Life and Death are the two biggest truths of the world and no matter how strong or powerful a person is, they can’t deceive death. If you live in a pollution-free zone, eat organic and have an organised sleep cycle, you are well set to live longer than others and there is enough research-based data to prove this claim right. The average age of a human in the world is 71.5 years but there are many who comfortably cross this number particularly if they do not have any fatal disease. Japan is the country with the highest life expectancy in the world as the average age of a person there are 85 years. Following Japan are the developed countries like Spain, Italy, Switzerland and Australia where an average human lives up to 83 years.
However, there are certain countries where average life expectancy is really low. Countries like the Central African Republic, Lesotho and Chad have the lowest life expectancy in the world with an average human living just 53 years. This tells about the diversity that nature possesses and the starking difference in the living conditions in different countries. Despite 85 years being the highest average life expectancy in the world, there are some people on the planet who have managed to survive even after living a decade more than the number. This blog is about 10 oldest living people on earth.
10. Mina Kitagawa (November 3, 1905 – Present): Mina took birth in November 1905 in Japan and has comfortably lived through a couple of decades in the 21st century. Having been born in the early 20th century, Mina witnessed the changes in the world through her eyes and one of them was the wrath of World War 2 in Japan and the rest of the world As validated by the Gerontology Research Group, Mina is 114 and will turn 115 in November 2020. The exact place of her birth is not known but she currently lives in Hikoneshi, Shiga Prefecture and is the oldest person in Shiga Prefecture.
9. Noeme de Silveira Freitas (September 7, 1905 – Present): The average life expectancy in Brazil is 75 but Noeme de Silveira has already exceeded that number by nearly four decades. She is said to be the oldest person living in South America and is 115 years old. She suffers from thyroid issues and can’t move much without support. She is taken care of by her daughter Elizabeth whom she calls a ‘saint’. She was married to her love from the teenage until he passed away at 98.
8. Iris Westman (August 28, 1905 – Present): Iris Westman is the 8th oldest person in the world at 115 years and 2 months. She is the second oldest American. Iris comes from North Dakota, US and she loves reading. She pursued a degree in education, became a teacher and then a librarian. She loves reading books to this day and audiobooks are her new favourite. She has remained single and has no kids either.
7. Hester Ford (August 15, 1905 – Present): Hester Ford is the oldest living person in the United States at 115. While the Gerontology Research Group’s records suggest Hester’s birth year as 1905, the old census records mention it to be 1904. If the latter is true, Hester is today 116 years old. She suffers from Dementia but remembers some bible verses.
6. Katerina Karnarou (July 25, 1905 – Present): Another woman on the list, Katerina is 115 years and 3 months old and that makes her the oldest living person in Greece. She was born in Mountriza (now Gryllos) but has lived in Krestena since her marriage at 25. She is completely healthy apart from some minor illnesses. She is so old that she doesn’t remember her age herself.
5. Shigeyo Nakashi (February 1, 1905 – Present): We have another entry from Japan and that’s not a surprise at all. One of Japan’s supercentenarians, Shigeyo is the second oldest living person in Japan. According to the records, Shigeyo’s age is 115 years and 8 months. She worked as a school teacher and retired at 62.
4. Jeanne Bot (January 14, 1905 – Present): Jeanne Bot is the second oldest living person in France and her age is 115 years and 9 months. She was born in the military barracks of Mont-Louis where her father, Louis, was a non-commissioned officer. Bot worked as a bookkeeper for 50 years and never got married. She lives independently in her apartment and her 71-year-old nephew helps her. She is fit and can move with a little help. However, she’s got a little problem in hearing.
3. Maria Kononovich (May 27, 1904 – Present): While Maria’s age hasn’t been verified by the Gerontology Research Group, she was born on May 27, 1904, as per the local reports. If that is believed to be true, Maria’s age is 116 years and 5 months. She is the oldest living person in Belarus but still performs her daily chores comfortably. Social workers and journalists often pay her a visit. She enjoys gardening and extracts honey from beehives.
2. Lucile Randon (February 11, 1904 – Present): Lucile Randon is the second oldest living person in the world and the oldest living person in France. She is 116 years and 8 months old but can still move comfortably. She is popularly known as Sister André and currently serves as the Vice-Dean of the Varois despite being blind and on a wheelchair. She remembers several stories from the two world wars. She also served as a governess and a teacher. She also worked for several households during World War 1.
1. Kane Tanaka (January 2, 1903 – Present): Japan-based Kane Tanak is at the helm of the list dominated by women and is the oldest living person in the world at 117 years and 9 months. Kane took birth in 1903 and a nursing home in Fukuoka prefecture is her house. She became the world’s oldest living person following the death of Chiyo Miyako on July 22, 2018. She was diagnosed with colon cancer when she was 103 but the brave lady fought against the disease and defeated it successfully.
