considered verified if their claim has been accepted by an international body that specifically deals in longevity research, such as the Gerontology Research Group or the Guinness Book of World Records. The longest unambiguously documented lifespan is that of Jeanne Calment of France (1875–1997), who died at age 122 years and 164 days. She met Vincent van Gogh at age 14.[1] This led to her being noticed by the media in 1985, at age 110. Subsequent investigation found that her life was documented in the records of her native city of Arles beyond reasonable question.[2] More evidence for the Calment case has been produced than for any other supercentenarian case, which makes her case a standard among the oldest people recordholders.[citation needed] This is contrasted with the now-disputed claim of age 120 for the oldest man ever, Shigechiyo Izumi. While this case is currently still recognized by Guinness World Records,[3] the Japanese authorities have hinted that his age was not certain.[4] The current oldest undisputed male is Christian Mortensen, who lived to be 115 years and 252 days.
Since the death of Gertrude Baines on 11 September 2009, the oldest documented living person is 114-year old Kama Chinen of Japan, who was born on 10 May 1895. The oldest living man since the death of Henry Allingham, on 18 July 2009, is 113-year old Walter Breuning, who is from the United States born 21 September 1896. [5]
The current living recordholders in their respective categories are highlighted in green in the tables below, except when they appear in tables specifically about living recordholders.
Ten oldest people ever
| Rank | Name | Sex | Age | Birth | Death | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeanne Calment | F | 122 years, 164 days | 21 February 1875 | 4 August 1997 | |
| 2 | Shigechiyo Izumi (disputed) |
M | 120 years, 237 days? | 29 June 1865? | 21 February 1986 | |
| 3 | Sarah Knauss | F | 119 years, 97 days | 24 September 1880 | 30 December 1999 | |
| 4 | Lucy Hannah | F | 117 years, 248 days | 16 July 1875 | 21 March 1993 | |
| 5 | Marie-Louise Meilleur | F | 117 years, 230 days | 29 August 1880 | 16 April 1998 | |
| 6 | María Capovilla | F | 116 years, 347 days | 14 September 1889 | 27 August 2006 | |
| 7 | Tane Ikai | F | 116 years, 175 days | 18 January 1879 | 12 July 1995 | |
| 8 | Elizabeth Bolden | F | 116 years, 118 days | 15 August 1890 | 11 December 2006 | |
| 9 | Carrie White (disputed) |
F | 116 years, 88 days? | 18 November 1874? | 14 February 1991 | |
| 10 | Kamato Hongo (disputed) |
F | 116 years, 45 days? | 16 September 1887? | 31 October 2003 |
Three claims are disputed; accordingly, an addendum of proven claims is included:
| Name | Sex | Age | Born | Died | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maggie Barnes | F | 115 years, 319 days | 6 March 1882 | 19 January 1998 | |
| Christian Mortensen | M | 115 years, 252 days | 16 August 1882 | 25 April 1998 | |
| Charlotte Hughes | F | 115 years, 228 days | 1 August 1877 | 17 March 1993 |
Ten oldest people currently living
| Rank | Name | Sex | Birth | Age as of 25 December 2009 | Residence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kama Chinen | F | 10 May 1895 | 114 years, 229 days | Oldest person in the world (since 11 September 2009). |
| 2 | Mary Josephine Ray | F | 17 May 1895 | 114 years, 222 days | |
