supercentenarians

A supercentenarian is a person who has reached the age of 110 years or older. The term is used in gerontology and media to describe extreme longevity. Because ages at this extreme are susceptible to error, claims are usually subjected to rigorous verification by independent authorities such as the Gerontology Research Group (GRG) and Guinness World Records, which rely on documentary evidence like birth records and official life documents.

Notable examples of verified supercentenarians include Jeanne Calment of France, who lived to 122 and is widely cited as the oldest verified person; Jiroemon Kimura of Japan, who died at 116; Sarah Knauss of the United States, who reached 119; and Kane Tanaka of Japan, who lived to 119. In more recent times, Sister Lucile Randon, known as Sister André of France, reached 118. These individuals are among a small number of people confirmed to have reached age 110 or beyond.

Supercentenarians are extremely rare. The pool of verified cases remains small, with most individuals achieving ages in the 110s and a few surpassing 115. The majority of verified cases have been women, and geographic concentrations have appeared in Japan, the United States, and parts of Europe, reflecting patterns in record-keeping, longevity, and population size.

Scientific interest centers on factors that enable extreme longevity, including genetics, lifestyle, and health history. While researchers have identified certain genetic variants and biological traits associated with long life, there is no consensus on a fixed maximum human lifespan. Lifespan studies continue to explore why very few people survive to 110 and what these cases reveal about aging in general.