The longest human lifespan in the world. Centenarians of the world

Let's see if there is an age limit for longevity, and who they are - the world's longest-livers.

Centenarians are usually called those who have reached the age of 90 and have crossed it (WHO classification). And there were many such people, but not everyone’s age of life can be accurately tracked.

How long can a person live?

Speaking about whether there is a limit to longevity, legendary cases come to mind:

For example, according to the Bible, one of the fathers of humanity, Methuselah, became famous for his longevity. According to legend, he lived to be 969 years old. His prayer drove away death and saved people. Moved away Flood, which began only after the death of Methuselah.
Or another example. According to legend Chinese philosopher and the founder of the religion Taoism Lao Tzu (4-5 century BC) lived 200 years.

The famous medieval physician Paracelsus believed that you could live up to 600 years. The 18th century scientists Albrecht von Haller and Christoph Wilhelm Hufeland considered the limit of human life to be 200 years. Already Russian scientists Ilya Mechnikov and Alexander Bogomolets spoke about 160 years. So the bar kept getting lower))

Now, taking into account scientific research and the age of verified centenarians - people whose age data is confirmed by serious evidence and documents, the limit human life is considered 120 years.

10 most famous centenarians in the world

Here is a table - the top 10 centenarians in the world (according to Wikipedia)

Jeanne Calment, France, lived 122 years
Sarah Knauss, USA, 119 years old
Lucy Hannah, USA, 117 years old
Maria Louise Mailer, Canada, 117 years old
Misao Okawa, Japan, 117 years old
Maria Esther de Capovilla, Ecuador, 116 years old
Gertrude Weaver, USA, 116 years old
Suzanne Mushat Jones, 116 years old, USA
Tane Ikai, 116 years old, Japan
Elizabeth Bolden, 116 years old, USA

What is typical is that there are only women on this list! If we continue this list further, then the first long-living man you will meet is the Japanese Jiroemon Kimura, who also passed away at the age of 116 years.

Here is a list of the most famous verified long-living men:

Japanese Jiroemon Kimura, already familiar to us, 116 years old
Christian Mortensen from Denmark, 115 years old
Puerto Rican Emiliano Mercado del Toro, 115 years old
US resident Matthew Bird, 114 years old
His compatriot Walter Bruening, 114 years old

So we accept 116-120 years as the age that a person can realistically reach. This age is influenced by both genes and environment, and the very mood of a person, his desire to live. But unfortunately, too few people in the world now live to be a hundred years old. And as you can see, only one verified centenarian managed to overcome the 120-year mark.

There is no consensus on the reasons for longevity. Gerontological scientists believe that longevity is a set of factors:

heredity, proper nutrition, ecology of place of residence, healthy lifestyle, strong psyche, application of the achievements of modern medicine. We have every chance to live longer!

Examples of world centenarians

Centenarian from Japan - Misao Okawa

On April 1, 2015, 117-year-old Misao Okawa died in Japan. (The title of oldest person went to 116-year-old US citizen Gertrude Weaver. She would have turned 117 in July..

Misao's age has been documented and the documents are beyond doubt as to their authenticity. She was born on March 5, 1898. The Guinness Book of Records recognized her as the oldest living person (as of 2013) and awarded her a confirming certificate on February 27, 2013.

She lived in Osaka, Japan. For the last 18 years - in a nursing home. The photo was taken on the eve of her 116th birthday in 2014. Of Misao's three children, two are long-lived and are now over 90 years old. She considers the saddest event in her life to be the death of her husband when she was 33 years old.

Misao herself was always cheerful in spirit, did not lose heart, and attributed her longevity to good sleep and care for her health. As the director of the nursing home where she lived said in an interview: Misao sleeps at least 8 hours a day, and it is good to eat 3 times a day. Loves steamed rice and sushi. And, according to doctors, she has an incredibly strong psyche.

I will describe the most powerful fact from the materials about Misao Okawa that I have seen. As doctors and nursing home staff mention, at the age of 102, Misao broke her leg in a fall. We know that with age, bones become brittle, and serious fractures often do not heal, or do not heal properly, etc.

However, Misao not only managed to recover, which could be attributed to good heredity or the professionalism of doctors. She demonstrated her strength of character by independently rehabilitating herself after a fracture. Returning from the hospital to the nursing home, the old woman went out every day to the gym, where she did squats, holding on to the railing. Because she "isn't going to get out of shape."

Many people lack such determination and desire for life!

The most important centenarian in the world is the Frenchwoman Jeanne Calment

If we do not limit ourselves only to living centenarians, then the longest-living person, documented and reflected in the Guinness Book of Centenarians, is again a lady.

This is the Frenchwoman Jeanne Calment. She was born on February 21, 1875, and lived until August 4, 1997, having lived 122 years and missing several more months.