| 3 | Neva Morris | F | 3 August 1895 | 114 years, 144 days | |
| 4 | Maggie Renfro | F | 14 November 1895 | 114 years, 41 days | |
| 5 | Eugénie Blanchard | F | 16 February 1896 | 113 years, 312 days | |
| 6 | Daisey Bailey | F | 30 March 1896 | 113 years, 270 days | |
| 7 | Florrie Baldwin | F | 31 March 1896 | 113 years, 269 days | |
| 8 | Eunice Sanborn | F | 20 July 1896 | 113 years, 158 days | |
| 9 | Besse Cooper | F | 26 August 1896 | 113 years, 121 days | |
| 10 | Walter Breuning | M | 21 September 1896 | 113 years, 95 days |
Ten oldest men ever
| Rank | Name | Age | Birth | Death | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shigechiyo Izumi (disputed) |
120 years, 237 days? | 29 June 1865? | 21 February 1986 | |
| 2 | Christian Mortensen | 115 years, 252 days | 16 August 1882 | 25 April 1998 | |
| 3 | Emiliano Mercado del Toro | 115 years, 156 days | 21 August 1891 | 24 January 2007 | |
| 4 | Mathew Beard (disputed)[6] |
114 years, 222 days? | 9 July 1870? | 16 February 1985 | |
| 5 | Yukichi Chuganji | 114 years, 189 days | 23 March 1889 | 28 September 2003 | |
| 6 | Joan Riudavets | 114 years, 81 days | 15 December 1889 | 5 March 2004 | |
| 7 | Fred H. Hale, Sr. | 113 years, 354 days | 1 December 1890 | 19 November 2004 | |
| 8 | Moses Hardy (disputed) |
113 years, 335 days? | 6 January 1893? | 7 December 2006 | |
| 9 | Johnson Parks | 113 years, 275 days | 15 October 1884 | 17 July 1998 | |
| 10 | Tomoji Tanabe | 113 years, 274 days | 18 September 1895 | 19 June 2009 |
Three claims are disputed; accordingly, an addendum of proven claims is included:
| Name | Age | Born | Died | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Ingram McMorran | 113 years, 250 days | 19 June 1889 | 24 February 2003 | |
| Frederick L. Frazier | 113 years, 138 days | 27 January 1880 | 14 June 1993 | |
| Walter Breuning | 113 years, 95 days | 21 September 1896 | Living |
Men currently living aged over 110 years
At the present time, there are only two men in the world verified as being older than 110 years of age.
| Rank | Name | Birth | Age as of 25 December 2009 | Residence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Walter Breuning | 21 September 1896 | 113 years, 95 days | Oldest man in the world (since 18 July 2009). |
| 2 | Jiroemon Kimura | 19 April 1897 | 112 years, 250 days |
Oldest living people since 1955
| Held record from | To | Name | Sex | Age when oldest | Lived | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Title began in 1955 | 24 October 1955 | Betsy Baker | F | ? – 113 | 20 August 1842 – 24 October 1955 113 years, 65 days |
|
| 24 October 1955 | 25 June 1959 (3 years, 244 days) |
Martha Graham | F | 110 – 114 | December 1844[9] – 25 June 1959. 114 years, c.180 days |
|
| 25 June 1959 | 10 February 1961 (1 year, 230 days) |
James Brett, Jr. (disputed) |
M | 109 – 111 | 25 July 1849 – 10 February 1961 111 years, 200 days |
|
| 10 February 1961 | 16 March 1962 (1 year, 34 days) |
Joseph Saint-Amour | M | 108 – 110 | 26 February 1852 – 16 March 1962, 110 years, 18 days |
|
| 16 March 1962 | 19 September 1962 (187 days) |
Ella Ille Rentel | F | 109 – 110 | 19 May 1852 – 19 September 1962, 110 years, 123 days |
|
| 19 September 1962 | 17 February 1963 (151 days) |
Lovisa Svensson | F | 108 – 109 | 20 November 1853 – 17 February 1963, 109 years, 89 days |
|
| 17 February 1963 | 8 October 1963 (233 days) |
