Articles related to focusing on healthy aging, prevention, mobility, cognition, nutrition, independence, and caregiving support.
As of late September 2025, the world's oldest validated living person is Ethel Caterham, a British woman who turned 116 in August. This esteemed title is one of the most exclusive on the planet and is maintained by specialized research groups who meticulously verify each claim of advanced age.
Not long ago, living to 100 was considered an anomaly, but the number of centenarians has dramatically increased, nearly doubling in the last 20 years in some regions. This rise in longevity prompts a fundamental question: **Is living 100 years rare**?
According to 2024 projections from the United Nations, there were an estimated 722,000 centenarians worldwide, representing a remarkable demographic shift. Understanding exactly how many 100 year olds are on Earth requires examining the most current data, a number that is rapidly increasing.
While the number of people living past 100 is on the rise, reaching the age of 102 remains an extremely rare feat. Understanding what percentage of people live to 102 requires looking at the broader, highly selective group of centenarians and how dramatically the numbers drop off with each additional year of age.
In 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that centenarians accounted for just two out of every 10,000 people in the United States, illustrating just how rare it is to turn 100 years old. This remarkable achievement, once considered almost impossible, is becoming more common, but remains an extraordinary feat of human longevity.
In 2020, centenarians made up just two out of every 10,000 people in the United States, illustrating that to live to 100 is still a rare achievement. However, this once extraordinarily rare feat is becoming less uncommon due to advances in medicine and public health, with the U.S. centenarian population growing significantly over the past two decades.
In the United States, about 1 in 5,000 people is a centenarian, representing just 0.027% of the population. So, how rare is it to live until 100? While uncommon, the number of centenarians is steadily increasing.
Jeanne Calment of France holds the verified record for human longevity, having lived to be 122 years and 164 days. This extraordinary case raises the question: what is the oldest age you can live too, and is there an absolute limit to human lifespan? The answer is complex, involving genetics, environment, and ongoing scientific debate.
Over 600 people worldwide have been officially validated as supercentenarians, individuals who have lived past their 110th birthday. This remarkable group provides a definitive answer to the question: has anyone lived to 115 years old? The data overwhelmingly shows that this incredible milestone has been surpassed by many people throughout modern history.
With average life expectancy rising, the perception of old age is also shifting, challenging traditional definitions. So, what age is considered super old today, and does it mean the same thing for everyone?
