An Indonesian man is claiming to be 145 year old - making him the oldest person in the world.

Sidomejo - or Mbah Gotho as he is known locally - claims to have been born on December 31, 1870, and he even has the "identity card" to prove it.

He says the secret to his exceptional longevity is to "relax and take it easy" and that there is "nothing special" in his eating habits.

A local official said that while his ID card is real, it is impossible to verify Sidomejo's claims.

But the local government would help the elderly man to apply for Guinness World record status if he wants to.

Aside from blurred vision and hearing loss, Sidomejo is in remarkably good health given his years.

He enjoys spending his days eating and smoking, his grandson Suryan said.

Sidomejo has outlived his four wives and his children. Credit: RTV

Born in Sragen, central Java province, Sidomejo claims to remember the opening of Dutch-owned sugar factory attended by the King of Solo in Gondang Sragen when he was 10-years-old.

Sidomejo now lives with his 46-year-old grandson after outliving most of his family.

Sidomejo is said to be in good health for someone of his age. Credit: RTV

Sidomejo is said to have been planning his funeral since 1992.

He has already lost his 10 siblings, four wives and all his children.

He is due to turn 146 on New Year's Eve but says: "What I want is to die."