Probability of Living to 100 Years Old

The Social Security Administration's actuarial tables estimate that approximately 2.9% of people born today in the US will live to age 100. This probability varies significantly by sex: women are roughly twice as likely as men to reach 100. As of 2020, there were approximately 89,739 centenarians in the US, a number expected to quadruple by 2054.

Factors associated with reaching 100 include genetics (having long-lived relatives, especially parents and siblings), not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, regular physical activity, strong social connections, a sense of purpose, moderate alcohol consumption, and a plant-rich diet. Studies of centenarians in "Blue Zones" (regions with exceptionally high concentrations of centenarians) consistently highlight these lifestyle factors.

Interestingly, many centenarians report that they did not actively try to live long; rather, their lifestyles naturally incorporated protective factors. Supercentenarians (those living past 110) are extremely rare, numbering only a few dozen worldwide at any given time. The oldest verified person ever was Jeanne Calment of France, who lived to 122 years and 164 days.