Ellen Dart[10][11] | F | 108 | 1 November 1854 – 8 October 1963. 108 years, 341 days |
|
| 8 October 1963 | 6 March 1965 (1 year, 149 days) |
Elizabeth Kensley | F | 108 – 109 | 12 May 1855 – 6 March 1965. 109 years, 298 days |
|
| 6 March 1965 | 24 July 1965 (140 days) |
Auguste Pahl | F | 109 | 23 November 1855 – 24 July 1965. 109 years, 243 days |
|
| 24 July 1965 | 10 January 1966 (170 days) |
Hannah Smith | F | 109 – 110 | 7 January 1856 – 10 January 1966. 110 years, 3 days |
|
| 10 January 1966 | 21 March 1968 (2 years, 71 days) |
John Turner | M | 109 – 111 | 15 June 1856 – 21 March 1968. 111 years, 280 days |
|
| 21 March 1968 | 16 June 1968 (87 days) |
Johanna Booyson | F | 111 | 17 January 1857 – 16 June 1968. 111 years, 151 days |
|
| 16 June 1968 | ? October 1968 c. |
Marie Bernátková[12] | F | 110 – 111? | 22 October 1857 – fl. October 1968. 111 years, 0+ days |
|
| ? October 1968 | 11 January 1970 c. |
Ada Roe | F | 110? – 111 | 6 February 1858 – 11 January 1970. 111 years, 339 days |
|
| 11 January 1970 | 27 February 1973 (3 years, 47 days) |
Josefa Salas Mateo | F | 109 – 112 | 14 July 1860 – 27 February 1973. 112 years, 228 days |
|
| 27 February 1973 | 18 August 1973 (172 days) |
Alice Stevenson | F | 111 – 112 | 10 July 1861 – 18 August 1973. 112 years, 39 days |
|
| 18 August 1973 | 31 October 1973 (74 days) |
Elizabeth Watkins | F | 110 | 10 March 1863 – 31 October 1973. 110 years, 235 days |
|
| 31 October 1973 | 31 May 1975 (1 year, 212 days) |
Mito Umeta | F | 110 – 112 | 27 March 1863 – 31 May 1975. 112 years, 65 days |
|
| 31 May 1975 | 16 November 1976 (1 year, 169 days) |
Niwa Kawamoto | F | 111 – 113 | 5 August 1863 – 16 November 1976. 113 years, 103 days |
|
| 16 November 1976 | 21 February 1986 (9 years, 97 days) |
Shigechiyo Izumi (disputed) |
M | 111 – 120? | 29 June 1865? – 21 February 1986. 120 years, 237 days? |
|
| 21 February 1986 | 20 September 1986 (212 days) |
Mamie Eva Keith | F | 112 – 113 | 22 March 1873 – 20 September 1986. 113 years, 182 days |
|
| 20 September 1986 | 2 February 1987 (135 days) |
Mary McKinney | F | 113 | 30 May 1873 – 2 February 1987. 113 years, 248 days |
|
| 2 February 1987 | 27 December 1987 (328 days) |
Anna Eliza Williams | F | 113 – 114 | 2 June 1873 – 27 December 1987. 114 years, 208 days |
|
| 27 December 1987 | 11 January 1988 (15 days) |
Florence Knapp | F | 114 | 10 October 1873 – 11 January 1988. 114 years, 93 days |
|
| 11 January 1988 | 14 February 1991 (3 years, 34 days) |
Carrie C. White (disputed) |
F | 113 – 116? | 18 November 1874? – 14 February 1991. 116 years, 88 days? |
|
| 14 February 1991 | 4 August 1997 (6 years, 171 days) |
Jeanne Calment | F | 115 – 122 | 21 February 1875 – 4 August 1997. 122 years, 164 days |
|
| 4 August 1997 | 16 April 1998 (255 days) |
Marie-Louise Meilleur | F | 116 – 117 | 29 August 1880 – 16 April 1998. 117 years, 230 days |
|
| 16 April 1998 | 30 December 1999 (1 year, 258 days) |
Sarah Knauss | F | 117 – 119 | 24 September 1880 – 30 December 1999. 119 years, 97 days |
|
| 30 December 1999 | 2 November 2000 (308 days) |
Eva Morris | F | 114 | 8 November 1885 – 2 November 2000. 114 years, 360 days |
|
| 2 November 2000 | 6 June 2001 (216 days) |
Marie Brémont | F | 114 – 115 | 25 April 1886 – 6 June 2001. 115 years, 42 days |
|
| 5 June 2001 | 18 March 2002 (286 days) |
Maude Farris-Luse | F | 114 – 115 | 21 January 1887 – 18 March 2002. 115 years, 56 days |
