Who is the oldest woman in the world who died?: The Story of Jeanne Calment

The longest documented human lifespan belongs to Jeanne Calment, a French woman who died at the remarkable age of 122 years and 164 days. Her extraordinary longevity has made her a subject of intense scientific and public interest, as she is the only person in history whose age has been verified to have exceeded 120 years. To understand who is the oldest woman in the world who died, one must delve into the story of this unique supercentenarian.

Quick Summary

The article details the life and record-breaking longevity of Jeanne Calment, the French supercentenarian who holds the record for the longest documented human lifespan. It covers her life in Arles, her family history, the verification process of her age, and the controversy that arose after her death.

Key Points

• Longest Documented Lifespan: Jeanne Calment of France holds the record for the longest human lifespan, living to 122 years and 164 days.

• A Well-Documented Life: Her age was verified using extensive civil and census records from her hometown of Arles, making her the most thoroughly documented supercentenarian.

• Outlived Her Heirs: Calment outlived her daughter and grandson, and in a famous incident, received payments for her apartment from a lawyer who died before she did.

• Posthumous Controversy: Russian researchers raised a hypothesis of identity fraud in 2018, suggesting her daughter Yvonne had assumed her identity, but the claim was largely debunked.

• Attributed Longevity Factors: Her long life is often attributed to a combination of factors, including a stress-free life, genetics, diet, and an active lifestyle that included cycling until she was 100.

• Enduring Record: Since her death in 1997, no other person has been verified to have surpassed her age, cementing her place in history.

The extraordinary life of Jeanne Calment

Born in Arles, France, on February 21, 1875, Jeanne Louise Calment experienced significant historical events throughout her 122 years. Coming from a wealthy family, she married her cousin, Fernand Calment, and pursued various leisure activities [1.4.1, 10.3]. She reportedly met Vincent van Gogh in 1888.

Calment outlived her only daughter, Yvonne, and her grandson, Frédéric. In 1965, at age 90, she entered a viager contract, selling her apartment in exchange for monthly payments from a notary who died before her, making the deal famous.

She moved into a nursing home at 110 but remained active, cycling until 100 and quitting smoking at 117.

The validation of a world record

Jeanne Calment's age was verified by demographers Jean-Marie Robine and Michel Allard through extensive documentation, including birth, marriage, and numerous census records. This makes her the best-documented supercentenarian. Her record is recognized by Guinness World Records. She became the world's oldest living person in 1990 and the oldest person in history with a verified date of birth in 1995.

The controversy surrounding her age

In 2018, a study by Russian researchers proposed that Jeanne Calment's identity was fraudulent, suggesting her daughter Yvonne had assumed her identity in 1934. This led to a counter-investigation by French researchers, including one of the original validators. The counter-investigators found the fraud theory lacked strong motive and contradicted evidence regarding Yvonne's documented death. The original validators upheld their findings, citing inconsistencies in the Russian study. While some questions remain, the extensive evidence supports Calment's record.

Notable Supercentenarians: A Comparison

Feature	Jeanne Calment (France)	Sarah Knauss (United States)	Kane Tanaka (Japan)
Age at Death	122 years, 164 days	119 years, 97 days	119 years, 107 days
Year of Birth	1875	1880	1903
Year of Death	1997	1999	2022
Verification Status	Verified, though with a post-mortem controversy	Verified	Verified
Known For	Longest human lifespan ever documented and verified	One of the oldest people ever verified	Held the record for the oldest living person before her death
Place of Death	Arles, France	Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA	Fukuoka, Japan

Jeanne Calment's secrets to a long life

While her longevity is unique, potential factors include a diet with olive oil, chocolate, and port wine, a low-stress lifestyle, and genetics.

Conclusion

Jeanne Calment's life represents the longest documented human lifespan and remains a key case study in aging research. Despite later controversies, her verified record highlights the potential of human endurance. Her story continues to inform gerontology and inspire interest in extreme old age.

Longest documented human lifespan - Wikipedia

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the oldest woman in the world who died?

The oldest woman in the world who died is Jeanne Calment, a French supercentenarian who lived to be 122 years and 164 days old. Her record has been officially verified by Guinness World Records and the Gerontology Research Group.

What was Jeanne Calment's birth and death date?

Jeanne Calment was born on February 21, 1875, and died on August 4, 1997. She was a resident of Arles, France, for her entire life.

Was Jeanne Calment's age ever disputed?

Yes, in 2018, Russian researchers proposed a theory that Jeanne's daughter Yvonne had assumed her identity. However, this theory has been refuted by the original validating demographers and other experts, who cite extensive corroborating evidence.

What are some of the longevity factors attributed to Jeanne Calment?

Calment's longevity has been linked to several factors, including a life of minimal stress, a diet rich in olive oil, moderate consumption of wine and chocolate, and an active lifestyle that included cycling well into her old age.

How was Jeanne Calment's age verified?

Her age was verified through a meticulous process involving numerous official documents, including birth and marriage certificates, as well as multiple census records. The consistency of these records over her lifetime provided a strong basis for authentication.

Did Jeanne Calment meet any famous figures during her life?

Yes, she famously met the artist Vincent van Gogh in 1888 when she was a teenager. She recalled selling him art canvas and describing him as "unpleasant".

What was the significance of the viager contract she signed?

At 90, Calment sold her apartment in a viager, or reverse mortgage, deal to a lawyer who agreed to pay her a monthly sum. The lawyer died 30 years later, and his family had to continue paying her until her death, which became a globally famous story.