Home Morte

The 116-Year-Old Secret: Meet Ethel Caterham, The World's Oldest Person (Updated December 2025)

• minute read
Contents

As of today, December 20, 2025, the title of the world's oldest verified living person belongs to Ethel Caterham, a remarkable British supercentenarian. At 116 years and 121 days old, her life spans three centuries, witnessing two World Wars, the invention of television, the birth of the internet, and the reigns of six British monarchs. Her age has been rigorously validated by international organizations, making her a living beacon of human longevity.

Ethel Caterham's reign as the world's oldest person began on April 30, 2025, following the passing of the previous titleholder, Brazilian nun Inah Canabarro Lucas. This article delves into her fascinating biography, her simple yet profound "secret" to a long life, and the other record-holders who define the very limits of the human lifespan, as verified by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG) and LongeviQuest.

Ethel Caterham: Biography and The Secret to 116 Years

Ethel May Caterham (née Collins) is not only the world’s oldest living person but also the oldest verified British person in history, a title she inherited from Charlotte Hughes.

Ethel Caterham’s Verified Profile

  • Full Name: Ethel May Caterham (née Collins)
  • Date of Birth: August 21, 1909
  • Current Age (Dec 20, 2025): 116 years, 121 days
  • Place of Birth: Shipton Bellinger, Hampshire, England
  • Nationality: British
  • Spouse: Norman Caterham (married 1933; died 1976)
  • Children: Two
  • Notable Achievements: World’s Oldest Verified Living Person; Oldest British Person Ever
  • Verification Bodies: Gerontology Research Group (GRG) and LongeviQuest

Born five years before the outbreak of World War I, Ethel was the second youngest of eight siblings, growing up in Tidworth, Wiltshire. Her life story is marked by travel and dedication to family. She spent significant time abroad due to her husband Norman's military career, including postings in both Hong Kong and Gibraltar.

During her time in Hong Kong, Ethel established and ran a nursery school for both local and British children. This career saw her teaching English, leading games, and guiding arts and crafts sessions, showcasing a lifelong commitment to education and community.

The Surprising Longevity Formula: No Arguments

When asked for the key to her extraordinary longevity, Ethel Caterham's answer is surprisingly simple and psychological, rather than purely dietary or physical. Her secret, which has been widely reported, is a commitment to a peaceful, self-directed life.

She famously stated that her formula involves: "Never arguing with anyone. I listen and I do what I like." This emphasis on avoiding conflict, maintaining a positive mental attitude, and sticking to her own decisions suggests that emotional and mental well-being plays a critical role in her supercentenarian status. This contrasts with some of the more common 'longevity diet' or 'daily exercise' advice, highlighting the diverse pathways to extreme old age.

The Oldest Man and The All-Time Longevity Record

While Ethel Caterham holds the overall title, the world of supercentenarians is meticulously tracked by gender, and the all-time record remains a monumental milestone in the field of gerontology. The verification process, often led by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG), is crucial for maintaining the accuracy of these records.

The World’s Oldest Living Man

The oldest living man whose age has been validated is João Marinho Neto of Brazil.

  • Name: João Marinho Neto
  • Date of Birth: October 5, 1912
  • Current Age (Dec 20, 2025): 113 years old
  • Nationality: Brazilian

As of late 2025, Marinho Neto is one of the very few verified men to have reached the age of 113, placing him in an elite class of male supercentenarians. The gap in age between the oldest living woman (116) and the oldest living man (113) is a common pattern, reflecting the consistent statistical advantage women hold in extreme longevity.

The Unbroken All-Time Record

Ethel Caterham is the oldest living person, but she is still several years shy of the greatest verified age ever achieved. That record belongs to a French woman whose life has become a legend in longevity studies.

  • Jeanne Calment (France): The undisputed record holder, living to the astonishing age of 122 years and 164 days. She was born in 1875 and passed away in 1997. Her case remains the gold standard for maximum human lifespan.
  • Kane Tanaka (Japan): The second oldest person ever verified, who lived to 119 years and 107 days, passing away in 2022.
  • Sarah Knauss (USA): The oldest American ever, who reached 119 years and 97 days.

