The most reliable claim for the longest lived individual was held by Madame Jeanne Louise Calment who lived in Arles France. She was born on February 21, 1875 and died August 4, 1997. Details regarding her medical history and geneology are available from demographer Jean-Marie Robine and Micheal Allard of INSERM in France.
The previously accepted second longest lived person is Shigechiyo (Chigechiyo) Izumi born June 19, 1865 and died February 21, 1986 of pneumonia at the age of 120 years and 237 days. He lived in Asan on the island of Tokunoshima, 820 miles southwest of Tokyo, Japan. More information about Shigechiyo Izumi is found in Taiwan I Hsueh Hui Tsa Chih 1982 Jul;81(7):959-67
Dr. John Wilmoth, has information indicating
that the actual longevity of Shigechiyo Izumi may be 105 years and that
he assumed the identify of an older brother who died at the age of 15.
This may have to do with a Japanese practice of acquiring the name of a
dead sibling. (Personal Communication,
S.J.
Olshansky, Aug. 30, 1995).
| Years | Days | Born | Died | Country | Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 122 | 90+ |
21 Feb 1875
|
4 Aug 1997 | France | Jeanne Louise Calment |
| 120 | 237 |
29 Jun 1865
|
21 Feb 1986
|
Japan | Shigechiyo Izumi |
| 116 | 88 |
18 Nov 1874
|
14 Feb 1991
|
U.S.A. | Carrie White (nee Joyner) |
| 114 | 213 |
|
Mar 1992 (fl)
|
U.K. | Charlotte Hughes (nee Milburn) |
| 115 | 245+ |
16 Aug 1882
|
25 Apr 1998 | U.S.A. | Chris Mortenson |
| 113 | 124 |
15 Jul 1701
|
16 Nov 1814
|
Canada | Pierre Joubert |
| 112 | 330 |
11 Dec 1874
|
6 Nov 1987
|
Australia | Caroline Maud Mockridge |
| 112 | 228 |
14 Jul 1860
|
27 Feb 1973
|
Spain | Josefa Salas Mateo |
| 112 | 1844 |
16 Sep 1957
|
Morocco | El Hadj Mohammed el Mokri | |
| 112 | + | 1868 |
7 Jan 1981
|
Poland | Roswlia Mielczarak (Mrs.) |
| 111 | 354 |
6 Apr 1745
|
26 Mar 1857
|
Netherlands | Thomas Peters |
| 111 | 327 |
22 Nov 1820
|
14 Oct 1932
|
Ireland | The Hon. Katherine Plunket |
| 111 | 238 |
9 Jan 1877
|
5 Sep 1988
|
Scotland | Kate Begbie (Mrs.) |
| 111 | 151 |
17 Jan 1857
|
16 Jun 1968
|
S. Africa | Johanna Booyson |
| 111 | + |
22 Oct 1857
|
Oct 1968 (fl)
|
Czech. | Marie Bernatkova |
| 111 |
15 Aug 1878
|
Mar 1990 (fl)
|
Germany | Maria Corba | |
| 111 | + |
30 Sep 1878
|
|
Finland | Fanny Matilda Nystrom |
| 110 | 321 |
18 May 1792
|
4 Apr 1903
|
Channel Is. | Margaret Ann Neve (nee Harvey) |
| 110 | 234 |
10 Mar 1863
|
31 Oct 1973
|
N. Ireland | Elizabeth Watkins (Mrs.) |
| 110 | 150+ |
9 Mar 1818
|
Aug 1828 (fl)
|
Yugoslavia | Demitrius Philipovitch |
| 110 | + | 1870 |
19 Feb 1981
|
Greece | Limbrini Tsiatoura (Mrs.) |
| 110 | + |
7 Aug 1860
|
Aug 1970 (fl)
|
Russia | Khasako Dzaugayev |
| 109 | 265 |
4 May 1878
|
23 Jan 1988
|
Denmark | Maria Louise Augusta Bramsen |
| 109 | 179 |
2 Feb 1836
|
31 Jul 1945
|
Tasmania | Mary Ann Crow (Mrs.) |
| 108 | 327 |
12 Aug 1868
|
4 Jul 1977
|
Belgium | Mathilda Vertommen-Hellemans |
| 108 | 45 |
14 Aug 1873
|
28 Nov 1981
|
Iceland | Halldora Bjarndottir |
| 108 | + |
7 Jun 1859
|
|
Portugal | Maria Luisa Jorge |
| 106 | + |
14 Aug 1865
|
Jan 1972 (fl)
|
Malaysia | Hassan Bin Yusoff |
| 105 | 228 |
31 Dec 1872
|
17 Aug 1978
|
Luxembourg | Nicolas Wiscourt |
There are other individuals mentioned whose ages are in the 110-122 year range but whose records are less well documented.