Countries with the most centenarians -

What is a centenarian? A centenarian is someone who is over the age of 100. Few people make it to this age. The nation with the longest life expectancy is Hong Kong, that has a life expectancy of 85.77 years old. So while some countries have populations that live longer than others, no nation has an abundance of people living with such a prolonged age. But there are some countries that have a higher concentration of those living over the age of 100.

Do you think your country makes the list? Check out the gallery to find out. 

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Asia and Africa -

The top 25 nations with the most centenarians are all located in the continents of Asia and Africa. This fascinating data makes one wonder why there’s such a high concentration of centenarians on these continents?

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Lifestyle -

Is there a lifestyle component that drives the probability of living past 100? Is the probability of living such a long life due to hereditary predispositions? What is it that makes someone more likely to reach such an old age? While the science says that genetics play a big role in determining if we live longer, it's actually cultural lifestyle choices that play a significant role.

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Top 25 countries -

It may not be a surprise to know that nations with lower rates of chronic diseases have longer life expectancies. According to studies that examine the habits of those living in regions with longer life spans, diet, including regular fasting practices, and frequent exercise, are the primary drivers of a longer life. So, let's look at the top 25 countries that have the most centenarians among their population, according to data collected in 2021. Does your country make the list?

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25. Saudi Arabia -

At number 25 on the list is the Middle Eastern nation of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has 244 centenarians in its population. Of these 244 centenarians, 153 are women and 92 are men.

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24. Tunisia -

Tunisia makes the list as the 24th country with the most centenarians. Among the Tunisian population, there are 262 centenarians, of whom 204 are women and 58 are men.

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23. Reunion -

Ranked 23rd on the list is a country you might not have heard of. Reunion, a French volcanic nation located in the Indian Ocean, has 263 centenarians, of which 203 are women and 60 are men.

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22. Egypt -

Listed at number 22 on the list is the North African nation of Egypt. Egypt has 327 centenarians among its population, of which a striking 315 are women and 12 are men.

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21. Algeria -

Ranked 21st on the list is another North African nation, this time Algeria. Within the Algerian population, 369 are over the age of 100. Of this group, 228 are women and 142 are men.

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20. North Korea -

North Korea makes the list as the nation with the 20th highest concentration of centenarians. Of the nation’s population, with 548 people over 100 years of age, all but one consist of women.

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19. Iran -

The nation of Iran makes the list as the nation with the 19th highest concentration of centenarians. Iran has 569 people over the age of 100 among its population, of which 426 are women and 142 are men.

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18. Tanzania -

Next on the list is Tanzania. The East African nation ranks 18th on the list of nations with the most people over 100 within its population. Tanzania has 595 centenarians, of which 509 are women and 87 are men.

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17. Sri Lanka -

Sri Lanka makes the list as the nation with the 17th highest concentration of centenarians. Sri Lanka has 647 people above the age of 100, of which 542 are women and 106 are men.

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16. Taiwan -

Next on the list is Taiwan. The nation of Taiwan ranks 16 on the list of highest amount of people above the age of 100, with a total of 651 centenarians. Of these 651 people, 531 are women and 120 are men.

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15. Bangladesh -

Ranked 15th on the list of most centenarians is Bangladesh. The South Asian nation has a total of 733 centenarians among its population, of which 584 consist of women and 149 are men.

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14. Malawi -

Malawi ranks 14th on the list of highest concentration of people over the age of 100. The East African nation has a total of 829 centenarians, of which 708 are women and 121 are men.

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13. Philippines -

The Philippines is the nation with the 13th highest concentration of centenarians in the world. The nation has 1,198 people over the age of 100 in its population, of which 947 are women and 251 are men.

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12. Malaysia -

Malaysia ranks 12th on the list of the highest number of people over the age of 100. The nation has 1,398 people over the age of 100, of which 912 are women and 487 are men.

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11. Indonesia -

Indonesia makes the list as the nation with the 11th highest concentration of people above the age of 100. The nation has 1,553 centenarians among its population, of which 1,178 are women and 375 are men.

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10. Turkey -

Turkey ranks 10th on the list of nations with the most centenarians. The country, sitting between Europe and Asia, has 2,157 people over the age of 100, of which 2,099 are women and 58 are men.

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9. Kenya -

Kenya makes the list as the nation with the ninth-largest amount of centenarians in the world. The East African nation has a total of 3,643 centenarians, of which 2,732 are women and 911 are men.

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8. South Africa -

South Africa ranks eight on the list of nations with the highest concentration of people over the age of 100. The nation has an incredible 3,796 centenarians among its population, of which 2,587 are women, and 1,209 are men.

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7. Hong Kong -

Hong Kong, the nation with the longest life expectancy in the world, is ranked seventh on the list, with 5,408 centenarians among its population. Of this group, 4,406 are women and 1,002 are men.

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6. Vietnam -

Listed in sixth place is Vietnam. The Vietnamese seem to have a secret to long life with 6,398 centenarians among its population, of which 6,070 are women and 328 are men.

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5. South Korea -

South Korea ranks fifth on the list, with a total of 8,474 centenarians among its population. The gender disparity is especially stark, as women make up 7,810 of people over 100, and men consist of 664.

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4. Thailand -

Ranked fourth on the list is Thailand. The Southeast Asian nation has an incredible 28,837 centenarians among its population, of which 22,268 are women and 6,569 are men.

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3. India -

India is third on the list of nations with the most people over the age of 100. Among its population, there are 39,421 centenarians, of which 23,586 are women, and 15,835 are men.

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2. China -

China is second on the list, with one of the highest concentration of centenarians in the world. Among the Chinese there are 41,002 people over the age of 100, 38,477 are women and 2,525 are men.

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1. Japan -

The nation with the highest concentration of centenarians in the world is Japan. The nation has 131,711 people over the age of 100 among its population, of which 115,856 are women and 15,855 are men.

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More women than men -

While this list doesn't provide the secret to a long life, it does highlight incredible differences in gender, as all the nations listed in previous slides have more women living to become centenarians than men. While each region has their particular reasons that impact why there may be an older female population (for example, war, migration, and other factors), studies show that in 'extreme age' women tend to be more resilient to age-related diseases. 

Sources: (World Population Review) (Boston University) (Healthline) (Journal of the American Geriatrics Society)

See also: Where in the world can you live to 100 and stay healthy?

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