Ethel Caterham, a 115-year-old woman from England, has officially become the world’s oldest living person, following the death of Sister Inah Canabarro, a 116-year-old Brazilian nun and teacher.
According to the Gerontology Research Group (GRG) and LongeviQuest, Canabarro passed away on Wednesday, making Caterham the oldest confirmed living human.
Although Caterham now holds the title of the world’s oldest living person, the record for the oldest person ever still belongs to Jeanne Calment of France, who lived to the age of 122 years and 164 days, according to Guinness World Records.
Oldest Living Person Shares Her Secrets
Caterham has shared her approach to longevity over the years, offering a blend of pragmatism and optimism.
“Never arguing with anyone, I listen, and I do what I like,” Caterham said from her nursing home in Surrey when asked about the secret to her long life.
In a 2020 interview with The Guardian, she reflected on life’s ups and downs, saying she took “everything in my stride, the highs and lows.”
