SENIOR JOURNAL.COM - Senior Citizens Information and News

Front Page    Search     Contact Us    Discussion Board    Advertise in Senior Journal

E-mail this page to a friend!

Americans Becoming New Longevity Record Setters: 14 of Oldest 30

Twenty of oldest 30 people in the world are from U.S. or Japan

By Tucker Sutherland, editor

Sept. 8, 2005 – Americans have generally not been noted for setting longevity records. The oldest people seem to usually be in Japan or a colder region, like Sweden or Norway. All of a sudden, that appears to be changing with Americans now representing almost half of the 30 oldest people in the world and holding the top three positions in the rankings. Only two men are on the list - one American and one Puerto Rican.

There are actually 14 U.S. citizens in the top 30 list maintained by the Gerontology Research Group. The first three are U.S. women from the South - Elizabeth "Lissie" Bolden, 115, Tennessee; Bettie Wilson, 114, Mississippi, and Susie Gibson, 114, Mississippi.

	Emiliano del Toro - oldest man

In fourth place is Emiliano Mercado del Toro, who is from Puerto Rico, an independent territory of the U.S. He is also the oldest living man and oldest U.S. army veteran.

Right behind him is another North American woman, Julie Winnefred Bertran of Canada.

The only other man in the top 30 is an American, Moses Hardy, 112, of Mississippi. His rank is number 12.

"Lizzie" Bolden, was 115 years and 14 days old, when she officially became the oldest living person and woman in the world on Aug. 30, 2005, according to an announcement by the Guinness World Records. The previous title holder, Hendrikje Van Andel-Schipper of the Netherlands, died in her sleep at 2 a.m. that day. She was 115 years and 62 days old. Read more...

Bolden now oldest person. Photo by Dave Darnell, Memphis Commercial Appeal

Although the U.S. does hold 14 of the top slots - 15 if we count del Toro - Japan is still notable with six of the top 30 spots. So, 20 of the 30 oldest people in the world are from the U.S. and Japan.

(See the chart below for the entire top 30 list)

The Supercentenarian list - anyone who has lived to be 110 years or older - by the Gerontology Research Group, on Sept. 8, 2005, recognized 69 Validated Living Supercentenarians - 63 Women and 6 Men. The all time high, earlier this year, was 71.

In March, the U.S. Census Bureau released estimates for July 1, 2004 showing the number of Americans 85 and older has increased by 14.6 percent since the 2000 census. All persons 65 and older increased by only 3.72% and the total population grew by 4.35 percent. Read more... see senior population numbers by state.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also released a report in March - “Deaths: Preliminary Data for 2003” - showing life expectancy in the U.S. had reached 77.6 years in 2003, up from 77.3 in 2002. Read more...