The oldest living person in the world dies at 116
Inah Canabarro Lucas, the oldest living person in the world, has passed away for nearly five months since being awarded the distinction.
The oldest living person shares her secrets in a long life. There’s no stress.
At the age of 115, British woman Ethel Catham is officially the oldest person, according to Longeviquest, which provides age data for the Guinness World Records. She was also the last survivor born in the 1900s.
The new title for Surrey residents comes after the death of her 116-year-old sister, Inah Canabarro Lucas. The Brazilian nuns passed away on April 30th. 114-year-old Izabel Rosa Pereira is currently the longest resident in Brazil.
In a 2020 BBC interview, Caterham said the secret to her longevity is “not discussing with anyone.”
“I listen and do what I love,” she said.
On his 115th birthday in August, Caterham congratulated Charles III on a “really astounding milestone” and sent “the warmest and most good wishes,” the BBC reported.
How old is the oldest person?
According to Longeviquest, as of May 2, 2025, Ethel Catham of Surrey, England, is the oldest person living at age 115 and 252 days.
She was born in 1909 and is scheduled to turn 116 on August 21st.
Who is Ethel Catham?
Ethel Caterham is a British woman who holds the record as the oldest person currently living at 115.
According to the Guardian, she was born in Shipton Bellinger, Hampshire, and grew up at the second youngest of eight children in Tidworth, Wiltshire. When she turned 18, she moved to India, England, where she returned to England after three years of caring for military families.
In 1931 she met Lt. Col. Norman Catham, her late husband, a senior officer in the Royal Army Salary Corps whom she married in 1933, the Guardian reported. The two were stationed in Gibraltar and later Hong Kong, where Catalam founded a nursery. Norman passed away in 1976.
Catum lived in Surry County for 50 years. She has three granddaughters and five great grandchildren.
Who was Inah Canabarro Lucas?
Born in San Francisco de Asis in June 1908, Rio Grande de Sur, Lucas, was born frail and many people thought she would not live long, according to Longevik.
She began her life of faith at just 16 years old, attending the boarding school of Santa Teresa do Jesus, and was baptized on April 21, 1926.
She was first appointed the world’s oldest person in December 2024 after the death of 116-year-old Tomiko Itoku, Japan.
According to Longeviquest, she has won quite a few titles throughout her life, with previous titles including:
- January 2, 2022 – The oldest Brazilian church person ever.
- January 23, 2022 – Brazil’s oldest documented living person.
- July 30, 2022 – The oldest verified living person in South America and Latin America.
- February 16, 2024 – The oldest living person in Brazil.
- February 22, 2024 – The oldest living person in the Americas and the third oldest living person in the world.
- August 19, 2024 – The second oldest living person in the world.
- December 29, 2024 – The oldest living person in the world.