Looking at the images, it is clear that Zhanna always looked young: it’s hard to imagine, but in the first image she is 40 years old.

Zhanna's youth was eventful and carefree: a rich husband, the owner of a successful store, no need to work, tennis, a bicycle, roller skates, opera, etc. But subsequently life did not work out: first, the only daughter died, then the husband, then died in car accident only grandson. As a result, there were no close relatives left at all.

Nevertheless, Zhanna managed and lived in her apartment until 110 summer anniversary, when she moved into a nursing home because she discovered that she might accidentally start a fire.

Jeanne also had friends in her life. For example, lawyer Francois Raffret. When Jeanne was 90, they entered into a deal under which Francois would pay her about $400 a month for life, and after Jeanne’s death, the apartment would go to him. The lawyer expected Zhanna to live for several years. Based on the real cost of the apartments, a fair figure would be 10 years. But as a result, over 32 years he greatly overpaid.

However, Francois himself died before Jeanne, and for 2 years it was his wife and widow who paid for the money. Actually, thanks to the lawyer, Jeanne’s age and biography were so well documented - Francois, in preparation for the transaction, carried out high-quality preparatory work.

Kalman's lifestyle was far from ideal longevity: she smoked (2 cigarettes a day), drank red wine, and consumed a lot of chocolate (0.5 - 1 kg per week). But she was an optimist, she didn’t suffer overweight, ate a lot of fruit, actively played sports and walked a lot in nature. For example, she fenced and rode a bicycle until she was 100 years old.

Try to put your grandmother on a bicycle, and you will understand the uniqueness of Zhanna..

Here is a photo collage showing 4 famous centenarians in the world:

top left - Misao Okawa, Japan
top right - Maria Capovilla, Ecuador
bottom right - Jeanne Calment, France
bottom left - Bessie Cooper, USA

Bessie Cooper- teacher from the USA. She was born and lived in the USA, the years of her life were August 26, 1896 - December 4, 2012. She was born into a large family - 8 children, Bessie had 7 brothers and sisters.

Then there was a husband and four children, work at school. Recent years she lived in a nursing home medical center. Back in August 2012, shortly before her death, the state of Georgia named a bridge in honor of Bessie Cooper.

Maria Capovilla- housewife from Ecuador. Born into a wealthy family of a colonel on September 14, 1889. She was engaged in art, did not drink or smoke. She married an Italian and gave birth to five children. Maria lived a happy life, and died on August 27, 2006 from pneumonia.

A person who has passed the age of ninety is considered a centenarian. But often older people set real records for life expectancy when their age significantly exceeds the 100-year mark.

Zhanna Kalman 122 years old

Most old man planets - Frenchwoman Jeanne Calment, who left our world at the age 122 years. There may have been other long-livers in the world who reached this age or even lived even longer. But, as a rule, very old people do not keep documents confirming the accuracy of the date of birth they indicate. Modern centenarians were born in turbulent times of wars and revolutions, so their documents often disappeared or were missing from the very beginning.

The Frenchwoman Calment was luckier than others, since she was able not only to live to an impressive age, but also to preserve documents confirming her year of birth. This was facilitated by living throughout her long life in a small French town, unaffected by global cataclysms.

Something very happened in a woman’s life once significant event– she met as a child Vincent Van Gogh, who came to her father’s shop to buy art supplies. Subsequently, the woman even starred in a small role in a film about the great artist, portraying herself there.

It is important to note that Zhanna was never distinguished by her commitment to healthy and the right image life. She had an avid sweet tooth, loved junk food and alcohol, and most importantly, smoked a lot. There is a photograph of a woman riding a bicycle and smoking a cigarette. At the time of the photo she was 118 years old. Cycling has been the centenarian's favorite hobby since childhood. And by the age of 85, she acquired a new extraordinary hobby - fencing.

It is thanks to her longevity that Jeanne Kalman also became famous throughout the world as a unique businesswoman. At the age of 90, the woman entered into a contract with a lawyer, according to which he would annually transfer 2,500 francs to the woman’s account in exchange for receiving ownership of her apartment after the death of the owner. The market value of the housing was estimated at 25,000 francs. Accordingly, after 10 years, the lawyer fully paid the cost of the apartment, and Madame Kalman continued to enjoy life for another 12 years after that. The lawyer himself died before the woman, so the widow of the unfortunate man continued to pay money for her maintenance.

At the age of 110, Madame Calment started a fire in her own home while cooking, as a result of which she had to move to a nursing home (the woman had no children). At the age of 115, she fell down the stairs and from that age she was unable to move independently. The woman retained her sobriety until her last days, having only problems with vision and hearing in recent months life.

According to the memoirs of contemporaries, the main distinctive features Madame Calment had the ability to enjoy life and wit. Perhaps this is where the phenomenon of longevity of this interesting woman lies.

