Ever wake up feeling like you’ve aged ten years overnight because your knee made a weird clicking sound? It happens. But then you look at someone like Ethel Caterham, and suddenly, that clicking knee doesn't seem so dramatic.
As of January 2026, the title of the oldest person in the world belongs to Ethel, a British supercentenarian who has officially clocked in at 116 years old. She isn't just a name on a Wikipedia list; she’s a living bridge to a world that most of us only know through sepia-toned history books.
Who Is the Oldest Person in the World Right Now?
Let’s talk facts. Ethel May Caterham was born on August 21, 1909.
Think about that date for a second. When she was born, William Howard Taft was the U.S. President. The Titanic hadn't even been launched yet. She’s lived through two World Wars, the invention of the television, the moon landing, and the rise of the internet. Honestly, it’s mind-blowing.
Ethel took the top spot after the passing of Japan’s Tomiko Itooka in late 2024 and Brazil's Inah Canabarro Lucas in April 2025. Right now, she lives in a care home in Surrey, England. People who know her say she’s still got that sharp British wit.
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But here’s the thing—the "oldest" title is a moving target.
The Current Top 3 (Validated)
- Ethel Caterham (UK): Born August 1909.
- Marie-Rose Tessier (France): Born May 1910.
- Naomi Whitehead (USA): Born September 1910.
It’s a tight race at the top of the 110+ club. You’ll notice they’re all women. That’s not a coincidence. Biologically, women tend to have a bit of an edge when it comes to extreme longevity, though scientists are still arguing over exactly why.
The 122-Year Record No One Can Shake
If we're talking about the oldest person to ever live, the conversation starts and ends with Jeanne Calment.
She was French, she was feisty, and she lived to be 122 years and 164 days old. She died in 1997, and in nearly thirty years, no one has even come close to touching her record.
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There’s a lot of lore around Jeanne. She allegedly met Vincent van Gogh (said he was "ugly as sin") and smoked until she was 117. She ate nearly two pounds of chocolate a week. While some skeptics tried to claim her daughter pulled a "Parent Trap" switcheroo to avoid inheritance taxes, most gerontologists—the people who study aging—still back her record as the real deal.
Why Some Records Are "Unverified"
You’ve probably seen headlines about a monk in a remote village or a great-grandmother in the mountains claiming to be 140.
Basically, if there’s no birth certificate, it didn't happen in the eyes of the Gerontology Research Group (GRG) or Guinness World Records. To get "validated," you need a paper trail: birth records, baptismal certificates, marriage licenses, and census data.
In many parts of the world in the early 1900s, record-keeping was... well, spotty at best. That’s why you see a lot of supercentenarians from the US, Japan, and Europe. It’s not necessarily that people live longer there; it’s just that we have the receipts to prove it.
The Secret Sauce?
Whenever these folks hit 110, some reporter inevitably asks, "What’s the secret?"
The answers are usually hilarious and totally unhelpful.
- Ethel Caterham says "say yes to every opportunity" and keep a positive attitude.
- Emma Morano (who lived to 117) swore by raw eggs and being single.
- Jiroemon Kimura (the oldest man ever at 116) said "eat light to live long."
The truth is probably less about the eggs and more about the DNA. Most supercentenarians have "longevity genes" that protect them from the big stuff—cancer, heart disease, and dementia—until the very, very end. They don't just live longer; they stay healthier for longer.
Can We Live to 150?
Scientists at places like Columbia University and various longevity labs are obsessed with this question.
Some research suggests that 115 is sorta the natural ceiling for most humans. After that, the body’s "resilience"—its ability to bounce back from stress—basically drops to zero. But then you have outliers like Jeanne Calment who blow right past the limit.
There's a theory that with enough "biohacking" or medical intervention, we could push it to 150. But for now, 120 is the heavy-duty wall we can't seem to climb over.
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How to Track Longevity Records Yourself
If you’re fascinated by this stuff, don't just trust random Facebook posts.
- Check the GRG World Supercentenarian Rankings: They are the gold standard for verified ages.
- LongeviQuest: A newer database that does deep investigative work into age claims.
- Guinness World Records: They usually lag behind a bit because the verification process is so intense, but they are the final word for many.
Next time you’re feeling "old" at 35 or 60, just remember Ethel. She was already "elderly" when the moon landing happened, and she’s still here, enjoying the Surrey sunshine.
Actionable Insight: If you want to increase your odds of hitting a century, focus on "compression of morbidity." This is a fancy way of saying: stay active and eat well now so that your "health span" matches your "life span." The goal isn't just to be the oldest person in the room; it’s to be the most capable one.