|
| 18 March 2002 | 31 October 2003 (1 year, 226 days) |
Kamato Hongo (disputed) |
F | 114 – 116? | 16 September 1887? – 31 October 2003. 116 years, 45 days? |
|
| 31 October 2003 | 13 November 2003 (13 days) |
Mitoyo Kawate | F | 114 | 15 May 1889 – 13 November 2003. 114 years, 182 days |
|
| 13 November 2003 | 29 May 2004 (198 days) |
Ramona Trinidad Iglesias-Jordan | F | 114 | 31 August 1889 – 29 May 2004. 114 years, 272 days |
|
| 29 May 2004 | 27 August 2006 (2 years, 90 days) |
María Capovilla | F | 114 – 116 | 14 September 1889 – 27 August 2006. 116 years, 347 days |
|
| 27 August 2006 | 11 December 2006 (106 days) |
Elizabeth Bolden | F | 116 | 15 August 1890 – 11 December 2006. 116 years, 118 days |
|
| 11 December 2006 | 24 January 2007 (44 days) |
Emiliano Mercado del Toro | M | 115 | 21 August 1891 – 24 January 2007. 115 years, 156 days |
|
| 24 January 2007 | 28 January 2007 (4 days) |
Emma Tillman | F | 114 | 22 November 1892 – 28 January 2007. 114 years, 67 days |
|
| 29 January 2007 | 13 August 2007 (196 days) |
Yone Minagawa | F | 114 | 4 January 1893 – 13 August 2007. 114 years, 221 days |
|
| 13 August 2007 | 26 November 2008 (1 year, 105 days) |
Edna Parker | F | 114 – 115 | 20 April 1893 – 26 November 2008. 115 years, 220 days |
|
| 26 November 2008 | 2 January 2009 (37 days) |
Maria de Jesus | F | 115 | 10 September 1893 – 2 January 2009. 115 years, 114 days |
|
| 2 January 2009 | 11 September 2009 (252 days) |
Gertrude Baines | F | 114 – 115 | 6 April 1894 – 11 September 2009. 115 years, 158 days |
|
| 11 September 2009 | Present (105 days) |
Kama Chinen | F | 114[13] | born 10 May 1895 aged 114 years, 229 days |
Oldest living men since 1961
| Held record from | To | Name | Age when oldest | Lived | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 February 1961 | 16 March 1962 (1 year, 34 days) |
Joseph Saint-Amour | 108-110 | 26 February 1852 – 16 March 1962. 110 years, 18 days |
|
| 16 March 1962 | 21 March 1968 (6 years, 5 days) |
John Turner | 105-111 | 15 June 1856 – 21 March 1968. 111 years, 280 days |
|
| 21 March 1968 | ? August 1970 c. |
Khasako Dzugayev | 107-110 | 7 August 1860 – fl. August 1970. 110 years, 0+ days[14] |
|
| ? August 1970 | 5 May 1973 c. |
Friedrich Wedeking | 107-110 | 10 October 1862 – 5 May 1973. 110 years, 207 days |
|
| 5 May 1973 | 9 March 1974 (308 days) |
Frederick Butterfield | 109-110 | 28 February 1864 – 9 March 1974. 110 years, 9 days |
|
| 9 March 1974 | 21 February 1986 (11 years, 349 days) |
Shigechiyo Izumi (disputed) |
108-120? | 29 June 1865? – 21 February 1986. 120 years, 237 days? |
|
| 20 February 1986 | 14 December 1986 (297 days) |
Joe Thomas | 110-111 | 1 May 1875 – 14 December 1986. 111 years, 227 days |
|
| 14 December 1986 | 5 January 1987 (22 days) |
Herman Smith-Johannsen | 111 | 15 June 1875 – 5 January 1987. 111 years, 204 days |
|
| 5 January 1987 | 25 November 1988 (1 year, 325 days) |
Alphaeus Philemon Cole | 110-112 | 12 July 1876 – 25 November 1988. 112 years, 136 days |
|
| 25 November 1988 | 10 June 1990 (1 year, 197 days) |
John Evans | 111-112 | 19 August 1877 – 10 June 1990. 112 years, 295 days |
|
| 10 June 1990 | 18 June 1990 (8 days) |
Henri Pérignon | 110 | 14 October 1879 – 18 June 1990. 110 years, 247 days |
|
| 18 June 1990 | 16 October 1991 (1 year, 120 days) |
James Wiggins | 110-112 | 15 October 1879 – 16 October 1991. 112 years, 1 day |
