World’s oldest person dies at 117 in Spain

ISTANBUL

Maria Branyas, the world's oldest person, died on Monday at the age of 117, according to media reports on Tuesday.

Born on March 4, 1907, in San Francisco, US, Branyas moved to Spain as a young child in 1915. She had held the title of the world’s oldest person since Jan. 17, 2023, following the death of French supercentenarian Lucile Randon at 118, according to Spanish media.

A supercentenarian is a person who is 110 years or older.

The Gerontology Research Group (GRG), which oversees the Guinness World Records list of oldest people, confirmed that Branyas' age and status were scientifically validated. In July, she became the 8th longest-lived person in recorded history, according to GRG data.

Branyas’ life spanned numerous historical events, including her survival of the COVID-19 pandemic. At 113, she contracted and recovered from the virus in April 2020, becoming at the time the oldest known survivor of the disease.

Prior to her global recognition, Branyas had been acknowledged as Spain’s oldest living person since Dec. 22, 2019.

The Gerontology Research Group and Guinness World Records are expected to announce the new holder of the title “world’s oldest person” in due course.