Ever felt like time was moving too fast? Now, imagine living through two world wars, the invention of the television, the rise of the internet, and a whole global pandemic, all while remaining surprisingly sharp. That is the reality for the handful of people who occupy the very top of the global longevity charts.
As of early 2026, the title of the oldest person in the world alive belongs to Ethel Caterham of the United Kingdom.
She’s 116. Specifically, she was born on August 21, 1909. If you're trying to do the math, that means when the Titanic sank, she was already a toddler. When she celebrated her 110th birthday, she wasn't just a centenarian; she became a supercentenarian, a rare class of humans who defy the typical biological "expiration date."
The current "Oldest Person" titleholder and her story
Ethel Caterham officially took the mantle of the world’s oldest living person following the passing of Tomiko Itooka in late December 2024 and Inah Canabarro Lucas in April 2025. It’s a title nobody "wins" in a traditional sense—it's more of a baton passed through the sheer persistence of biology.
Ethel lives in a care home in Surrey, England. She isn't just a name on a Wikipedia list; she’s someone who has spent over a century basically just being herself. She famously attributes her long life to a few simple rules: never argue with anyone, always listen, and do what you like. Honestly, that sounds like a masterclass in stress management.
While many of us are stressed about an email, Ethel has lived through the reigns of five different British monarchs. She even survived a bout of COVID-19 at the age of 110. Talk about resilience. She’s currently the last surviving person in the UK born before 1913, which makes her a literal living piece of history.
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The global leaderboard (The top 5)
Longevity is a moving target. These numbers change frequently because, at 110+, every day is a miracle.
- Ethel Caterham (United Kingdom): 116 years old. Born August 1909.
- Marie-Rose Tessier (France): 115 years old. Born May 1910.
- Naomi Whitehead (United States): 115 years old. Born September 1910.
- Lucia Laura Sangenito (Italy): 115 years old. Born November 1910.
- Yolanda Beltrão de Azevedo (Brazil): 115 years old. Born January 1911.
Who is the oldest man in the world?
There is a massive "gender gap" in extreme longevity. If you look at the lists of the oldest people, it’s almost entirely women. In fact, among the top 50 oldest people right now, you might only find one or two men.
The current oldest living man is João Marinho Neto from Brazil.
He turned 113 on October 5, 2025. He’s from Ceará, a state in the northeast of Brazil. Born into a family of farmers, he started working in the fields at the age of four. He’s had eight children and dozens of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. When asked for his secret, he didn't mention kale or crossfit. He just said he likes being surrounded by "good people."
Why do we care who is the oldest person in the world alive?
It’s not just about the record. Scientists at places like LongeviQuest and the Gerontology Research Group (GRG) study these individuals to figure out if there is a "longevity gene" we can bottle up.
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Researchers recently looked at the biology of people like Maria Branyas (who lived to 117) and found that their biological age was often years younger than their chronological age. Their cells just don't decay the same way ours do. They have rare genetic variants that protect them from heart disease and Alzheimer’s.
But it isn't just genetics.
There’s a pattern here. Almost all these supercentenarians have a few things in common:
- They stay social. Isolation is a killer.
- They eat simply. No "biohacking" supplements—just real food.
- They don't overdo it. Moderate exercise, not marathons.
- They have "moxie." A sort of stubborn refusal to let stress get to them.
The controversy of the "Oldest" title
Verification is a nightmare. To be officially recognized by Guinness World Records, you need more than just a birth certificate. You need baptismal records, marriage licenses, and census data to prove you didn't just "borrow" an older sibling's identity 80 years ago.
This is why you’ll often see news stories about someone in a remote village claiming to be 130. Without "validated" paperwork, the scientific community can't accept it. For every Ethel Caterham, there are likely a dozen unverified people who might be just as old, but the paper trail has vanished into history.
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Actionable insights for your own longevity
You probably won't hit 116. The odds are statistically against almost everyone. However, the habits of the world's oldest people are actually pretty easy to steal for your own life.
If you want to age like a supercentenarian, start with your social circle. People like João Marinho Neto and Ethel Caterham prioritize family and community. They also don't sweat the small stuff. If Ethel can survive 116 years by "never arguing," maybe that annoying person on Twitter isn't worth your blood pressure spike today.
Eat yogurt. Walk every day. Drink your tea. And maybe, just maybe, keep a positive attitude. It worked for the woman who has seen the world change more than anyone else currently breathing.
Check the latest validated rankings at the Gerontology Research Group or LongeviQuest to see how these numbers evolve, as the leaderboard of human life is the most exclusive club on Earth.