An elderly woman in Colombia has gone viral after claims emerged that she may be the oldest living person on Earth.
Maria Antonia Cuervo, a resident of Buenaventura on Colombia’s Pacific coast, is believed to be 124 years old, according to the birth date listed on her national citizenship card. For many in and outside Colombia, she looks impressively strong for her age.
Official records indicate Cuervo was born on October 18, 1901—a claim that, if independently verified, would make her older than Jeanne Louise Calment of France, who is currently recognised as the longest-lived person in recorded history at 122 years and 164 days.
Although her age has not yet been formally authenticated by international longevity bodies or Guinness World Records, Cuervo’s story has sparked renewed global discussion about age verification, historical documentation, and how many exceptional lives in the Global South may remain unrecorded due to gaps in early civil registration systems.
A Jan. 1, 2026, report by Viory.video shows Cuervo continuing to lead an active and engaged life despite her remarkable age. Footage captures her washing, tending to plants in her garden, and travelling by car between nearby communities. Observers noted her steady walk and alertness, unusual traits for someone of such advanced years.
Cuervo attributes her longevity to a physically demanding lifestyle rooted in tradition and nature. From a young age, she engaged in daily labour such as fishing in local rivers, cutting firewood, and harvesting maize—activities she believes kept her strong over the decades.
“I lived with my older sister, each of us took our baskets, and we went to cut firewood. I also always harvested maize,” she recalled.
Her life story spans more than a century of social, political and scientific change in Colombia and the wider world. Across generations, her family has grown significantly. Cuervo is the mother of eight children, with 34 grandchildren, 80 great-grandchildren, and more than 70 great-great-great-grandchildren, many of whom gather annually to mark her birthday.
“This year we celebrated her 124 years at the Church of Providence,” her daughter, Deisy Balanta Moreno, said.
Experts note that verifying extreme longevity often requires extensive documentation—birth certificates, census records, and corroborating evidence—much of which can be difficult to obtain for individuals born in the early 1900s, particularly in rural or coastal regions where formal registration was limited.
Whether or not her age is officially confirmed, her life has already captured the imagination of audiences around the world.
