Qamile Marra may be the world's oldest woman at 117

Qamile Marra, a resident of the village of Ferras in Albania, may be the world's oldest living woman. Born on August 19, 1909, during Ottoman rule, Marra is currently two days older than Britain's Ethel Caterham, who is recognized by Guinness World Records as the oldest living woman.

Marra has lived most of her life in Ferras, south of the capital, Tirana, where she grows her own food and tends to livestock. Her family has provided various official documents, including a 1945 birth certificate, a 1978 passport, and a recent identity card, to support her age. Her longevity has previously caused administrative confusion; her son, Hysen, noted that local authorities once suspended her pension because they did not believe she was still alive.

To mark her age, the Albanian government recently issued her a special state pension. Marra maintains an active lifestyle, tending to her garden and poultry while expressing a positive outlook on life.