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Léo R. Belzile, Professeur adjoint de sciences de la décision, HEC Montréal

Heads or tails: What statistical models tell us about the probability of living beyond 110

Jeanne Calment Kane Tanaka Japan France
Is there a limit to human life expectancy? (Shutterstock)

The world’s presumed oldest person, Kane Tanaka of Japan, died in April in her native country at the age of 119. Despite her spectacular longevity, she could not surpass the record set by France’s Jeanne Calment 25 years ago.

Calment died on August 4, 1997 at the age of 122 years and five months (or precisely 44,724 days).

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