Albanian woman, 117, challenges age records

In Albania, Qamile Mara, a 117-year-old woman, lives a self-sufficient life in the village of Veras, approximately 60 miles south of the capital. Mara was born during the Ottoman Empire, lived through World War II and Albania’s communist regime, and continues to tend her garden and livestock.

She doesn’t actively seek recognition as the world’s oldest woman, but documentation suggests she is two days older than the current Guinness World Records holder, Ethel Katz.

Establishing the ages of extremely long-lived people can be difficult, as a 2024 Ig Nobel Prize-winning study found that many claims of exceptional longevity come from regions with poor record-keeping or pension fraud. However, Mara possesses multiple official documents, including a birth certificate from 1945, a passport from 1978, and a recent ID card, all listing the same birthdate of August 19, 1909.

Local authorities initially stopped Mara’s pension when she reached 100, not believing she was still alive, but her son, Hussein, provided evidence including witness statements to reinstate it. The government recently awarded her a special pension in recognition of her age. Mara attributes her long life to a simple routine, including gardening, animal care, and enjoying the scents of herbs, and has never visited a doctor. She has witnessed five generations of her family and finds joy in their lives.