Photo: Long-Livers of the World. Zhanna Kalman

Long-livers are women. Interesting fact, but among the top ten oldest inhabitants of our planet, whose age is officially confirmed, there is not a single man. The conclusion involuntarily suggests itself that the longevity gene is still more characteristic of the female half of humanity.

In addition to Jeanne Calment, the most famous centenarians are the following representatives of the fair sex:

Sarah Knauss (USA) 119 years old.

The woman was born in the American state of Pennsylvania and lived there all her life. At that time, when she was considered the oldest inhabitant of the planet, she was often asked what emotions this caused her. The centenarian always answered indifferently that the figures of her age that amazed the public’s imagination were not something special for her. The woman’s children recalled that their mother had been distinguished by enviable calm and balance all her life. She was never nervous or angry, nothing could hurt her. Perhaps in such a philosophical attitude to life lies the secret of longevity. After all, everyone knows that emotional experiences significantly shorten our lives. Sarah Knauss died at 119 years old.

Photo: Long-Livers of the World. Sarah Knauss.

Lucy Hannah (USA) 117 years old.

The oldest African-American woman in the world. A woman's place of birth is American state Alabama, from which she had to flee due to problems of a racist nature. She eventually settled in Detroit, where she met her future husband. An interesting fact is that Lucy was a hereditary centenarian, since her mother died at the age of 99, and her sisters successfully passed the century mark. The woman had eight children, but only two of them survived their mother. Lucy Hannah died at 117.

Photo: Long-Livers of the World. Lucy Hannah

Maria Louise Mayor (Canada) 117 years old.

She was born in Quebec, Canada, and during her life she gave birth to 10 children. The woman believed that the path to longevity lies in children. It was in constant worries about them and about the house that she did not have time to be sad or worry about anything. Maria loved alcohol and occasionally allowed herself a glass of good wine. Also, the woman smoked a lot until her 90th birthday. At this age, she made the decision to quit smoking overnight. The doctors were concerned and warned Maria about the risk fatal outcome in case of such a rapid abandonment of a long-term bad habit. But the woman did not listen to them. As a result, Maria lived another 27 years, during which she did not smoke a single cigarette. Maria Luisa Mayor died at 117 years old.

Photo: Long-Livers of the World. Maria Luisa Mayor

Nabi Tajima (Japan) 117 years old.

Nabi Tajima from the Japanese city of Kagoshima currently alive, she is 117 years old. She is the oldest inhabitant of the planet today. Also, she the only person of the living in the world today, born in the 19th century. Nabi has 9 children and a huge number of grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. On the last day of the elderly, a woman accepted congratulations from the head of her city, who wished her more many years life.

Photo: Long-Livers of the World. Nabi Tajima

Violet Brown (Jamaica) 117 years old.

Born in Jamaica. During one interview, as one of the oldest inhabitants of the planet, the woman admitted that it was difficult for her to objectively perceive her unusual age. According to her self-feelings, it seemed to her that the age should be much younger. Violet admitted that she does not eat pork, chicken, and also does not drink rum. Violet Brown died at 117.

Photo: Long-Livers of the World. Violet Brown

Emma Morano (Italy) 117 years old.

Emma was born in Piedmont, Italy, into a special family. Firstly, her family was truly large, since Emma herself had seven brothers and sisters. In addition, among her relatives there were several centenarians, so we can confidently speak about the presence of a factor of good heredity. A number of the woman’s brothers and sisters lived safely to 90 years of age, and one sister died after her 102nd birthday. Emma admitted in an interview that she drank a glass of home-made wine and ate three eggs every day. The most important secret of a long, happy life the woman was counting positive outlook for life. Unfortunately, she left no descendants, as her only child died in childhood. Emma Morano herself died at 117 years old.

Misao Okawa (Japan) 117 years old.

The Osaka native noted that the secret to her longevity is eating sushi and getting good sleep. An elderly Japanese woman claimed that you need to sleep at least 8 hours a day. The woman was married to a businessman, with whom she gave birth to three children. She lived out her last days in a nursing home. A month before her death, the woman celebrated her next birthday, which was broadcast on national television. Misao died at 117 years old.

Maria Esther de Capovilla (Ecuador) 116 years old.

The woman was born in Ecuador and always lived there until her last day. In her marriage, the centenarian gave birth to five children, three of whom were able to outlive their mother. The woman basically did not drink alcohol or smoke. She loved art very much, to which she devoted her entire life. Maria died at 116 years old.

Photo: Long-Livers of the World. Maria Esther de Capovilla

Suzanne Mushatt Jones (USA) 116 years old.

The American called the secret of longevity complete absence bad habits and full-fledged, healthy sleep. The woman lived out her last days in a nursing home, moving around using a wheelchair. She had problems with hearing and vision. Suzanne celebrated her birthdays on a grand scale, inviting relatives and friends to the holiday. Also, government officials also expressed congratulations to the respected birthday girl in America. Suzanne died at 116 years old.

