World's oldest men send birthday wishes to each other as they turn 113 and 114
The world’s oldest man João Marinho Neto (Brazil) is celebrating his 114th birthday today!
And in a beautiful display of friendship from across the world, he and the world’s second oldest man, Australia’s Ken Weeks, have sent birthday wishes to each other, each posing with homemade signs for their birthday twin.
The centenarians were born exactly one year apart, with Ken, who lives in New South Wales, turning 113 today.
João sends birthday wishes to Ken
João was confirmed by LongeviQuest to be a record holder in November 2024, when he was 112, meaning this is the second birthday he’s marked in the superlative position.
João’s big day comes just a couple of months after the world’s oldest woman Ethel Caterham (UK) turned 117.
His age is a huge milestone in human history, and in a way, even more impressive than Ethel’s longevity, says LongeviQuest expert Ben Meyers, who previously explained why the world’s oldest person is almost always a woman.
Ken’s birthday message for João
Ben told us: “His longevity stature among men is arguably even more impressive than Ethel’s among women (not that they’re in competition). Because of the disparity in longevity between genders, it’s rarer for a man to reach 114 than it is for a woman to reach 117.”
The CEO of LongeviQuest says João’s milestone birthday means he’s now the ninth oldest man of all time, being one of only nine to ever turn 114.
He’s the 13th oldest Brazilian person ever and Brazil’s oldest ever male resident.
João at 113
João is the 236th oldest person of all time and his reign as the oldest man has now lasted one year and 314 days, the second-longest period in the past 13 years.
He’s currently the 10th oldest person in the world, meaning that Ethel and eight other women are the only people older than him.
He’s the first man to enter the top 10 list since Juan Vicente Pérez Mora passed away in April 2024.
João in 2025 with his LongeviQuest trophy
Ken and João, along with the third oldest man, Japan’s Hikaru Katō are the only surviving men who were born before the First World War.
Read about more of the world’s oldest residents in our Human Body section.
João still has a little way to go before he’ll become the oldest man ever. That title belongs to Jiroemon Kimura (Japan), who lived to the age of 116 years 54 days.
João at 112
João was born in Maranguape, Ceará, Brazil, on 5 October 1912, into a family of farmers and later moved with his parents to a rural area of Apuiarés.
By the time he turned four, he was out working with his father in the fields, taking care of the cattle and harvesting fruit.
João went on to marry Josefa Albano dos Santos (1920–1994), and they welcomed four children together - Antônio, José, Fátima, and Vanda.
João aged 112
He later welcomed three more children - Vinícius, Jarbas, and Conceição – with partner Antonia Rodrigues Moura.
He has six living children, 22 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
João previously said the secret to long life was to surround yourself with good people and keep your loved ones close by.
All images courtesy of LongeviQuest and the families of João and Ken.