In 2026 there are nearly 800,000 centenarians alive worldwide. The oldest validated living person — Ethel Caterham of the UK — is 116. The odds of reaching 100 are still low, but they are improving with every generation. Here's what the data actually shows.
In 2026 there are nearly 800,000 centenarians alive worldwide. The oldest validated living person — Ethel Caterham of the UK — is 116. The odds of reaching 100 are still low, but they are improving with every generation. Here’s what the data actually shows.
Some people want to extend their life and reach the magical age of 100, while others would wish to finish the journey well before that. Regardless of one’s wishes, very few people actually get the choice. A centenarian — a person who has reached or passed their 100th birthday — was once an extraordinary rarity. In 2026, there are nearly 800,000 of them alive worldwide. And the number is growing fast.
How Many People Reach 100?
A centenarian is a person who lives to or beyond the age of 100. As of 2026, the estimated global centenarian population is approximately 800,000 — up significantly from the 722,000 estimated in 2024 and more than double the figure from a decade ago. This figure is almost certainly an undercount, as large numbers of people in developing countries are not registered at birth, making age verification impossible.
A supercentenarian is a person who reaches the age of 110. As of June 2026, there are 314 validated living supercentenarians according to the Gerontology Research Group — of whom 291 are female and just 23 are male. Women dramatically outlive men at extreme ages. The ratio of female to male supercentenarians is roughly 13:1.
“In 1900, the average global life expectancy was 31. In 1950 it was 48. Today it is over 73. The trajectory of human longevity in the past century is one of the most remarkable achievements in history.”
The World’s Oldest People — Updated for 2026
The oldest person in history whose age has been reliably verified was Frenchwoman Jeanne Calment, who died in 1997 at the extraordinary age of 122 years and 164 days. No one has come close to matching that figure in the nearly three decades since.
Kane Tanaka of Japan, who was the world’s oldest person when this article was first written, died in April 2022 at the age of 119 — the second-longest verified human lifespan on record. After Tanaka, a series of record holders followed in relatively quick succession: Lucile Randon (France, 118, died January 2023), Maria Branyas (Spain, 117, died August 2024), and Inah Canabarro Lucas (Brazil, 116, died April 2025).
As of June 2026, the oldest validated living person is Ethel Caterham of the United Kingdom, born 21 August 1909, aged 116. The oldest validated living man is João Marinho Neto of Brazil, born 5 October 1912, aged 113. The top 5 countries with the most supercentenarians are the US, Japan, France, Italy, and the UK.
“Of the 314 validated living supercentenarians worldwide, 291 are women and 23 are men. The ratio is roughly 13 to 1. Reaching extreme old age is, in some sense, a female achievement.”
What Are the Odds of Living to 100?
The odds of reaching 100 depend heavily on geography, gender, and the era in which you live. Life expectancy has increased dramatically in the last century — the average global life expectancy in 1900 was approximately 31 years, rising to 48 in 1950 and to over 73 today. But 100 remains a significant outlier even in the longest-lived populations.
| Country | Centenarians per 10,000 people | Gender gap | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | ~3.5 | Women live ~6 years longer than men | Highest centenarian rate among major nations. Diet, social connection, and healthcare quality cited as factors. |
| France | ~2.8 | Significant female advantage | Home of Jeanne Calment, the oldest verified person in history. Mediterranean diet, wine culture, healthcare. |
| United Kingdom | ~2.3 | Women live ~4 years longer than men | Centenarian population has grown significantly. NHS healthcare access is a major factor. |
| Sweden | ~2.0 | Strong female advantage | Strong social support systems, low inequality, high healthcare quality. |
| United States | ~1.8 | Women live ~5 years longer than men | US centenarian population projected to quadruple in the next 30 years per Pew Research. Significant variation by state and socioeconomic status. |
The odds are not very good — but they are improving. For a child born today in a developed country, the probability of reaching 100 is meaningfully higher than for any previous generation. And with advances in medicine, genetics, and longevity science, some researchers believe those odds will improve further as the century progresses.
