World's oldest living person just turned one year older. Meet Ethel
Ethel Caterham, the world's oldest living person, has celebrated her 117th birthday in a care home in Surrey, England. She is the first British person to reach this age and recently met King Charles III.
Why it matters
Caterham's milestone provides a rare look at extreme longevity and historical continuity, as she is the last surviving subject of King Edward VII.
Hear this story They say each birthday is a blessing, and one woman living in southeast England has had 117 of them.
The woman, Ethel Caterham, turns 117 years old on Friday, Aug. 21. Crowned Guinness World Records’ oldest living person in mid-spring 2025 , Caterham is keeping her birthday festivities low-key this year at her care home.
Caterham is the first British person ever to turn 117, and the 13th person to celebrate their 117th birthday worldwide, said Ben Meyers, chief executive officer of LongeviQuest , a supercentenarian research organization that keeps track of the world’s oldest people.
Here’s what we know about the supercentenarian and how she celebrated her birthday.
Caterham lives in a care home in Surrey, about 32 miles southwest of London, LongeviQuest told USA TODAY on Aug. 21.
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