A centenarian is a person who has attained the age of 100 years or more. The term is associated with longevity due to the fact that average life expectancies across the world are still far from 100. Much rarer, a supercentenarian is a person who has lived to the age of 110 or more.

Reaching an old age has fascinated people for ages. According to the ancient book Genesis (chapter 5 verse 27) Methuselah managed to become 969 years old.

Some of the (nonapocryphal) claimants to longevity records are (see also: "Known for attaining high age below):

In the United States, centenarians traditionally receive a letter from the president upon reaching their 100th birthday, congratulating them for their longevity. In the United Kingdom, the Queen sends greetings (formerly as a telegram) on the 100th birthday and on every birthday starting with the 105th.

Among Hindus, people who touch the feet of elders are often blessed with "May you live a hundred years". In Poland, Sto lat, a wish to live a hundred years, is a traditional form of praise and good wishes; the Jewish tradition, however, is more ambitious, "May you live as long as Moses", or 120 years.

Table of contents
1 List of centenarians
2 External links

List of centenarians

Here is a list of well-known centenarians (with supercentenarians emphasized strongly). This list is divided into sub-lists, according to how the centenarian became well known.

Activists/non-profit leaders

Actors/filmmakers/entertainers

Artists

Authors/poets/journalists

Businessmen

Educators/school administrators

Explorers

Jurists/practitioners of law

Military commanders

Musicians/Composers/music patrons

Nobility

Philosophers/theologians

Politicians/government servants

Relative of someone well-known

Religious leaders/Clergymen

Royalty

Scientists/mathematicians

Sportspeople

Miscellaneous

Known for attaining high age

See also the list in supercentenarian, Last Surviving Veteran

External links