For anyone struggling with thanatophobia—the fear of death—this latest revelation from researchers might bring some comfort.
While the average American lives to about 78.39 years, life expectancy is slightly higher in the UK (81.24 years) and Canada (81.65 years). But according to new research, the human body may be capable of surviving far longer than these averages—if disease or accidents don’t intervene.
Researchers from Erasmus University in Tilburg and Rotterdam set out to determine the absolute biological limit of human life. They analyzed data from 75,000 deaths in the Netherlands between 2010 and 2017, searching for the age at which longevity appeared to plateau.
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Their findings? The plateau tends to appear around age 90—but that doesn’t mark the end of life. Instead, it represents the point where extending lifespan becomes increasingly rare.
After extensive analysis, the researchers concluded that while humans are living longer on average, there is likely a maximum biological limit to lifespan—roughly 115 years. Interestingly, women appear to have a slight edge over men in this department.
The study estimated that:
- Men can live up to 114.1 years
- Women can reach around 115.7 years
Professor John Einmahl, one of the lead researchers, told AFP:
“On average, people live longer, but the very oldest among us have not gotten older over the last thirty years. There is certainly some kind of wall here. The average life expectancy has increased, but the maximum ceiling itself hasn’t changed.”
Of course, there are rare exceptions. Some individuals have managed to surpass this supposed limit.
The oldest verified man, Jiroemon Kimura of Japan, lived to 116 years and 54 days, according to Guinness World Records.
Meanwhile, Ethel Caterham, who recently turned 116 years and 48 days old, is currently the oldest living woman. Born in 1909, she was King Edward VII’s last surviving subject. Originally from Hampshire, England, she moved to India at 18 to work as an au pair.
When Caterham celebrated her 116th birthday in 2020—having even survived COVID-19—she received warm wishes from the world’s oldest living man, João Marinho Neto of Brazil, born in 1912.
While science may suggest that 115 marks humanity’s upper limit, stories like these prove that nature still finds ways to surprise us.
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