SARDINAL, Costa Rica: A 119-year-old man living quietly in a modest wooden home in Costa Rica could become the world’s oldest living person if historical records confirming his date of birth are internationally validated.
José Flores, a lifelong rural worker from Sardinal on the Nicoya Peninsula, is listed in official Costa Rican records as having been born on July 11, 1907. His family and local longevity researchers believe the documents could establish him as the world’s oldest man, although international verification remains pending.
Costa Rican man, 119, seeks recognition as world’s oldest person https://t.co/cPvUuqZStf
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Flores now spends much of his time resting, eating meals prepared by his granddaughter and occasionally arm-wrestling with her. His granddaughter and carer, Hellen Flores, said he lives a “calm and happy” life and still recalls stories from his long life and occasionally jokes with family members.
She said Flores himself considers family one of the secrets behind his longevity.
“Without love, without affection, without care, he would not still be here,” she said.
Sardinal lies on the Nicoya Peninsula, one of the world’s five regions commonly known as Blue Zones, where unusually high numbers of people live long and relatively healthy lives. Researchers and residents have linked longevity in the region to a combination of diet, physical activity, strong social connections and a low-stress lifestyle.
هوسې فلوریس ۱۱۹ کاله عمر لري او غواړي چې د نړۍ تر ټولو ډیر عمر لرونکي شخص وپیژندل شي. د عمر پیژندنې متخصصین یو شمیر اسناد او څیړي چې د کاستا ریکا د دې اوسیدونکي اصلي عمر تائید کړي. فلوریس سربیره د دې سیمې اکثریت خلک ډیر ژوند کوي او ډیر احتمال شته چې تر سلو کالونو ډیر عمر وکړي. pic.twitter.com/IAQM39EHF6
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Jorge Vindas, founder of the Nicoya Peninsula Blue Zone Association, said strong family and social networks, spirituality, physical activity and a healthy diet were among the factors that could help explain the region’s exceptional longevity.
He said the association had collected a substantial body of historical documentation relating to Flores, including his birth and baptism certificates as well as later records from his life as a father.
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The documents, however, still need to undergo international scrutiny before Flores can officially be recognised as the world’s oldest living man. Vindas said the records would be submitted for validation by international organisations, including Guinness World Records.
Flores’ family is hopeful that the verification process will confirm his extraordinary age, with his granddaughter saying official recognition would be a matter of pride not only for the family but also for Costa Rica.
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Flores has eight children, 23 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter, making his family tree span five generations.
The current recognised oldest living person is Britain’s Ethel Caterham, who was born on August 21, 1909, in Hampshire. She turned 117 in 2026 and became the world’s oldest living person following the death of Brazilian nun Inah Canabarro Lucas in April 2025.