Photo: Long-Livers of the World. Suzanne Mushatt Jones

Long-livers are men.

Jiroemon Kimura (Japan) 116 years old

The most famous male centenarian in the world. Jiroemon was born in the small Japanese town of Ketango, with a population of no more than 60 thousand people. This small town became very famous, arousing increased interest among scientists when it became known that in addition to Kimura, there were 94 more centenarians aged over 100 years in Ketango. After receiving such information, scientists decided to find out what factors in this area of Japan lead to longevity among local residents. Kimura himself worked at the post office for 40 years and took up farming at retirement age. Famous Japanese was the father of seven children. Jiroemon died at 116 years old.

Photo: Long-Livers of the World. Jiroemon Kimura

Christian Mortensen (Denmark - USA) 115 years old.

The man was born in Denmark, later moving to the USA. He worked from a very early age, having already hired himself at the age of 16 in a sewing workshop as an apprentice tailor. After moving to America, the man first settled in Chicago, then moved to Texas, and met old age in California in a nursing home, moving to the sunny state at the age of 96. Christian was married only once, but unsuccessfully. After that serious relationship he had nothing better with women. The centenarian left no descendants. The man called the secrets of longevity the use of only boiled water, moderate smoking and vegetarianism, which he adhered to. Christian was not only a long-liver, but also the oldest of the Danes and of the American emigrants. Also, the man was credited with the title of the only Scandinavian centenarian. Christian died at 115 years old.

Photo: Long-Livers of the World. Christian Mortensen

Emiliano Mercado del Toro (Puerto Rico) 115 years old.

The man was born in Puerto Rico, where he worked all his life as a truck driver on a sugar plantation. He was recognized as the oldest veteran on the planet, although he never participated in actual military action. The man's military career amounted to only a few months spent in a US training camp during the First World War. However, the centenarian, on his 102nd birthday, was awarded an award by Bill Clinton himself on the anniversary of the armistice in the war. Emiliano died at 115 years old.

Photo: Long-Livers of the World. Emiliano Mercado del Toro

Countries

The leading countries in terms of longevity among the population are Japan and the USA. These data are confirmed by general statistics on life expectancy of citizens of these states and the real examples given above. A large number of the women and men represented, who lived to an advanced age, lived in America or Japan. This suggests that in these countries there are local unique features, making the life of local residents comfortable and long.

Japan

Japan, until the Second World War, never had such indicators. The situation changed in the 20th century, when the standard of living established in the country and the amount of benefits received by the population increased significantly. Level of economic development at at the moment– one of the leading ones, therefore the local population has at its disposal high-quality food products, medicine of the highest level, developed ecology, etc. All these factors together form the overall health of the nation and have a positive impact on how long the average Japanese person lives.

Photo: Countries of long-livers. Japan

Diet plays a huge role in the health of the Japanese. Residents of the country love to eat seafood, which is a storehouse of substances essential for health (especially fluorine and iodine). Also, soybeans and products containing them are popular in Japan, the consumption of which is recommended for maintaining health. cardiovascular system and bones. Deserves special attention green tea(metabolic processes occurring in the human body are activated). Such nutritional principles guarantee the absence excess weight in the overwhelming majority of Japanese, which is the key to the health of the body.

USA

Main reason high life expectancy in America - a developed economy. The population of the country freely disposes of the material goods and services available to them (general consumer goods, social guarantees, transport, medicine, etc.). A high standard of living guarantees a comfortable existence for people and confidence in the future.

The highest level of medicine is of great importance. Diseases from which people living in disadvantaged countries die are successfully treated in America. This is ensured not only by a developed system of financing medicine and the availability of high-tech equipment, but also by successful personnel policy. Talented international specialists are recruited to work in US medical clinics.

Sports are very popular in the USA. All children school age As a rule, they engage in sports sections; teams of young athletes participate in various competitions organized between schools. After school, children go to colleges, also supporting the family's sports traditions. As you know, sport is the key to the body’s well-being, and youth sports are of particular importance because they lay the foundation for lifelong health.

Scandinavian countries

The Scandinavian countries have a cold climate and unremarkable summers, but this does not prevent them from being included in the list of countries that record high average ages for their elderly population. The main reason for health northern peoples– eating fish containing a lot of fat. It ensures healthy blood vessels, joints and reduces the risk of Alzheimer's.

Photo: Countries of long-livers. Scandinavia

Sports, which are very popular, also play an important role. Thus, among the residents of Finland, about 70% of the country's population choose to exercise in the fresh air.

Europe

The highest life expectancy rate is in France. And this is not surprising. After all, the main long-liver of the planet, Jeanne Kalman, is a native of this country. The secret of French longevity is an easy-going attitude to life, wit and the ability to have fun. These qualities are common to most French people who love to get together. big companies, drink wine.

