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Although the world’s average life expectancy is about 71.5 years (68 years and 4 months for males and 72 years and 8 months for females), all ten of the people on this list have defied these numbers and are supercentenarians, or someone who has lived beyond their 110th birthday. All of the oldest living people in the world are women, as women typically live longer than men – additionally, the oldest living people ever in the world (with validation by Gerontology Research Group, which keeps track of the world’s oldest people) have been women. A majority of the women on this list are from Japan, which according to the World Health Organization, has the highest life expectancy in the world.

As of March 2020, this list is accurate and will be updated as needed.

10. Mina Kitagawa (November 3, 1905 – Present)

Current Age (as of March 2020): 114 years, 126 days

Country of Origin: Shiga Prefecture, Japan

Sex: Female

Previous Occupation: Unknown

photo source: Gerontology Wiki

There isn’t much public information available about Mina Kitagawa, but her age has been validated by the Gerontology Research Group. Kitagawa is the third oldest living person in Japan at the age of 114. If she survives until the beginning of November, Kitagawa will turn 115.

Did You Know?

While Mina Kitagawa’s exact place of birth is not public knowledge, she currently lives in Hikoneshi, Shiga Prefecture. Kitagawa has been the oldest person in Shiga Prefecture, following the death of Shige Kitagawa on September 13, 2014.

9. Noeme de Silveira Freitas (September 7, 1905 – Present)

Current Age (as of March 2020): 114 years, 183 days

Country of Origin: Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil

Sex: Female

Previous Occupation: Seamstress

photo source: g1.globo.com

Noeme de Silveria Freitas is another reported supercentenarian who has not yet had her age verified by Gerontology Research Group. According to news report 2019, Freitas was born in 1905, which would make her 114 years old. If Freitas’ claims are true, she is the oldest living person in South America.

Freitas is fairly healthy, but does suffer from some thyroid issues and also has limited mobility. Her daughter Elizabeth takes care of her and Freitas has dubbed her a “saint” for not abandoning her like the rest of their family.

Did You Know?

Noeme de Silveria Freitas was married to her teenage sweetheart until he passed away at the age of 98.

8. Iris Westman (August 28, 1905 – Present)

Current Age (as of March 2020): 114 years, 183 days

Country of Origin: Aneta, North Dakota, USA

Sex: Female

Previous Occupation: Farmer and Teacher and Librarian

photo source: UND Today

Iris Westman is the second oldest American and is currently 114 years old. Westman was born in North Dakota on her family’s farm, which she still owns to this day. Although her parents were farmers, they wanted all of their children to get an education, and Westman pursued a degree in education. Westman went on to become a teacher and eventually a librarian. Reading is still one of Westman’s passions, but she listens to audio books these days as her eyes have weakened.

Did You Know?

Although Iris Westman had an opportunity to be married once, she never accepted and has remained single. While Westman has no kids of her own, she has generations of nieces and nephews who were inspired by her and also graduated from the University of North Dakota.

7. Hester Ford (August 15, 1905 – Present)

Current Age (as of March 2020): 114 years, 206 days; possibly 115 year, 206 days (sources differ)

Country of Origin: Lancaster, South Carolina, USA

Sex: Female

Previous Occupation: Farm Worker and Nanny

photo source: en.newsner.com

Did You Know?

Hester Ford is unofficially the oldest living person in the United States and she’s either 114 or 115 years old. According to older news stories as well as the Gerontology Research Group’s records, Ford’s birth year is listed as 1905. However, more recent stories state that Ford’s family found old census records that say Ford may have actually been born in 1904. At this time, this new information has yet to be verified by outside sources. Regardless of her exact age, Ford is one of the oldest living women in the world as well as the oldest living American.

Over the years, Hester Ford has succumbed to dementia, but surprisingly still perfectly remembers certain Bible verses.

6. Katerina Karnarou (July 25, 1905 – Present)

Current Age (as of March 2020): 114 years, 227 days

Country of Origin: Mountriza (modern-day Gryllos), West Greece, Greece

Sex: Female

Previous Occupation: Farm Worker

photo source: greece.greekreporter.com

Katerina Karnarou is currently the oldest living person in Greece and will be celebrating her 115th birthday in a few months. Karanarou was born in the village of Mountriza, which is now called Gryllos, but has lived in Krestena, West Greece, since she got married at the age of 25. Although Karnarou is relatively healthy, she is so old that she isn’t quite sure just how old she is. In an interview from 2018, Karnarou said, “I have to be around 105, but I do not remember well.”

