World's Oldest Living People in 2026 – All Over 113 Years Old
How long can humans really live?
As of 2026, the oldest people on Earth are all over 113 years old – and they're known as supercentenarians (age 110+).
What's even more remarkable? They were all born in the early 1900s – before World War I, before television, before the internet.
These individuals have witnessed two world wars, the Great Depression, the Space Race, the digital revolution, and now the AI era.
Today, let's take a closer look at the Top 10 oldest living people in 2026 and what their existence tells us about human longevity.
📊 Top 10 Oldest Living People in 2026
|
Rank |
Name |
Birth Date |
Age (as of 2026) |
|
1 |
Ethiel Caterham |
21 Aug 1909 |
116 |
|
2 |
Naomi Whitehead |
26 Sep 1910 |
115 |
|
3 |
Lucia Laura Sangenito |
22 Nov 1910 |
115 |
|
4 |
Yolanda Beltrão de Azevedo |
13 Jan 1911 |
115 |
|
5 |
Shigeko Kagawa |
28 May 1911 |
115 |
|
6 |
Beatriz Ferreira Duarte |
21 June 1911 |
115 |
|
7 |
Fuyo Kishimoto |
20 Dec 1911 |
114 |
|
8 |
Ilse Meingast |
14 Mar 1912 |
114 |
|
9 |
Madeleine Dellamonica |
23 July 1912 |
114 |
|
10 |
Angélica Tiscornia |
22 Aug 1912 |
113 |
🔍 Key Observations
1. Women Dominate the List
All 10 individuals are women – a pattern consistently observed in longevity research.
Biological, hormonal, and lifestyle factors all contribute to women's longer average lifespan.
2. Ethiel Caterham – No. 1 at 116 Years Old
Born on August 21, 1909, Ethiel is currently 116 years old.
That means she was born before the Titanic sank, before World War I, and before the Russian Revolution.
3. Global Diversity
Based on their names, these individuals come from:
🇺🇸 USA, 🇧🇷 Brazil, 🇯🇵 Japan, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇫🇷 France, and 🇦🇷 Argentina.
Japan has two representatives (Shigeko Kagawa & Fuyo Kishimoto), reinforcing its reputation as a nation of long-lived people.
4. Age Range
The age gap between #1 and #10 is only 3 years – from 116 down to 113.
This suggests that the current biological ceiling for humans still hovers around 115–120 years.
🧬 What's Their Secret to Longevity?
Researchers have identified several common factors among supercentenarians:
Genetics – Many have a family history of longevity.
Diet – Whole foods, vegetables, fish, and minimal processed food.
Low Stress – Positive mindset, strong community ties, and purposeful living.
Active Lifestyle – Both physical and mental activities are maintained daily.
🌍 Why This Matters
These individuals are not just records – they are living proof of how dramatically human life expectancy has increased.
In the early 1900s, global average life expectancy was 40–50 years. Today, it's over 80 in many countries.
With advances in medicine, AI-driven health tech, and regenerative therapies, the 120-year lifespan may soon become the norm.