|
| 16 October 1991 | 14 June 1993 (1 year, 241 days) |
Frederick L. Frazier | 111-113 | 27 January 1880 – 14 June 1993. 113 years, 138 days |
|
| 14 June 1993 | 20 January 1994 (220 days) |
Josep Armengol Jover | 111-112 | 23 July 1881 – 20 January 1994. 112 years, 181 days |
|
| 20 January 1994 | 25 April 1998 (4 years, 95 days) |
Christian Mortensen | 111-115 | 16 August 1882 – 25 April 1998. 115 years, 252 days |
|
| 25 April 1998 | 17 July 1998 (83 days) |
Johnson Parks | 113 | 15 October 1884 – 17 July 1998. 113 years, 275 days |
|
| 17 July 1998 | 25 December 1998 (161 days) |
Walter Richardson | 112-113 | 7 November 1885 – 25 December 1998. 113 years, 48 days |
|
| 25 December 1998 | 29 April 1999 (125 days) |
Denzo Ishisaki | 112 | 20 October 1886 – 29 April 1999. 112 years, 191 days |
|
| 29 April 1999 | 15 November 1999 (200 days) |
Antonio Urrea-Hernández | 111 | 16 February 1888 – 15 November 1999. 111 years, 272 days |
|
| 15 November 1999 | 1 March 2001 (1 year, 106 days) |
John Painter | 111-112 | 20 September 1888 – 1 March 2001. 112 years, 162 days |
|
| 1 March 2001 | 3 January 2002 (308 days) |
Antonio Todde | 112 | 22 January 1889 – 3 January 2002. 112 years, 346 days |
|
| 3 January 2002 | 28 September 2003 (1 year, 268 days) |
Yukichi Chuganji | 112-114 | 23 March 1889 – 28 September 2003. 114 years, 189 days |
|
| 28 September 2003 | 5 March 2004 (159 days) |
Joan Riudavets | 113-114 | 15 December 1889 – 5 March 2004. 114 years, 81 days |
|
| 5 March 2004 | 19 November 2004 (259 days) |
Fred H. Hale, Sr. | 113 | 1 December 1890 – 19 November 2004. 113 years, 354 days |
|
| 19 November 2004 | 24 January 2007 (2 years, 66 days) |
Emiliano Mercado del Toro | 113-115 | 21 August 1891 – 24 January 2007. 115 years, 156 days |
|
| 24 January 2007 | 19 June 2009 (2 years, 146 days) |
Tomoji Tanabe | 111-113 | 18 September 1895 – 19 June 2009 113 years, 274 days |
|
| 19 June 2009 | 18 July 2009 (29 days) |
Henry Allingham | 113 | 6 June 1896 – 18 July 2009 113 years, 42 days |
|
| 18 July 2009 | Present (160 days) |
Walter Breuning | 112-113[13] | 21 September 1896 aged 113 years, 95 days |
Supercentenarians who died before 1955
| Name | Sex | Birth | Death | Age | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Peters (disputed) |
M | 6 April 1745? | 26 March 1857 | 111 years, 354 days? | |
| Geert Boomgaard | M | 21 September 1788 | 3 February 1899 | 110 years, 135 days | |
| Margaret Neve | F | 18 May 1792 | 4 April 1903 | 110 years, 321 days | |
| Ann Pouder | F | 8 April 1807 | 10 July 1917 | 110 years, 93 days | |
| Louisa Thiers | F | 2 October 1814 | 17 February 1926 | 111 years, 138 days | |
| Delina Filkins | F | 4 May 1815 | 4 December 1928 | 113 years, 214 days | |
| Miriam Bannister | F | 19 March 1817 | 9 April 1928 | 111 years, 21 days | |
| Demetrius Philipovitch | M | 9 March 1818 | fl. August 1928 | 110 years, 150+ days | |
| Katherine Plunket | F | 22 November 1820 | 14 October 1932 | 111 years, 327 days | |
| Valgjer Svien | F | 10 October 1842 | 23 January 1953 | 110 years, 105 days |
National records
| Country | Name | Sex | Age | Born | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeanne Calment | F | 122 years, 164 days | 21 February 1875 | 4 August 1997 | |
| Shigechiyo Izumi (disputed) |
M | 120 years, 237 days? | 29 June 1865? | 21 February 1986 | |