Photo: Countries of long-livers. France

It is important to note that, despite their love of feasts (during which the French eat all kinds of pates, cheeses, olives and much more), the country's residents consume food in fairly small quantities and do it slowly. Portions of French dishes are always miniature. Therefore, among the French, also, small quantity overweight people.

In Italy, life expectancy is also quite high. And this despite the fact that Italy is on the list of countries where the smoking rate is incredibly high. The main secret of the long life of Italians is strong family ties. Families in this country are always large and noisy, and relatives support each other.

Italians eat a lot of vegetables and fruits. The most popular dishes in the country are pizza with all kinds of vegetable toppings, vegetable salads and pasta with sauces.

Soft tissue plays an important role in the health of the nation. maritime climate, which shapes the health of local residents. In addition, life by the sea calms and puts you in a positive mood.

Cuba

In Cuba they like to smoke strong cigars, drink large amounts of rum and drink coffee all the time. Nevertheless, this country is distinguished by very high life expectancy rates among the local population. The main reason for this is the natural optimism of Cubans, who know how to enjoy life.

Photo: Countries of long-livers. Cuba

It is also believed that in Cuba medicine is developed at a fairly high level, despite the low economic development of the state.

Example of Tibetan monks

Photo: Countries of long-livers. Tibetan longevity

Tibetan longevity is considered a special phenomenon. Since ancient times, Tibetan monks have preached certain principles that should be followed in life. Compliance with these principles guarantees long life. The monks advise always to engage in physical exercises that develop stamina and endurance. It is also important to develop the ability to breathe correctly.

But the main condition for longevity from the point of view of the monks is adherence to the principles of nutrition:

Do not mix meat and carbohydrates.
Eliminate coffee.
Chew food thoroughly. This rule will help maintain a healthy stomach and also make you feel full much faster. Thus, food will be absorbed in much smaller quantities. The result is no weight gain. And optimal weight is the key to health.
Drink one egg every day. This should be done separately from other meals.

Certainly, to modern man It is difficult to constantly adhere to the principles of life of Tibetan monks, but at least partial use of their advice will help to significantly improve life and improve the health of the body.

Based on the life stories of the world's famous centenarians, as well as on the basis of numerous studies by scientists, we can conclude that there are the following secrets of longevity:

Socio-economic conditions. Scientists argue that the standard of living in the country and the quality of life of the person himself play a big role. The presence of quality products in the diet, access to modern medicine, a high level of education and career success make a person’s life comfortable and prosperous. And a state of comfort and satisfaction with one’s lifestyle, as a rule, provides psychological health. Most of our troubles come from nerves, so we can safely say that a calm, balanced person who is confident in his future will live a long, happy life.
Nutrition. It exists for a reason well-known opinion: “We are what we eat.” Systematic consumption of vegetables, fruits, natural juices and the absence of harmful synthetic products in the diet is the key to a healthy lifestyle.
Motor activity. In most countries with high age populations, sports are popular at the national level. Sports activities stimulate cardiac activity, strengthen blood vessels and joints, make the lungs work and guarantee large quantity positive emotions. It is not necessary to purposefully engage in any sport. For health, it is enough just to be in the fresh air (the more, the better), engaging in active activities. It is not for nothing that most centenarians were residents of small towns and farm workers. These people with early childhood breathed fresh air, received regular physical activity.
Work. Labor is not only a source of obtaining material benefits, it also guarantees pleasure from self-realization. Some people make a professional career, while others work for the benefit of their family. In any case, fulfilling the duties assigned to us guarantees satisfaction with the process and the results obtained. Inaction oppresses people, makes them weak and passive. Such conditions have a bad effect on health.
Full sleep. Most centenarians said in interviews that they consider healthy, full-fledged sleep to be the key to their longevity. The human body is designed in such a way that after the stresses endured during the day, it should get a good rest.
Heredity. Many centenarians came from families in which several representatives lived to be 90 or more. This fact confirms that heredity can indeed be one of the positive factors influencing a person’s life span.
Having children. Many of the older people presented in the article had a large number of children. And this is no coincidence. Children bring joy to their parents and do not let them get bored. Having a large number of children does not allow you to be lazy and eliminates the possibility of indulging in melancholy and depression, since there is simply no time for these destructive conditions. Also, responsibility for their lives and the desire to see grandchildren and then great-grandchildren is an excellent incentive for longevity.
Emotional mood. Almost all the oldest people on the planet say that you should always be happy and not worry about trifles. It is important to appreciate the joys of family, to give birth and raise children, to enjoy communication with loved ones. This attitude allows you to maintain calm and goodwill. Voltage, constant stress and conflicts are main problem modern society. People have forgotten how to live harmoniously (with themselves, with others). Namely, the ability to take adversity lightly and find joy in everything is the main guarantee of a happy and long life. The longest-livers of the world throughout history serve as further confirmation of this.

