Ranked: The World’s Oldest People in History
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Key Takeaways
- The longest verified human lifespan belongs to Jeanne Calment of France, who lived 122 years and 164 days, significantly above the other records.
- Women are the leaders when it comes to extreme longevity, with all 10 oldest recorded people being female, while men’s maximum verified lifespans are several years shorter.
Human longevity has fascinated scientists and historians for centuries. Across cultures and generations, certain individuals have lived well beyond the average human lifespan, offering insights into health, genetics, and lifestyle.
In this graphic, we visualize the world’s oldest people in history, highlighting extreme cases of longevity among men and women.
Data & Discussion
The data for this visualization comes from Wikipedia, which compiles verified records from official sources like the Gerontology Research Group or Guinness World Records.
The World’s Oldest Women in History
The world’s oldest women have all lived beyond 115 years, with Jeanne Calment of France reaching an incredible 122 years, 164 days.
Born in 1875, she witnessed the Eiffel Tower’s construction, both world wars, and the rise of modern technology. She attributed her longevity to a Mediterranean-style life: applying olive oil to her skin, enjoying chocolate and wine, and staying physically active.
| Name | Place of death or residence |
Birth date | Death date | Age (years, days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeanne Calment |  France |
Feb. 21, 1875 | Aug. 4, 1997 | 122 years, 164 days |
| Kane Tanaka |  Japan |
Jan. 2, 1903 | Apr. 19, 2022 | 119 years, 107 days |
| Sarah Knauss |  United States |
Sep. 24, 1880 | Dec. 30, 1999 | 119 years, 97 days |
| Lucile Randon | France |
Feb. 11, 1904 | Jan. 17, 2023 | 118 years, 340 days |
| Nabi Tajima | Japan |
Aug. 4, 1900 | Apr. 21, 2018 | 117 years, 260 days |
| Marie-Louise Meilleur |  Canada |
Aug. 29, 1880 | Apr. 16, 1998 | 117 years, 230 days |
| Violet Brown |  Jamaica |
Mar. 10, 1900 | Sep. 15, 2017 | 117 years, 189 days |
| Maria Branyas |  Spain |
Mar. 4, 1907 | Aug. 19, 2024 | 117 years, 168 days |
| Emma Morano |  Italy |
Nov. 29, 1899 | Apr. 15, 2017 | 117 years, 137 days |
| Chiyo Miyako | Japan |
May. 2, 1901 | Jul. 22, 2018 | 117 years, 81 days |
Third in this ranking is Sarah Knauss, the oldest person ever from the United States. Prior to her death, there were six living generations within her family. Staff members at the nursing home Sarah lived in remembered her for her calm temperament.
The World’s Oldest Men in History
Jiroemon Kimura of Japan claims the title of the world’s oldest man, living 117 years, 54 days. He attributed his longevity to staying active and only eating until about 80% full (a Japanese concept known as hara hachi bunme).
| Name | Place of death or residence |
Birth date | Death date | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jiroemon Kimura | Japan |
Apr. 19, 1897 | Jun. 12, 2013 | 116 years, 54 days |
| Christian Mortensen | United States |
Aug. 16, 1882 | Apr. 25, 1998 | 115 years, 252 days |
| Emiliano Mercado del Toro |  Puerto Rico |
Aug. 21, 1891 | Jan. 24, 2007 | 115 years, 156 days |
| Juan Vicente Pérez |  Venezuela |
May. 27, 1909 | Apr. 2, 2024 | 114 years, 311 days |
| Horacio Celi Mendoza |  Peru |
Jan. 3, 1897 | Sep. 25, 2011 | 114 years, 265 days |
| Walter Breuning | United States |
Sep. 21, 1896 | Apr. 14, 2011 | 114 years, 205 days |
| Yukichi Chuganji | Japan |
Mar. 23, 1889 | Sep. 28, 2003 | 114 years, 189 days |
| Tomás Pinales Figuereo |  Dominican Republic |
Mar. 31, 1906 | Sep. 24, 2020 | 114 years, 177 days |
| Joan Riudavets | Spain |
Dec. 15, 1889 | Mar. 5, 2004 | 114 years, 81 days |
| Fred Harold Hale | United States |
Dec. 1, 1890 | Nov. 19, 2004 | 113 years, 354 days |
Why Do Women Live Longer Than Men?
Women typically live longer than men for a mix of biological and behavioral reasons.
For example, estrogen may offer cardiovascular protection, and women generally engage less in risky behaviors like heavy drinking or dangerous occupations.
Recent studies across mammal species also suggest that having two X chromosomes may provide females with greater resilience against harmful mutations, giving them a genetic edge in longevity.
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