Passing of world's oldest redirects spotlight to Britain
Sister Inah Canabarro Lucas, recognized as the oldest person in the world, passed away on April 30, 2025, in Porto Alegre, Brazil. She was 116 years old. Her title as the oldest person in the world has now been assumed by British national Ethel Caterham, who is one year younger.
What you need to know
- Sister Inah Canabarro Lucas passed away on April 30, 2025, in Porto Alegre, Brazil. At the age of 116, she was recognized as the world's oldest person, according to researchers from the LongeviQuest group.
- The new oldest person in the world is British Ethel Caterham. Born on August 21, 1909, she is currently 115 years old.
- The oldest living man is Brazilian Joao Marinho Neto. He was born in 1912.
The secret of longevity of Sister Inah Canabarro Lucas
Sister Inah Canabarro Lucas, born on May 27, 1908, in Brazil, was identified by LongeviQuest—a group of researchers studying centenarians—as the oldest person in the world. Furthermore, she was among the top 20 longest-living people in history.
Inah Canabarro Lucas was a Teresian nun and a well-known soccer fan. Her favourite club was the local Internacional.
In an interview with ACI Digital in March 2024, she emphasized that the secret of her longevity was faith and daily prayer for all people in the world.
Who is now the oldest person in the world?
Following Sister Inah's passing, the title of the oldest person in the world was bestowed upon British Ethel Caterham, born on August 21, 1909. She is currently 115 years old. The oldest living man is Brazilian Joao Marinho Neto, who was born in 1912.
The longest-living person was Jeanne Calment, who lived to be 122 years old.
