10 Oldest Living Persons in The World (Updated 2021)

Although the world’s average life expectancy is about 71.5 years (68 years and 4 months for males and 72 years and 8 months for females), all ten of the people on this list have defied these numbers and are supercentenarians, or someone who has lived beyond their 110th birthday.

All of the oldest living people in the world are women, as women typically live longer than men — additionally, the oldest living people ever in the world (with validation by Gerontology Research Group, which keeps track of the world’s oldest people) have been women.

Until recently, majority of the women on this list were from Japan, which according to the World Health Organization, has the highest life expectancy in the world. However, the current list of oldest living people come from many different parts of the world.

As of April 2021, the information on this list is as accurate as possible and will be updated as needed.

10. Thelma Sutcliffe (October 1, 1906 – Present)

 Current Age (as of April 2021): 114 years, 6 months, 13 days
Country of Origin:  USA
Sex: Female
Previous Occupation: Worked for the War Department in 1940s and Homemaker

Thelma Sutcliffephoto source: Lincoln Journal Star

Thelma Sutcliffe is currently the second oldest living American, after Hester Ford. Sutcliffe is a Nebraska native and is the oldest person ever recorded in the state at 114 years old. She celebrated her most recent birthday at her nursing home, but was unable to have any outside visitors due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Sutcliffe got married when she was 17 and although she and her husband never had any kids, Sutcliffe did not work outside of the home. Before moving to an assisted living facility in 2017, Sutcliffe lived on her own and reportedly exercised every morning, did her own laundry, and played bridge several times a week. Sutcliffe is still very sharp and enjoys playing bridge with her fellow residents.

Did You Know?

During World War II, Thelma Sutcliffe worked for the U.S. War Department.


9. Tekla Juniewicz (June 10, 1906 – Present)

 Current Age (as of April 2021): 114 years, 10 months, 4 days
Country of Origin:  Modern-day Ukraine (formerly Austria-Hungary)
Sex: Female
Previous Occupation: Miner

Tekla Juniewiczphoto source: gliwice.naszemiasto.pl

Tekla Juniewicz is the longest-lived person ever in Poland’s history and is currently 114 years old – her next birthday is this summer. Juniewicz was born in part of the Austria-Hungarian empire, which is now Ukraine. Since the end of World War II, Juniewicz has lived in Gliwice, Poland.

According to Juniewicz, she attended the school of Szarytki Sisters in Przeworsk, Poland, where she learned how to be “a good housewife.” She learned to sew, embroider, and cook. While she lived in Przeworsk, Juniewicz did meet her future husband, who was 22 years older than she was. The couple had two daughters. Juniewicz’s husband died in 1980 when he was 96 years old and she continued to live on her own until she was 103 years old. She now lives with her grandson.

Did You Know?

Tekla Juniewicz was the first validated supercentenarian in Poland’s history to have reached the ages of 112, 113, and 114.


8. Noeme de Silveira Freitas (September 7, 1905 – Present)

 Current Age (as of April 2021): 115 years, 7 months, 7 days
Country of Origin:  Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
Sex: Female
Previous Occupation: Seamstress

Noeme de Silveira Freitasphoto source: g1.globo.com

Noeme de Silveria Freitas is another reported supercentenarian who has not yet had her age verified by Gerontology Research Group. According to news report 2019, Freitas was born in 1905, which would make her 115 years old. If Freitas’ claims are true, she is one of the oldest living people in South America.

Freitas is fairly healthy, but does suffer from some thyroid issues and also has limited mobility. Her daughter Elizabeth takes care of her and Freitas has dubbed her a “saint” for not abandoning her like the rest of their family.

Did You Know?

Noeme de Silveria Freitas was married to her teenage sweetheart until he passed away at the age of 98.


7. Hester Ford (August 15, 1905 – Present)

 Current Age (as of April 2021): 115 years, 7 months, 30 days
Country of Origin:  Lancaster, South Carolina, USA
Sex: Female
Previous Occupation: Farm Worker and Nanny

Hester Fordphoto source: en.newsner.com

Hester Ford is the oldest living person in the United States and she will be turning 116 this summer.. According to older news stories as well as the Gerontology Research Group’s records, Ford’s birth year is listed as 1905. However, more recent stories state that Ford’s family found old census records that say Ford may have actually been born in 1904. The Gerontology Research Group stands by its findings and says that Ford was born in 1905.

Ford was born in South Carolina and worked on a farm doing various jobs. In 1953, Ford moved to North Carolina and worked as a nanny for more than 20 years. Ford and her husband, John Ford, had 12 children and she has been reported to have up to 68 grandchildren, 120 great-grandchildren, and 126 great-great-grandchildren.

Did You Know?

Over the years, Hester Ford has succumbed to dementia, but surprisingly still perfectly remembers certain Bible verses.


6. Antonia da Santa Cruz (June 13, 1905 – Present)

 Current Age (as of April 2021): 115 years, 10 months, 1 day
Country of Origin:  Brazil
Sex: Female
Previous Occupation: Homemaker

Antonia da Santa Cruzphoto source: informabahia.com.br

Antonia da Santa Cruz had her age verified on February 4, 2021. At 115 years old, Santa Cruz is the second oldest living person in Brazil and all of Latin America. Santa Cruz was born on the the feast day of Saint Anthony, which is why her name is Antonia.