Why Do Some People Live to 100? The Blue Zones
The most systematic study of exceptional longevity comes from the Blue Zones — five regions identified by researcher Dan Buettner where people live significantly longer than average and have higher-than-expected rates of centenarians:
Home to the world’s highest concentration of male centenarians. Mountainous terrain encourages physical activity; diet is plant-based with moderate red wine; strong family bonds and social support. Men particularly benefit from the culture of purpose and community that extends into old age.
One of the longest-lived populations on earth, historically. Diet centred on sweet potatoes, tofu, and vegetables with very little meat. The concept of “ikigai” — a reason to get up in the morning — is deeply embedded in the culture. Social groups called “moai” provide lifelong community support.
A community of Seventh-day Adventists who live 7–10 years longer than average Americans. They observe the Sabbath as a day of rest, eat a mostly plant-based diet, maintain strong social networks, and abstain from alcohol and tobacco. Faith community and clear purpose are significant factors.
Middle-aged men have the world’s highest probability of reaching 90. Diet is based on beans, corn, and squash. Strong family ties — the elderly remain embedded in family life rather than isolated. Hard physical work continues into old age, maintaining fitness naturally.
The Blue Zone research identified several common factors across all five regions: a predominantly plant-based diet, regular moderate physical activity built into daily life (not gym sessions), strong social connections, a sense of purpose, and low levels of chronic stress. Notably, none of the Blue Zone populations are particularly wealthy — suggesting that money above a moderate level is not the decisive factor in extreme longevity.
What Science Says About Living to 100
The science of longevity has advanced significantly since this article was first written in 2019. Several findings are now reasonably well established:
- Genetics accounts for roughly 20–30% of longevity. The remaining 70–80% is environment, lifestyle, and chance. Having a centenarian parent or grandparent improves your odds — but it is not determinative.
- Women outlive men at all ages — the gap widens dramatically at extreme ages. Biological differences in immune function, hormonal profiles, and cardiovascular risk all contribute. Cultural factors (men’s historically higher rates of smoking, drinking, and dangerous occupations) also play a role.
- Caloric restriction extends lifespan in animal models — the evidence in humans is less clear but intriguing. Societies where moderate eating is cultural (Okinawa’s “hara hachi bu” — eating until 80% full) have exceptional longevity records.
- Social isolation is as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day according to research from Brigham Young University. Social connection is one of the most powerful predictors of longevity — more powerful than exercise alone.
- Telomere length, senescent cell accumulation, and epigenetic aging clocks are now measurable biomarkers of biological age. Interventions targeting these pathways — including senolytics, NAD+ precursors, and rapamycin — are in various stages of research and clinical trial.
Will Humans Ever Live Past 130?
This is the question the longevity science community is actively debating. The current record — Jeanne Calment at 122 — has stood for nearly three decades. Some researchers argue there is a biological ceiling to human lifespan somewhere around 115–125 years, determined by the accumulation of cellular damage that no lifestyle intervention can overcome indefinitely.
Others — including researchers at biotechnology companies like Calico (backed by Google) and Altos Labs — believe that aging is a biological process that can be significantly slowed or even reversed, and that the first person to live to 150 may already be alive. The science is genuinely uncertain; the ambition is real and well-funded.
What is certain is that the number of centenarians will continue to grow rapidly. The US centenarian population is projected to quadruple over the next 30 years according to Pew Research. By 2050, approximately 4.1 million people worldwide will be 100 or older. Reaching 100 will still be rare — but it will be far less rare than it was when most of us were born.
If you like it or not, maybe you will be one of them.
Sources include Pew Research Center, Gerontology Research Group (GRG), LongeviQuest, US Census Bureau Special Report on Centenarians, and Dan Buettner’s Blue Zones research. Centenarian population figures are estimates — actual numbers are difficult to verify globally due to incomplete birth registration in many countries. Current oldest person data is accurate as of June 2026.