In the most ancient book it is said that a person lives “...70 years, and with greater strength 80 years...”. According to average statistics, this figure is much less, but what can be said about the unique exceptions to the rules? About those who live longer than others. About people who personal experience they know what life is like after a hundred years.

According to historical data, the longest living person in the world lived in China. His name was Li Qingyun. This man was born in 1677 and died at the beginning of the twentieth century (1933). In total, he lived 256 years, and, according to eyewitnesses, he looked 50 years younger. How did he manage to live so long? During his lifetime he was often asked this question, and he paid attention primarily to proper nutrition and physical exercise.

It is known that he was so physically strong that at the age of 70 he became a teacher in Chinese army martial arts In addition to nutrition and exercise, from early childhood he devoted a lot of time to collecting and studying medicinal herbs, from which he often made health-promoting infusions. Therefore in modern history of humanity, this is the most unique man who lived the longest.

Centenarians today

According to the UN decision, a person can be considered a centenarian if his age exceeds 90 years. All over the world you can find people who live the longest, but in some countries they are especially numerous. For example, in Japan there are about 50 thousand centenarians, and these are only those who survived the turn of the century. Of these, approximately 87% are women, average duration which in this country is about 86 years old.

Especially outstanding personalities entered the Guinness Book of Records. Now it includes Misao Okawa, a Japanese woman who is 115 years old. She is considered the oldest woman in the world. Before her was Koto Okubo, who died earlier this year at the age of 115 years and 19 days.

As for long-living men, the oldest is now almost 116 years old. He is the oldest living person in the world. He lives in Kyoto (Japan) and his name is Jiroemon Kimura. He twice became a Guinness World Records holder and, born in 1897, achieved three centuries in his lifetime. During his lifetime, people invented the television, the car and the Internet. While he lives, Britain has had 6 monarchs, the USA - 20 presidents, Japan - 5 emperors, collapsed Soviet Union, and with it the communist regime.

This amazing man was a postman for 40 years and a farmer until he was 90. He has a very big family: 7 children (he survived two of them), 14 grandchildren and granddaughters, 25 great-grandchildren and already 13 great-great-grandchildren. According to him, life expectancy depends on moderation in food. Therefore, he recommends never eating more than necessary, even if the dish is very tasty.

Centenarians in the past

Other most long-lived people who have already died are also worthy of attention. There are not many of them, so they will be listed below.
Long-lived women:

Jeanne Kalman lived 122 years and 164 days (02/21/1875-08/04/1997);
Knauss Sarah lived 119 years and 97 days (09/24/1880-12/30/1999);
Hana Lucy lived 117 years and 248 (07/16/1875-03/21/1993);
Maria Louise Mailer lived 117 years and 230 days (08/29/1880-04/16/1998);
Maria Esther de Capovilla lived 116 years and 347 days (09/14/1889-08/27/2006);
Ikai Tane lived 116 years and 175 days (01/18/1879-07/12/1995);
Elizabeth Bolden lived 116 years and 118 days (08/15/1890-12/11/2006);
Besie Cooper lived to be 116 years old and 100 years old (08/26/1896-12/4/2012).

Long-lived men:

Christian Mortensen lived 115 years and 252 days (08/16/1882-04/25/1998);
Emiliano Mercado del Toro lived 115 years and 156 days (08/21/1891-01/24/2007);
Brüning Walter lived 114 years and 205 days (09/21/1896-04/14/2011);
Chunanji Yukichi lived 114 years and 189 days (03/23/1889-09/28/2003).

The time allotted to each person on earth is individual, and it is impossible to predict in advance how many years are still ahead, and when making plans, seriously count on their implementation. Man is mortal, and, as the classic rightly noted, the bad thing is that he is mortal suddenly. However, almost everyone expects to live a long life and hopes to meet an interesting old age. From time immemorial, people have been looking for ways to prolong their lives, to find a medicine that guarantees longevity, and, if possible, immortality.

Are there any patterns that allow us to say that certain factors contribute to a long life span? Are there any magical potions that will give you a dozen or two extra years of life? People who live 90 years or more are called centenarians. Each additional year lived on earth brings more and more attention to them. The centenary anniversary becomes a real event, and children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, gathering on such a wonderful occasion, secretly cherish the hope that longevity is a hereditary factor and they themselves will also have the opportunity to blow out a hundred candles on the birthday cake. So what does the number of years lived depend on?

What is the maximum life expectancy of a person?

The person who lived the longest life is the Frenchwoman Jeanne Calment. She managed to celebrate her 122nd birthday before she passed away. Moreover, such a long life span is documented and does not raise doubts among scientists. It’s surprising, but if we take into account official data, then among the ten people who lived the longest lives, nine are women, and only one is a man! Coincidence? Or is there some kind of terrible secret? Women often have to severe trials, but, nevertheless, obligations to children and parents are more seasoned nervous system, the habit of relying on themselves makes women less vulnerable. From time immemorial, men have been fighting, working, trying to do everything, and in this rush they are losing an unequal battle with life and death. Women, as continuers of the family, live for themselves, for men.