| Sarah Knauss | F | 119 years, 97 days | 24 September 1880 | 30 December 1999 | |
| Marie-Louise Meilleur | F | 117 years, 230 days | 29 August 1880 | 16 April 1998 | |
| María Capovilla | F | 116 years, 347 days | 14 September 1889 | 27 August 2006 | |
| Charlotte Hughes | F | 115 years, 228 days | 1 August 1877 | 17 March 1993 | |
| Aniţica Butariu (disputed) |
F | 115 years, 157 days? | 17 June 1882? | 21 November 1997 | |
| Emiliano Mercado del Toro | M | 115 years, 156 days | 21 August 1891 | 24 January 2007 | |
| Maria de Jesus | F | 115 years, 114 days | 10 September 1893 | 2 January 2009 | |
| Henny van Andel | F | 115 years, 62 days | 29 June 1890 | 30 August 2005 | |
| Christina Cock | F | 114 years, 148 days | 25 December 1887 | 22 May 2002 | |
| Joan Riudavets | M | 114 years, 81 days | 15 December 1889 | 5 March 2004 | |
| Virginia Dighero | F | 114 years, 4 days | 24 December 1891 | 28 December 2005 | |
| Florence Finch | F | 113 years, 109 days | 22 December 1893 | 10 April 2007 | |
| Astrid Zachrison | F | 113 years, 0 days | 15 May 1895 | 15 May 2008 | |
| Maria Laqua | F | 112 years, 362 days | 12 February 1889 | 9 February 2002 | |
| Rosa Rein | F | 112 years, 276 days | 24 March 1897 | Living | |
| Lempi Maria Rothovius | F | 112 years, 259 days | 2 October 1887 | 17 June 2000 | |
| Joanna Deroover | F | 112 years, 186 days | 3 June 1890 | 6 December 2002 | |
| Maria Mika | F | 112 years, 178 days | 23 May 1882 | 17 November 1994 | |
| Maren Bolette Torp | F | 112 years, 61 days | 21 December 1876 | 20 February 1989 | |
| Katherine Plunket | F | 111 years, 327 days | 22 November 1820 | 14 October 1932 | |
| Maria Pogonowska | F | 111 years, 258 days | 30 October 1897 | 15 July 2009 | |
| Johanna Booyson | F | 111 years, 151 days | 17 January 1857 | 16 June 1968 | |
| Anne Matthiesen | F | 111 years, 114 days | 26 November 1884 | 19 March 1996 | |
| Manolita Pina | F | 111 years, 107 days | 24 February 1883 | 11 June 1994 | |
| Daniel Guzmán-García | M | 111 years, 105 days | 6 February 1897 | 21 May 2008 |
Emigrant records
| Country of birth | Name | Sex | Age | Birth | Death | Country of death |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Mortensen | M | 115 years, 252 days | 16 August 1882 | 25 April 1998 | ||
| Adelina Domingues | F | 114 years, 183 days | 19 February 1888 | 21 August 2002 | ||
| Charlotte Benkner | F | 114 years, 180 days | 17 November 1889 | 14 May 2004 | ||
| Anne Primout | F | 114 years, 172 days | 5 October 1890 | 26 March 2005 | ||
| Lucy d'Abreu | F | 113 years, 197 days | 24 May 1892 | 7 December 2005 | ||
| Elizabeth Stefan | F | 112 years, 332 days | 13 May 1895 | 9 April 2008 | ||
| Consuelo Moreno-López | F | 111 years, 282 days | 5 February 1893 | 13 November 2004 | ||
| Congress Poland (Russian Empire, now Poland) | Maria Pogonowska | F | 111 years, 258 days | 30 October 1897 | 15 July 2009 | |
| Gregory Pandazes | M | 110 years, 341 days | 15 January 1873 | 22 December 1983 | ||
| Soledad Mexia | F | 110 years, 134 days | 13 August 1899 | Living | ||
| Ella Ille Rentel | F | 110 years, 123 days | 19 May 1852 | 19 September 1962 | ||
| Hermina Dunz | F | 110 years, 111 days | 24 February 1898 | 14 June 2008 | ||
| Julia Dougherty | F | 110 years, 106 days | 20 August 1893 | 4 December 2003 |
Gerontology and the verification of age claims
|
|
This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2008) |