The fact that the top three all-time record holders are women further underscores the biological differences in aging and resilience between the sexes, a key area of study for gerontologists.

Beyond Genetics: The Lifestyle Factors of Supercentenarians

While a person must possess an exceptional genetic predisposition to become a supercentenarian (someone aged 110 or older), research suggests that lifestyle and environment are also critical factors. The stories of Ethel Caterham and other long-livers often align with findings from regions known for exceptional longevity.

The Blue Zones Connection

Researchers studying longevity often refer to the "Blue Zones," five regions across the globe where people live measurably longer lives, often reaching 100 years at rates 10 times higher than in the United States. These zones include:

  • Sardinia, Italy
  • Okinawa, Japan
  • Loma Linda, California, USA
  • Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica
  • Ikaria, Greece

The common denominators in these Blue Zones—which resonate with Ethel Caterham’s own philosophy—are not miracle cures, but consistent, simple lifestyle habits:

  1. Plant-Slant Diet: A diet rich in legumes, vegetables, and whole grains, with meat consumed sparingly.
  2. Natural Movement: Not intense gym workouts, but constant, low-intensity physical activity built into daily life (gardening, walking).
  3. Sense of Purpose (Ikigai or Plan de Vida): Having a reason to get up in the morning.
  4. Managing Stress: Routine practices to downshift and cope with stress, such as napping or praying.
  5. Strong Social Connections: Living in a supportive community that prioritizes family and social engagement.

Ethel Caterham's emphasis on a positive mental attitude and avoiding stress ("never arguing") aligns perfectly with the Blue Zones' focus on stress management and emotional well-being. Her life, which involved the purposeful work of running a nursery, also speaks to the importance of having a strong sense of purpose.

The Future of Longevity Research

The meticulous work of organizations like the Gerontology Research Group (GRG) and LongeviQuest is essential for the scientific study of aging. Every validated supercentenarian provides invaluable data for geneticists and medical researchers seeking to understand the mechanisms that allow the human body to resist disease and decay for over a century.

The current record-holders, Ethel Caterham and João Marinho Neto, represent the very edge of the human lifespan in the modern era. Their continued lives offer hope and insight into the potential for "compression of morbidity"—the idea that people can remain healthy and active until the very end of their lives. As research into telomeres, epigenetics, and cellular senescence continues, the lessons learned from the world's oldest people will be the foundation for unlocking the secrets to a longer, healthier future for all.

The 116-Year-Old Secret: Meet Ethel Caterham, The World's Oldest Person (Updated December 2025)
whois the oldest person in the world
whois the oldest person in the world

Detail Author:

  • Name : Allene Eichmann MD
  • Username : tnikolaus
  • Email : sohara@greenfelder.com
  • Birthdate : 1980-09-07
  • Address : 86932 Idella Lodge Hegmannburgh, FL 64016
  • Phone : 740-368-2743
  • Company : Bauch-Larkin
  • Job : Fiberglass Laminator and Fabricator
  • Bio : Quam repudiandae sunt ut et hic nesciunt molestiae. Tempore qui non vitae distinctio. Et ut quis quo et omnis. Architecto nemo debitis alias eos. Sunt quae facilis ullam nihil perspiciatis.

Socials

tiktok:

  • url : https://tiktok.com/@collierb
  • username : collierb
  • bio : Aut autem dolorum repudiandae molestias molestiae sapiente nesciunt.
  • followers : 5291
  • following : 1209

linkedin:

twitter:

  • url : https://twitter.com/collierb
  • username : collierb
  • bio : Odit placeat quidem illum possimus eaque a ratione. Ut officia numquam nobis laboriosam et aperiam accusantium.
  • followers : 5726
  • following : 2338

instagram:

  • url : https://instagram.com/bradley1744
  • username : bradley1744
  • bio : Ipsum quasi consequuntur et ullam. Consequatur quia totam dolor quia blanditiis dolores ut fugit.
  • followers : 1886
  • following : 368

facebook:

Random Posts