How Old Is the Oldest Tortoise in the World?

The oldest tortoise in the world is 194 years old. His name is Jonathan, and he lives on a tiny island in the middle of the Atlantic. When he hatched, there were no photographs, no light bulbs, and no telephones. Andrew Jackson was in the White House. Spoiler: Jonathan is still alive today, eats with a healthy appetite, and outlived every human who ever met him as a hatchling. Here is how old he really is, why nobody knows his exact birth year, and which tortoise may have lived even longer.

How old is Jonathan really?

Jonathan is roughly 194 years old. Guinness World Records has listed him since 2022 as the oldest known land animal in history. Nobody knows his exact birth year, but researchers estimate 1832 at the latest. He might even be older. His official birthday is December 4, a date that was simply assigned to him.

Why nobody knows his exact age

In 1882, Jonathan arrived on St. Helena from the Seychelles, a gift to the island's governor. He was already fully grown, which means at least 50 years old. Count back from there and you land at 1832 or earlier. There is no real birth certificate, because back then nobody imagined this animal would one day hold a record. Fully grown giant tortoises look almost the same for decades. So the estimate is cautious, not exaggerated.

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Which tortoise lived even longer?

Before Jonathan, another tortoise held the record: Tu'i Malila from Tonga. She lived to 189 and died in 1966. The story goes that explorer James Cook gave her to the royal family of Tonga in 1777. Jonathan passed that mark in 2022. There is an even wilder tale: Adwaita, a giant tortoise in India, is said to have reached 255 years. But nobody could ever prove it. That is why Jonathan still holds the official crown.

How does a tortoise reach nearly 200?

Giant tortoises often live past 150 years. Their bodies work slowly, the heart beats calmly, and they need little energy. Jonathan is nearly blind today because of cataracts. He lost his sense of smell back in 2015. But his hearing is sharp and his appetite is excellent. A vet hand-feeds him fruit and vegetables: apple, banana, carrot, cucumber, lettuce. That way he gets all the nutrients he needs in old age.

Is Jonathan really still alive?

In April 2026, a message spread online claiming Jonathan had died. Brief panic on social media. But it was a hoax. The government of St. Helena set the record straight the next day, with a photo: Jonathan is alive and well. In June 2026, Guinness even named him an official record icon.

The oldest tortoise in the world is 194 years old and shows no sign of slowing down. Jonathan has lived through more history than any human ever will. If you liked this, keep guessing: How old is the oldest tree in the world? Or test your instinct with our animal estimation questions.