Fewer and fewer representatives of the generation that won the Great Patriotic War are still alive. Patriotic War. People who suffered the most terrible hardships, hunger, disease, hardships and deprivations, went through fire and water, the ovens of concentration camps - and survived, and many of them lived long lives. The triggered genetic code prevented the surviving people from dying from disease and hunger after the war, and the people rose almost from the ashes. And how many centenarians there are, about whom there is no official data, grandparents who live out their lives in remote villages, who restored documents after the war from memory and do not know how old they really are.

If we take into account unverified and unconfirmed data, then each country can boast of its centenarians and try to compete with the Guinness Book of Records. Stories about the Chinese Li-Chung-yang, who lived for about three hundred years, despite the complete absence of any documentary evidence, excite minds and hearts and force us to look for a way to repeat him life path. A postage stamp was issued in honor of the 169th birthday of Colombian Javier Pereira. A similar honor was given to the long-lived USSR Mukhamed Eyvazov, who celebrated his 150th birthday.

Despite the fact that France is considered the record holder for the number of people with the longest life expectancy, with the UK and Germany in the top three, the oldest person lives in a small village on the shores of Lake Titicaca in Bolivia. Carmelo Flores Laura passed the 123 mark. He considers the secret of his longevity to be hard work and a small amount of food eaten.

What affects life expectancy?

Food that prolongs life:

Apples restore elasticity to the walls of blood vessels and regulate the functioning of the cardiovascular system;
Dark chocolate improves memory, reduces fatigue;
Natural becomes good method prevention of cancer;
Rice is a real treasure useful substances. It’s not for nothing that in the East, where rice is an integral part of the diet, life expectancy is quite high;
Vegetables, berries, greens cleanse blood vessels and promote hematopoiesis.
Fish and seafood are the optimal material for the renewal of body cells. The number of long-living Japanese people can safely be considered as proof of the benefits of their systematic consumption.

Except proper nutrition, full healthy sleep is important, physical activity, interspersed with rest and peace of mind. But if everything is so simple, why don’t people live two hundred years? Illness, stress, bad environment, negative emotions destroy bodies and souls. Numerous man-made disasters, accidents and wars claim the lives of thousands of people. Are we able to change our lives ourselves, or are each of us just a follower along the road of life? Be that as it may, we can make our life more correct, full of positive deeds and thoughts, otherwise, why live a hundred years if there is no good memory left after you? Dare, search, try, and who knows, maybe you will give the world a cure for longevity?

The oldest person on the planet is a relative and multifaceted concept. It may concern both official statistics and ancient legends and eyewitness accounts. You can name the names of living long-livers or remember those who have already passed into another world.

Throughout the history of civilizations, man has always strived for immortality. But what is eternal life - the ultimate dream or a curse? Be that as it may, people are mortal and only the Creator knows how much is destined for each of us. However, some representatives of our family managed to push the age limit so far that this fact causes sincere surprise and keen interest. Our story today is about them - the oldest people on Earth.

Who is considered a long-liver?

An elderly person is included in the category of centenarians if he has crossed the ninety-year mark. There are quite a lot of such people in the world, for example, in Russia there are about 350,000 of them. If they talk about the very best, this bar is raised to 110 years. There are already significantly fewer centenarians on the planet who have celebrated their centennial anniversary. The gap is colossal.

The primary issue for statistics is to find authentic documents confirming the venerable age of a person. Over the past century, the world has been rocked by many wars, natural disasters, which often led to the loss of metrics and other written sources. Therefore, the list of people over 110 years of age was divided into three categories:

Verified – available official document about the date of birth: state certificate or entry in the parish register.
Pending verification – the authenticity of documents is being studied by specialists.
Speculative – no obvious evidence of longevity was found.
The Gerontological Research Group deals with issues of longevity verification.

It is worth mentioning separately the mythical characters, saints of various faiths, to whom legends and religious scriptures attribute hundreds of years of life. So the Bible says that the famous progenitor of mankind, Methuselah, lived 969 years, eating only honey and fruits. His name acquired a common meaning to denote longevity (“Methuselah age”).

The oldest people on the planet (currently living)

Today, more than 1060 names are included in the general list of elders of the world. As annoying as it is for the stronger half of humanity, the top ten includes only long-lived women. And among the entire list, the number of men is less than 10%.

This fully confirms the trend that has developed in recent centuries longer duration life of the female population in almost all countries. Answering the question: “Why do women live much longer?”, gerontologists are inclined to physiological reasons.