Did You Know?

In April 2018, Katerina Karnarou had three living daughters – Lambia, Sofoula and Theodora – seven grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson

5. Shigeyo Nakashi (February 1, 1905 – Present)

Current Age (as of March 2020): 115 years, 36 days

Country of Origin: Japan

Sex: Female

Previous Occupation: Teacher

photo source: gerontology.wikia.com

There isn’t much public information out there about Shigeyo Nakashi, but she is known for being another one of Japan’s supercentenarians. Nakashi very recently turned 115 years old and is now the second oldest living person in Japan and the oldest living person in Saga prefecture.

Did You Know?

Shigeyo Nakashi worked as a school teacher and retired when she was 62 years old.

4. Jeanne Bot (January 14, 1905 – Present)

Current Age (as of March 2020): 115 years, 54 days

Country of Origin: France

Sex: Female

Previous Occupation: Bookkeeper

photo source: gerontology.wikia.com

Jeanne Bot is the second oldest living person in France after Lucile Randon and recently celebrated her 115th birthday. Bot was born on January 14, 1905 in the military barracks of Mont-Louis where her father, Louis, was a non-commissioned officer.

Bot spent 50 years as a bookkeeper in a car garage and never got married or had any kids. Currently, Bot still lives independently in her own apartment and is helped by housekeepers. Bot’s nephew, who is 71, also visits her every few days.

Did You Know?

Jeanne Bot is still quite physically fit, she can move with the assistance of a walker and besides some difficulty hearing, Bot has no major health problems.

3. Maria Kononovich (May 27, 1904 – Present)

Current Age (as of March 2020): 115 years, 286 days

Country of Origin: Belarus

Sex: Female

Previous Occupation: Farm Worker

photo source: www.sb.by

Maria Kononovich is one of the few supercentenarians in the world that has not yet had her age verified by the Gerontology Research Group. However, according to news reports, Kononovich’s passport lists her date of birth as May 27, 1904, which means she should be included on this list.

Kononovich is the oldest person living in Belarus and Eastern Europe. Despite her advanced age, according to several accounts, Kononovich is still active and able to do small tasks around her house. A social worker checks up on Kononovich twice a week and journalists often drop by to cover her story.

Did You Know?

Maria Kononovich still enjoys gardening and until a few years ago, she even kept bees and extracted their honey by simply placing some comb on a cheesecloth and squeezing the honey out.

2. Lucile Randon (February 11, 1904 – Present)

Current Age (as of March 2020): 116 years, 26 days

Country of Origin: France

Sex: Female

Previous Occupation: Nurse; currently serving as a Catholic Nun

photo source: gerontology.wikia.com

Lucile Randon is the second oldest validated living person in the world and the oldest living person in France. About a month ago Randon celebrated her 116birthday and according to a French news report from 2017, Randon is still an active nun

Today, Randon is known as Sister André and currently serves as the Vice-Dean of the Varois. Randon says that she chose her name, Sister André, in honor of her older brother who took care of her. Although Randon is now blind and in a wheelchair, her memory is still exceptionally sharp. Randon survived both World Wars and recalls how tough times were doing those years.

Did You Know?

Before becoming a nun in 1944, Lucile Randon was a governess and teacher and worked for various households during World War I.

1. Kane Tanaka (January 2, 1903 – Present)

Current Age (as of March 2020): 117 years, 66 days

Country of Origin: Japan

Sex: Female

Previous Occupation: Rice Cake and Noodle Shop Owner/Worker

photo source: gerontology.wikia.com

She was born in 1903 and currently lives in a nursing home in the Fukuoka prefecture. Tanaka became the world’s oldest living person following the death of Chiyo Miyako on July 22, 2018.

In 2016, Tanaka’s great nephew Gary Okada Funakoshi and his wife Linda visited her in Japan to celebrate her 113th birthday. Funakoshi says that his aunt likes to write poetry and still remembers her trip to the U.S. in the 1970s to visit her relatives in California (the Funakoshis are from California) and Colorado. He also said that she attributes her long life to her faith in God.

Did You Know?

When she was 103 years old, Kane Tanaka was diagnosed with colon cancer and survived and has not relapsed since.