Costa Rican Man Seeks World’s Oldest-Person Recognition

Jose Flores, a resident of Sardinal on Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula, is reported by family records and his identity card to have been born on July 11 1907, which would make him 119 years old. If verified, he would become the world’s oldest living man. The claim remains pending international verification, as specialists continue to review his birth, baptism and later-life documents.

The Straits Times

Sardinal lies within one of the five global “Blue Zones,” regions noted for unusually high numbers of centenarians. Residents attribute their longevity to calcium- and magnesium-rich water, a corn-and-bean diet, physically active lifestyles, and strong family and community ties. Founder Jorge Vindas of the Nicoya Peninsula Blue Zone Association emphasizes that “family and social networks are number one, along with spirituality and the strong faith of these people, who are very physically active.”

The Straits Times

These records must be examined by international bodies such as Guinness World Records before an official determination can be announced. Flores’s granddaughter and caregiver, Hellen Flores, notes that validation would be a source of pride for both the family and the nation.

The Independent

Flores is a father of eight, a grandfather to 23, a great-grandfather to 25, and has one great-great-granddaughter. The world’s oldest living person is currently Ethel Caterham of Britain, born on August 21 1909 and aged 117 in 2026, a title she assumed after the death of Brazilian nun Inah Canabarro Lucas in 2025.

The IndependentThe Straits Times

• “Family and social networks are number one, along with spirituality and the strong faith of these people, who are very physically active,” — Jorge Vindas, founder of the Nicoya Peninsula Blue Zone Association

The Independent