This group is designed to be an informative data collection of lists and photographs regarding the world's oldest people (108+). Only proven cases will be listed in the "official" section; other cases may be organized separately. The purpose is to inform the public regarding an area that has been lacking by organizing disparate data into a quantitative approach, while still maintaining a qualitative flavor. In other words, photos will be organized by the age of the individual; false cases will be disallowed or posted separately. It is also hoped this will serve as an opportunity for previously unknown cases to be found.

The official world record for the oldest proven individual remains 122 years, 164 days in the case of Jeanne Calment of France (Feb. 21, 1875-Aug. 4, 1997).

The "world's oldest person" according to Guinness World Records and the Gerontology Research Group is Besse Cooper of Monroe, Georgia, born Aug 26 1896. She became the world's oldest person on June 21, 2011 with the passing of Maria Gomes Valentim, 114, of Carangola, Brazil.

Pictured for May 2012 is Jiroemon Kimura of Kyotango, Kyoto prefecture, Japan, currently the world's oldest living man and third-oldest living validated supercentenarian. Born Apr 19 1897, Kimura is currently the third-oldest man in documented history and entered the "all-time top 25" on May 2, 2012. The WOP is proud to honor Jiroemon Kimura as the World's Oldest People group "Supercentenarian of the Month" for May 2012.

Peak World's Oldest people group membership is 1009 subscribers as of Jan 3 2012.