José Flores seeks recognition as world's oldest man

José Flores, a 119-year-old resident of the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica, is the subject of a formal effort to have him recognized as the oldest man in recorded history. The Asociación Península de Nicoya Zona Azul is currently preparing a case for Guinness World Records to validate his age.

Flores was born on July 11, 1907, in Las Lajas de Cañas, Guanacaste. While his national identity card reflects this birth date, international verification bodies require additional documentation from various stages of a person’s life to confirm extreme longevity. The association is currently working to secure two remaining documents necessary to complete the application process.

If validated, Flores would surpass the current record for the oldest man ever verified, held by Japan’s Jiroemon Kimura, who died in 2013 at age 116. His documented age also exceeds the lifespans of other notable figures such as Kane Tanaka and Sarah Knauss. Flores, a former banana plantation worker and farmer, currently lives in Sardinal de Carrillo and has received support from Costa Rican President Laura Fernández, who ordered a new home to be built for him.