This means that female nature is more adapted to survival and maintaining vitality. In particular, experts have discovered that the hormone testosterone causes disruptions in the immune system of men. While the female hormone estrogen, on the contrary, has anti-aging properties.

Second pattern: five out of ten oldest people on Earth - Japanese. Country rising sun consistently leads the ranking in terms of the number of centenarians in the world. According to statistics, per 100 thousand Japanese there are 35 people who celebrated their centenary.

The Japanese secret of longevity is in a special diet, which contains seafood and algae every day. Scientists are inclined to believe that if the “elixir of youth” is ever found, its main ingredient will be seaweed.

TOP 10 living longest-living record holders

Chiyo Miyako

Giuseppina Proetto-Frau

Kane Tanaka

Maria Giuseppa Robucci-Nargiso

Shimoe Akiyama

Lucille Randon

Shin Matsushita

Tane Yonekura

Gabriel de Robert

Bessie Cam

Now the oldest person on the planet is Japanese woman Chiyo Miyako, who lives in the Kanagawa region. She received her honorary status quite recently. She became the oldest inhabitant of the planet on April 21, 2018, after the death of 117-year-old compatriot Nabi Tajima. Tanzima called good sleep and passion for dancing her secret to longevity.

In second place is a lady from Italy - Giuseppina Proetto-Frau, 115 years old. A centenarian was born on the island of Sardinia. In 1946 she moved to Florence, where she lives to this day with one of her daughters.

The third place of honor is occupied by 115-year-old Japanese Kane Tanaka.

Despite the fact that the life expectancy of earthlings is constantly increasing, the maximum age of the most tenacious representatives remains the same. Cross the 120-year mark in lately no one succeeds. As gerontologists note, this looks like some kind of insurmountable wall.

Gone

The list of age record holders of all times and peoples is more numerous. Let's talk about the most outstanding of them.

Zhanna Kalman (122 years old)

The record for longevity belongs to the legendary Frenchwoman, who was born in the 19th century (1875) and did not live to see the 21st century for only three years. The age limit she has reached is considered the maximum confirmed. She is listed as oldest centenarian in the Guinness Book of Records. During her long life, Jeanne survived World Wars I and II and 25 rulers of France.

If not for her age record, her biography could be called mediocre. She spent her entire life in her hometown of Arles, had a daughter and a husband, whom she outlived by more than half a century. Left without relatives, at the age of 110 Zhanne moved to a nursing home, where she lived for another 12 long, happy years.

Kalman herself considered the absence of stress to be her secret to longevity. By modern standards, she was not a proponent of healthy habits. Jeanne smoked a lot and, like all French people, was a lover of good wine and sweets.

Jiroemon Kimura (116 years old)

The oldest male person on Earth is Japanese again! They definitely know the secret ingredient to increasing a person’s “shelf life.”

Jiroemon Kimura was born in Kyoto in 1897 and worked in the post office all his life. After retiring, he took up farming on his own plot. According to the testimony of his relatives, a moderate diet and a tireless craving for an active lifestyle helped him set a longevity record.

Centenarians in the Guinness Book of Records

If we talk about currently unconfirmed facts, the Guinness Book of Records is currently checking the data of Russian Appaz Iliev from Ingushetia. He presented documents to the gerontological service that he was born in 1896. If this information is confirmed, he will become the oldest person on Earth at the age of 122 years. There are often reports in the press about record holders from Russia, but they do not have official status.

The Secret of Longevity

Among the top five states with the most a large number centenarian inhabitants include America, Japan, France, England, Italy. In addition to these countries, some habitats have such fame, for example, the settlements of the Indian tribes of Hunza, the island of Okinawa, and the Russian Caucasus.

Analyzing the phenomena of venerable age among the peoples of the world, scientists were unable to calculate even an approximate formula for longevity. Researchers at the University of Demographic Problems have done a lot of work studying people who have reached 115 years of age. In their final statement, they stated that they had not discovered a single quality that united them all. Except for one thing – genetic predisposition.

The category of long-livers includes people of different nationalities, those born in rich and poor families, those who have never worked and workers and farmers who work their whole lives. Paradoxically, the age limit does not depend in any way on the specialty, quality of life and nutrition, or level of medical care.

What should those who want to break or at least get closer to longevity records do? Leading gerontologists advise following the following recommendations:

be moderate in food;
live in clean natural regions;
lead a measured lifestyle;
maintain inner harmony.
As for food, it turned out that most of the centenarians loved chocolate and fruits. It is possible that the antioxidants they contained had a beneficial effect on their health.

Probably, in the future, scientists will identify the longevity gene and learn how to introduce it to everyone. In anticipation of this epoch-making event, all that remains is to adhere to time-tested advice: do not overeat, avoid stress, move more and smile more often. Remember that a positive attitude and positive emotions reduces the likelihood of a person developing any disease by 50%.