11 Of History’s Oldest People Ever, From A Traveling Herbalist To A Red Wine Enthusiast

Published December 5, 2023
Updated January 15, 2025

María Branyas Morera, The Oldest Living Woman — And The Oldest Person Alive

Maria Branyas Morera The Oldest Person Alive

MariaBranyas112/XAs of 2023, María Branyas Morera is the oldest person alive.

As of publication, the oldest verified living woman is 116-year-old María Branyas Morera, a Spanish citizen who was born in the United States in 1907.

Branyas Morera has lived an eventful — and sometimes difficult — life. She moved frequently as a child, and her father died during their voyage to Spain. Once in Europe, Branyas Morera also lived through the Spanish Civil War, which The Guardian reports left her with “very bad memories.”

As she’s gotten older, Branyas Morera has embraced new technologies like X (formerly Twitter), where her bio reads: “I am old, very old, but not an idiot.”

Maria Branyas Morera As A Young Woman

MariaBranyas112/XA picture of María Branyas Morera — the oldest person alive — as a young woman.

So how did Branyas Morera become the oldest person alive?

According to Guinness World Records, Branyas Morera values “order, tranquility, good connection with family and friends, contact with nature, emotional stability, no worries, no regrets, lots of positivity, and staying away from toxic people.” The oldest person alive also added: “I think longevity is also about being lucky. Luck and good genetics.”

She and Pérez Mora are currently some of the oldest verified people alive, and everyone we’ve covered so far has had their ages officially verified too. But what about the people with unverified ages?

author
Kaleena Fraga
author
A senior staff writer for All That's Interesting since 2021 and co-host of the History Uncovered Podcast, Kaleena Fraga graduated with a dual degree in American History and French Language and Literature from Oberlin College. She previously ran the presidential history blog History First, and has had work published in The Washington Post, Gastro Obscura, and elsewhere. She has published more than 1,200 pieces on topics including history and archaeology. She is based in Brooklyn, New York.
editor
Jaclyn Anglis
editor
Based in Brooklyn, New York, Jaclyn Anglis is the senior managing editor at All That's Interesting, where she has worked since 2019. She holds a Master's degree in journalism from the City University of New York and a dual Bachelor's degree in English writing and history from DePauw University. In a career that spans 11 years, she has also worked with the New York Daily News, Bustle, and Bauer Xcel Media. Her interests include American history, true crime, modern history, and science.
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Fraga, Kaleena. "11 Of History’s Oldest People Ever, From A Traveling Herbalist To A Red Wine Enthusiast." AllThatsInteresting.com, December 5, 2023, https://allthatsinteresting.com/oldest-person-to-ever-live. Accessed August 2, 2025.