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.
Current trends in the lifespans of the oldest humans
|
|
This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2008) |
The population and lifespans of the world's oldest people are continually increasing with 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 these data. While in 1837 the oldest verified person was aged 108 years[who?], 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.
References
- ^ Craig R. Whitney (1997-08-05). "Jeanne Calment, World's Elder, Dies at 122". New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C01E7D7113DF936A3575BC0A961958260. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
- ^ Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research. ""Validation of Exceptional Longevity — Jeanne Calment: Validation of the Duration ofHer Life"". http://www.demogr.mpg.de/books/odense/6/09.htm. Retrieved 2008-08-04.
- ^ Douglas Martin (2004-04-21). "Norris McWhirter, 78, Dies; A Matchless Record Keeper". New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990DE3DA1F3BF932A15757C0A9629C8B63&sec=&spon=&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
- ^ http://supercentenarian.com/oldest/izumi.html The Shigechiyo Izumi Case
- ^ Coles, Stephen (2008-08-07). "Validated Living Supercentenarians". Table E. Gerontology Research Group. http://grg.org/Adams/E.HTM. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
- ^ a b The Social Security Administration (USA) recognizes Beard's claim, based on census information, but that census match is not universally accepted.
- ^ Hardy may have been born in 1894 and aged 112 at the time of his death.
- ^ Hoffman, Lisa (2006-11-15). "Meet the remaining WWI vets". ScrippsNews. http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/16168. Retrieved 2007-12-13.
- ^ Graham's age at death is an estimate as her month of birth is known, but not her date of birth.
- ^ Research by Andrew Walton and others at the Gerontology Research Group validated her case in September 2007[citation needed]. The original birth and death documents were located for Dart, who never married. Her death was covered by local newspapers, including page 5 of the 9 October 1963 Herald Express and page 12 of the 12 October 1963 Paignton Observer.
- ^ The reference in the Office for National Statistics index of births is December quarter 1854; Dart, Ellen; Crediton district; vol. 5b; page 351.
- ^ Bernátková was first included in the 1970 Guinness Book of Records. She was reportedly alive in October 1968, but the exact date of her death is not known.
- ^ a b Currently living
- ^ His grandson claims he lived until 115. See Dzugayev, K.G. (2006). "Южная Осетия в контексте российско-грузинских отношений (South Ossetia in the context of Russian-Georgian relations)" (in Russian). Bulletin of the Vladivkaz Institute of Management (19). http://www.viu-online.ru/science/publ/bulleten19/page3.html. "До 115 лет дожил и наш дед Хасако Дзугаев, также рассказывавший немало интересного и, как правило, поддающегося проверке исторической наукой.".
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).
- World's Oldest People Discussion group regarding claims to age 108+.
- Supercentenarian tables at the Gerontology Research Group
- International Database on Longevity
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