Who was the last person to live to 120 years old?

The oldest person with a verified age is Jeanne Calment, a French woman who lived to be 122 years and 164 days old, an accomplishment that has stood for decades as a testament to the upper limits of human longevity. The question, "Who was the last person to live to 120 years old?" has a singular and complex answer rooted in rigorous verification processes and scientific debate.

Quick Summary

The last and only person verified to have lived to at least 120 years old was Jeanne Calment, who died in 1997 at the age of 122. Her case is a well-documented outlier, with her remarkable lifespan verified by extensive historical and demographic records, despite some recent controversial claims.

Key Points

• Jeanne Calment's Record: The French woman Jeanne Calment, who died in 1997 at the age of 122, is the only verified person known to have lived beyond 120 years old.

• Thorough Verification: Her age was extensively validated by demographers using numerous historical documents, including census data spanning over a century.

• Ongoing Debate: While some scientists view Calment's case as a rare statistical outlier, others believe future advancements in medicine and technology could eventually break her record.

• Lifestyle Factors: Calment's active and relatively stress-free lifestyle, alongside a diet rich in olive oil, is believed to have contributed to her longevity, though genetics and chance were also significant factors.

• Supercentenarian Status: The Gerontology Research Group rigorously validates the ages of supercentenarians (those 110 or older) to maintain accurate records of human longevity.

• Legacy of Longevity: Her story is a benchmark for aging research, prompting deeper scientific investigation into the biological limits of the human lifespan.

The Unprecedented Case of Jeanne Calment

Jeanne Calment, a French woman who died in 1997 at the age of 122 years and 164 days, remains the only person in history with a verifiably documented lifespan exceeding 120 years. Born in Arles, France, in 1875, her life spanned over a century of historical change. Her longevity has made her a key figure in the study of extreme aging.

Calment's path to becoming the world's oldest recognized person began in 1988, with official recognition as the oldest person with a verified birth date following in 1995. This brought her significant scientific attention as a case study in exceptional longevity.

The Rigorous Validation Process

Verifying the age of individuals who live to 110 years or older, known as supercentenarians, is a meticulous process. Organizations like the Gerontology Research Group (GRG) require extensive documentation to validate age claims. Calment's age was thoroughly verified using numerous historical records from her lifetime.

Key elements in validating Calment's age included:

• Multiple Census Records: Her presence in French census records across fourteen different years, from 1876 to 1975, provided a consistent record of her age.
• Detailed Family History: Tracing her family tree through several generations helped confirm her identity and birth date.
• Personal Accounts: Her own recollections of historical events and individuals, such as meeting Vincent van Gogh, could be cross-referenced with historical information.

Controversy and Scientific Affirmation

In 2018, a theory emerged suggesting Calment's daughter, Yvonne, had assumed her mother's identity. This claim, suggesting her age was fraudulent, gained some attention. However, the experts who originally validated Calment's age, along with other gerontologists, thoroughly reviewed the evidence and concluded that the theory lacked merit. The scientific consensus continues to uphold the validity of Calment's age and her record as the longest-lived human.

Insights from an Exceptional Life

Studying individuals like Jeanne Calment offers valuable insights into the potential factors contributing to extreme longevity, encompassing both genetic predispositions and lifestyle choices.

Comparing Calment's Lifespan to the Average

Factor	Jeanne Calment	Average Person (Born ~1875)
Life Expectancy	Reached 122 years, 164 days	Approximately 46 for men, 48 for women
Diet	Enjoyed a diet rich in olive oil, occasional sweets	Varied, often less balanced, and with fewer resources
Physical Activity	Remained active, cycling until 100, fencing at 85	Often physically strenuous labor for many
Lifestyle	Lived a relatively stress-free life; bourgeois background	High-stress, higher mortality rates from illness and labor
Habits	Smoked from her 20s, quit at 117; occasional port wine	Smoking and alcohol were common, but health impact varied
Genetics	Had a family history of longevity (father lived to 94)	Unspecified, but likely less robust longevity genes

The Limits of Human Lifespan: An Ongoing Debate

Calment's extraordinary lifespan has intensified the scientific discussion regarding a potential natural limit to human life. Some researchers propose that despite significant increases in average life expectancy due to medical and public health advances, the maximum human lifespan may have a ceiling. Her case is often viewed by some as an improbable statistical outlier.

Conversely, other scientists, inspired by advancements in anti-aging technologies, believe that future breakthroughs could enable humans to live significantly longer than the current record. They point to fields like genetic engineering and regenerative medicine as areas that could potentially extend the human lifespan. This complex issue involves biological, ethical, and societal considerations and is likely to remain a subject of debate.

For more in-depth information on the research surrounding extreme human longevity, the Gerontology Research Group's publications provide valuable resources on age validation methods and findings. You can find detailed studies on the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research website.

Conclusion: More Than Just a Number

Jeanne Calment represents more than just a historical statistic; her life is a testament to human resilience and the complexities of aging. While she remains the only person verified to have lived past 120, her story continues to drive research and discussions about the possibilities of human longevity. As scientific understanding advances, her record may one day be surpassed, but for now, her life stands as a unique example of extreme old age.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was Jeanne Calment's age ever disputed?

Yes, her age was briefly disputed by a Russian mathematician in 2018, who claimed she was actually her daughter. However, the original research team thoroughly re-evaluated the evidence and reaffirmed the validity of her age, concluding the conspiracy theory was baseless.

What is a supercentenarian?

A supercentenarian is any person who has lived to or beyond their 110th birthday. Their age must be verified using modern standards by a body such as the Gerontology Research Group to be officially recognized.

Who is the oldest person currently living?

While the oldest living person changes, the Gerontology Research Group maintains the most up-to-date list of validated supercentenarians. As of mid-2025, British woman Ethel Caterham (born 1909) is the oldest living person whose age has been validated.

Do most supercentenarians share specific traits?

Research into supercentenarians has shown some commonalities, such as a low incidence of vascular diseases and, in many cases, a delay in the onset of age-related illnesses. Factors like a healthy diet, an active lifestyle, and a robust support network are often cited, but genetics and chance play undeniable roles.

Is it likely anyone will live to 120 again soon?

While some projections suggest a high probability that Calment's maximum age record will eventually be broken, it is still considered an extremely rare event. The current maximum lifespan appears to have a cap, although medical breakthroughs could alter this outlook.

Did Jeanne Calment follow a special diet or exercise plan?

Calment did not follow a strict health regimen, often enjoying port wine and large amounts of chocolate. However, she was always physically active and used olive oil in her diet and for her skin. She famously quipped, "I've never had but one wrinkle, and I'm sitting on it".

How do researchers confirm the age of the oldest people?

Age verification is a rigorous process involving demographers and historians. They review public records, including birth certificates, census records, marriage licenses, and immigration documents, to establish a continuous and independent paper trail proving an individual's identity and age.