There are now an estimated 630,000 people around the world aged 100 or older, according to the latest United Nations figures. These centenarians—many of whom were born in 1925 and have lived through world wars, technological revolutions, and sweeping social changes—are mostly concentrated in just 10 countries.
Japan tops the list both in terms of absolute numbers and relative population. With roughly 123,000 centenarians, the country accounts for nearly one in five of the world’s 100-year-olds. Japan also boasts one of the highest life expectancies globally—88 years for women and 82 years for men. Only Hong Kong has a higher proportion of centenarians per capita, with 133 per 100,000 people compared to Japan’s 100.
The United States follows with approximately 74,000 centenarians, trailed by China (49,000) and India (38,000). However, when adjusted for population size, these larger countries drop in the rankings, with European nations such as France, Italy, and Greece showing higher ratios of centenarians per capita.
“Japan is at the top of all lists,” said Solveig Cunningham, a professor at the Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute, speaking to Euronews Health. She attributes this longevity to a combination of factors including diet, physical activity, social cohesion, and a supportive living environment. “The real test,” she added, “would be to look at people who migrated to Japan decades ago and see how they age compared to native Japanese.”
The global fascination with extreme longevity has fuelled a wide array of theories, from the concept of “blue zones”—regions where people tend to live longer due to lifestyle and genetics—to more controversial suggestions that data anomalies and pension fraud might be skewing numbers.
A recent study cast doubt on some so-called blue zones, suggesting that administrative errors and social security fraud could inflate the number of reported centenarians in certain regions. But researchers like Cunningham believe these anomalies don’t undermine broader longevity trends, particularly in countries with strong public health systems and high life expectancies.
Interestingly, some countries with high early-life mortality still report significant numbers of centenarians. “In places where you have pretty high mortality early in life, the people who survive are outstandingly strong,” Cunningham noted.
Despite ongoing debates about what exactly enables some people to live to 100 and beyond, health experts broadly agree on the fundamentals: balanced nutrition, regular exercise, access to healthcare, adequate sleep, and managing stress are key.
While the idea of a magical secret to longevity continues to captivate the public, Cunningham remains sceptical. “I don’t know how much I personally would buy into the benefits of fish oil, chocolate, or a daily glass of wine,” she said.
For now, the road to 100 appears to rely more on common-sense health practices than elusive elixirs.
