Puerto Rico’s Emilio Flores Márquez has officially been confirmed by Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest person living (male) with a confirmed age of 112 years and 326 days, as of today.
Born on August 8, 1908, in Carolina, Puerto Rico, Márquez is the second-oldest of 11 children born to Alberto Flores Melendez and Margarita Márquez-Garcia.
From a very young age, Emilio helped his father on their sugarcane farm. He was often responsible for watering and loading the sugarcane onto wagons for transport.
As the first-born son in his family, he was also in charge of carrying out household chores and helping to care for his nine surviving siblings.
“I was the oldest of the children, so I did everything. I scrubbed, I took care of the boys, I did everything” – Emilio Flores Márquez
He continued to dedicate his life to farming, eventually becoming the way he supported his family.
Emilio was married for 75 years to the love of his life, Andrea Perez, who passed away in 2010. During their time together, they formed a beautiful family of four children, of which two are still alive and well.
He now has five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
He currently lives in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, where his two children, Tirsa and “Millito” take care of him.
Want to read this article in Spanish? Check it out here!
At the age of 101, Emilio underwent surgery to implant a pacemaker. Eleven years later, he continues to show strength and good health at his grand age. Though he has nearly lost all of his hearing, he continues to enjoy life.
Known affectionately as “Don Millo”, he believes that, to live happily, you need to have an abundance of love and to live life without anger.
“My father raised me with love, loving everyone. He always told me and my siblings to do good, to share everything with others. Besides, Christ lives in me”
Emilio received his official Guinness World Records title certificate in his home, where he commemorated the life-long achievement with celebratory photos.
He and his family are thrilled to share this experience.
“It’s always an honour to celebrate these remarkable human beings, and this year we’ve processed applications from not one but two contenders for the title of Oldest living man. I am thrilled to feature Sr. Márquez – born, interestingly, on the 8th day of the 8th month in the 8th year of the 20th century! – and bring his fascinating story to the wider public. But alongside this, I am also pleased that we got the chance to pay our respects to Dumitru Comănescu, who briefly held the record but sadly passed before we went to press.” – Craig Glenday, Editor-in-Chief at Guinness World Records
The evidence for the oldest person living (male) was examined by Guinness World Records Senior Consultant for Gerontology, Robert Young.
The previous oldest living man was recognized by Guinness World Records as Romania’s Dumitru Comănescu (b. November 21, 1908). He held the record for less than one month before his passing on June 27, 2020, at the age of 111 years 219 days. Following his passing, Guinness World Records then received evidence in support of Emilio, who was born three months earlier than Dumitru.
The oldest person ever to have lived is Jeanne Calment (France), who lived to be 122 years and 164 days. The oldest man ever is Jiroemon Kimura (Japan), who was born on 19 April 1897 and passed away at the age of 116 years and 54 days on 12 June 2013.
The oldest person living (female) is Kane Tanaka (Japan, b. 2 January 1903). Her record was confirmed at the age of 117 years and 41 days on 12 February 2020.
She is now aged 118 years and 179 days (as of today) and lives in Fukuoka, Japan.
Source: guinnessworldrecords