Santa Cruz raised 11 children and even adopted one of her nephews. As of 2017, Santa Cruz has 68 grandchildren, 110 great-grandchildren and 35 great-great-grandchildren. Santa Cruz is currently in the care of one of her daughters, who said that Santa Cruz does not take any medication, but does need a lot of help getting around due to her old age.

Did You Know?

On February 18, 2021, Antonia da Santa Cruz received the first dose of the COVI-19 vaccine, becoming the oldest known person to receive the vaccine.


5. Jeanne Bot (January 14, 1905 – Present)

 Current Age (as of April 2021): 116 years, 3 months
Country of Origin:  France
Sex: Female
Previous Occupation: Bookkeeper

Jeanne Botphoto source: gerontology.wikia.com

Jeanne Bot is the second oldest living person in France after Lucile Randon and celebrated her 116th birthday earlier in the year. Bot was born on January 14, 1905 in the military barracks of Mont-Louis where her father, Louis, was a non-commissioned officer.

Bot spent 50 years as a bookkeeper in a car garage and never got married or had any kids. Currently, Bot still lives independently in her own apartment and is helped by housekeepers. Bot’s nephew, who is 71, also visits her every few days.

Did You Know?

Jeanne Bot is still quite physically fit, she can move with the assistance of a walker and besides some difficulty hearing, Bot has no major health problems.


4. Francisca Celsa dos Santos (October 21, 1904 – Present)

 Current Age (as of April 2021): 116 years, 5 months, 24 days
Country of Origin:  Brazil
Sex: Female
Previous Occupation: Housekeeper and Clothing Merchant

Francisca Celsa dos Santosphoto source: Gerontology Wiki

Francisca Celsa dos Santos is a new addition to this list as her age was verified over the summer of 2020. Celsa dos Santos is currently 116 years old and is the oldest living person in Latin America. Although she is fourth on this list, Celsa dos Santos is technically the oldest person whose age has been verified by the Gerontology Research Group.

Celsa dos Santos was born and raised in Brazil and worked as a housekeeper and clothing merchant. In 1935 she married Raimundo Celso and the couple had six kids. Celsa dos Santos and her husband were together until he passed away in 1979 and she never remarried. Since then, Celsa dos Santos has been looked after by her remaining children and grandchildren.

Did You Know?

Although Francisca Celsa dos Santos is no longer very lucid, her physical health is not so bad and she doesn’t take any medication and rarely gets sick.


3. Maria Kononovich (May 27, 1904 – Present)

Current Age (as of April 2021): 116 years, 10 months, 18 days
Country of Origin:  Belarus
Sex: Female
Previous Occupation: Farm Worker

Maria Kononovichphoto source: www.sb.by

Maria Kononovich is one of the few supercentenarians in the world that has not yet had her age verified by the Gerontology Research Group. However, according to news reports, Kononovich’s passport lists her date of birth as May 27, 1904, which means she should be included on this list.

Kononovich is the oldest person living in Belarus and Eastern Europe. Despite her advanced age, according to several accounts, Kononovich is still active and able to do small tasks around her house. A social worker checks up on Kononovich twice a week and journalists often drop by to cover her story.

As of 2021, Kononovich’s age still has not been verified and there has been no recent updates on her health.

Did You Know?

Maria Kononovich still enjoys gardening and until a few years ago, she even kept bees and extracted their honey by simply placing some comb on a cheesecloth and squeezing the honey out.


2. Lucile Randon (February 11, 1904 – Present)

Current Age (as of April 2021): 117 years, 2 months, 3 days
Country of Origin:  France
Sex: Female
Previous Occupation: Nurse; currently serving as a Catholic Nun

Lucile Randonphoto source: gerontology.wikia.com

Lucile Randon is the second oldest validated living person in the world and the oldest living person in France. A few months ago Randon celebrated her 117th birthday and according to a French news report from 2017, Randon is still an active nun. Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Randon is currently the oldest person to have survived the virus after an outbreak at her retirement home in early 2021.

Today, Randon is known as Sister André and currently serves as the Vice-Dean of the Varois. Randon says that she chose her name, Sister André, in honor of her older brother who took care of her. Although Randon is now blind and in a wheelchair, her memory is still exceptionally sharp. Randon survived both World Wars and recalls how tough times were doing those years.

Did You Know?

Before becoming a nun in 1944, Lucile Randon was a governess and teacher and worked for various households during World War I.


1. Kane Tanaka (January 2, 1903 – Present)

Current Age (as of April 2021): 118 years, 3 months, 12 days
Country of Origin:  Japan
Sex: Female
Previous Occupation: Rice Cake and Noodle Shop Owner/Worker

Kane Tanakaphoto source: gerontology.wikia.com

Kane Tanaka celebrated her 118th birthday at the beginning of the year and is currently the oldest living person in the world and one of several Japanese supercentenarians. She was born in 1903 and currently lives in a nursing home in the Fukuoka prefecture. Tanaka became the world’s oldest living person following the death of Chiyo Miyako on July 22, 2018. Since September 2020, Tanaka is now the longest-lived Japanese person of all time and the third oldest person in history whose age has been verified.

In 2016, Tanaka’s great nephew Gary Okada Funakoshi and his wife Linda visited her in Japan to celebrate her 113th birthday. Funakoshi says that his aunt likes to write poetry and still remembers her trip to the U.S. in the 1970s to visit her relatives in California (the Funakoshis are from California) and Colorado. He also said that she attributes her long life to her faith in God.

Did You Know?

When she was 103 years old, Kane Tanaka was diagnosed with colon cancer and survived and has not relapsed since.

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