Human life expectancy has increased significantly over the centuries, but there have been exceptions to the average lifespan.

In this article, we explore 30 of the oldest humans ever recorded, individuals who defied the odds and lived exceptionally long lives.

1. Jeanne Calment (122 years, 164 days)

Jeanne Calment holds the record for the longest confirmed human lifespan. Born in France in 1875, she lived through events such as both World Wars and the invention of the automobile.

2. Sarah Knauss (119 years, 97 days)

Sarah Knauss, an American who was born in 1880, became the oldest person in the United States in 1998. She attributed her longevity to a diet consisting of oatmeal, raisins, and avoiding alcohol and tobacco.

3. Kane Tanaka (118 years, 97 days)

Kane Tanaka, a Japanese woman born in 1903, holds the title for the oldest living person as of writing this article. She remains active and enjoys playing board games, particularly Othello.

4. Nabi Tajima (117 years, 260 days)

Nabi Tajima, also from Japan, held the title of the oldest living person before Kane Tanaka. She was born in 1900 and lived through three centuries before passing away in 2018.

5. Lucy Hannah (117 years, 248 days)

Lucy Hannah, an American woman born in 1875, became the oldest verified African American person ever recorded. She credited her long life to her strong faith in God.

6. Maria Capovilla (116 years, 347 days)

Maria Capovilla, an Ecuadorian woman born in 1889, lived to be the oldest person in South America. She lived through both World Wars and attributed her longevity to a healthy diet and happiness.

7. Misao Okawa (117 years, 27 days)

Misao Okawa, from Japan, was recognized as the world’s oldest living person by the Guinness World Records in 2013. She claimed eating sushi and getting enough sleep contributed to her long life.

8. Gertrude Weaver (116 years, 276 days)

Gertrude Weaver, an American supercentenarian born in 1898, became the oldest person in the world after Misao Okawa’s death in 2015. She credited her long life to kindness and not getting too stressed.

9. Jiroemon Kimura (116 years, 54 days)

Jiroemon Kimura, also from Japan, held the record for the oldest male ever recorded. He attributed his long life to eating small portions of food and maintaining an active lifestyle.

10. Christian Mortensen (115 years, 252 days)

Christian Mortensen, a Danish-American immigrant born in 1882, lived through both World Wars and various technological advancements. He attributed his long life to “smiles and cigars.”.

11. Jeanne Calment (continued)

Returning to Jeanne Calment, apart from holding the record for the longest confirmed human lifespan, she also holds another remarkable record.

Jeanne outlived her daughter and even sold her apartment to a lawyer who paid her a monthly fee until her death, making a sizable profit.

12. Violet Brown (117 years, 189 days)

Violet Brown, a Jamaican woman born in 1900, became the oldest verified person in the world in April 2017. She lived a simple life and contributed her longevity to hard work and her Christian faith.

13. Emma Morano (117 years, 137 days)

Emma Morano, an Italian woman born in 1899, held the title of the oldest living person before Violet Brown. She was the last known person alive born in the 1800s and attributed her long life to her diet, which included eating three eggs a day.

14. Chiyo Miyako (117 years, 81 days)

Chiyo Miyako was a Japanese woman who held the title of the oldest living person for a brief period before her death in 2018. She was known for her love of calligraphy and enjoyed writing poetry.

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15. Kane Tanaka (continued)

Returning to Kane Tanaka, as the current oldest living person, she has shared her secret to longevity: eating delicious food and staying positive. She also loves to solve arithmetic problems and has a passion for new technologies.

16. Shigechiyo Izumi (120 years, 237 days)

Shigechiyo Izumi, a Japanese man born in 1865, held the title of the world’s oldest man until his death. Although his age raised some doubts due to lack of documentation, his long life has been recognized by the Guinness World Records.

17. Susannah Mushatt Jones (116 years, 311 days)

Susannah Mushatt Jones, an American born in 1899, became the world’s oldest living person in 2015. She lived a life of helping others and was known for her positive attitude.

18. Bernice Madigan (115 years, 266 days)

Bernice Madigan, an American woman born in 1899, was known for her love of playing golf. She enjoyed outdoor activities and credited her good health to happiness and keeping busy.

19. Tane Ikai (116 years, 175 days)

Tane Ikai, a Japanese woman born in 1879, is widely recognized as one of the oldest people ever. She was part of a study on aging and lived to see five different emperors of Japan.

20. Emiliano Mercado del Toro (115 years, 156 days)

Emiliano Mercado del Toro, a Puerto Rican man born in 1891, became the oldest living man in the world in 2004. His secret to living a long life was reportedly eating a daily serving of oatmeal.

21. María Antonia Castro (115 years, 114 days)

María Antonia Castro, a Spanish woman born in 1881, lived to hold the title of the oldest living person in Spain. She was known for her sense of humor and love of life.

22. Elizabeth Bolden (116 years, 118 days)

Elizabeth Bolden, an American woman born in 1890, became the oldest living person in the United States and the fourth oldest person in the world at the time. She attributed her long life to her faith in God.

23. Hendrikje van Andel-Schipper (115 years, 62 days)

Hendrikje van Andel-Schipper, a Dutch woman born in 1890, held the record for the oldest person in the Netherlands until her death in 2005. She donated her body to science to help advance medical knowledge.

24. Józef Kowalski (113 years, 258 days)

Józef Kowalski, a Polish man born in 1892, became the oldest living man in the world in 2002 after the death of Yukichi Chuganji. He attributed his long life to avoiding alcohol and tobacco.

25. María Capovilla (continued)

Maria Capovilla, mentioned earlier, became the oldest person in Ecuador’s history. She was known for her love of music and enjoyed playing the guitar and singing.

26. Hendrikje van Andel-Schipper (continued)

Hendrikje van Andel-Schipper, the Dutch woman previously mentioned, was also a survivor of World War II. She endured hardships during the war and lived to tell her remarkable story.

27. María Esther Heredia de Capovilla (116 years, 347 days)

María Esther Heredia de Capovilla, an Ecuadorian woman born in 1889, was recognized as the world’s oldest living person in 2004. She attributed her long life to her faith in God.

28. Kane Tanaka (continued)

Continuing with Kane Tanaka, she has mentioned that her favorite pastime is studying mathematics. She enjoys solving problems and maintains an active mind even in her advanced age.

29. Hendrikje van Andel-Schipper (continued)

Hendrikje van Andel-Schipper, the Dutch record holder, credited her long life to a diet consisting of herring and a positive mindset. She believed that staying cheerful was the key to a happy life.

30. Leandra Becerra Lumbreras (127 years)

Leandra Becerra Lumbreras, a Mexican woman born in 1887, is purportedly the oldest person to have ever lived. However, her age is subject to debate and lacks official verification.

Conclusion

These remarkable individuals demonstrate that age is just a number and that some people have an exceptional ability to withstand the passage of time. Their long lives stand as a testament to the potential of the human body and spirit.