Henri Content, Until Recently the Oldest Man in France, Has Died

One of France's most famous supercentenarians has died. Henri Content, who had been recognized as the oldest living man in the country since the beginning of 2026, passed away on February 25 at the age of 110. As reported by the management of the L'Hermitage nursing home in Bellerive-sur-Allier, Content died surrounded by family. His death once again draws attention to the small but significant community of French centenarians. France has one of the largest populations of centenarians in the world, often attributed to the so-called „French paradox” – a combination of the Mediterranean diet, moderate wine consumption, and an extensive healthcare system. Research on longevity in France has been conducted since the 1990s, and the country regularly provides candidates for the title of Europe's oldest resident. Henri Content was born on January 4, 1916, in the Yonne department. After graduating from the École normale in Auxerre, he worked as a teacher, eventually becoming a German language lecturer at the Lycée Berthollet in Annecy. According to media reports, he was physically active throughout his life – interested in football, skiing, and hiking. In 2025, after an unfortunate fall, he moved to the nursing home in Bellerive-sur-Allier to be closer to his son. His marriage to Paulette lasted uninterrupted for over 81 years. Content's death leaves the question of his successor open. According to Arnaud Le Page, creator of the blog „Les grands centenaires français”, the new senior could be Jean Turco, a former deputy born on December 19, 1917, in Villejuif.„il y a probablement un homme plus âgé quelque part” (there is probably an older man somewhere) — Arnaud Le PageLe Page points out the difficulties in verifying the age of the oldest individuals, as official records are not always complete. He calls for testimonies that might point to an even older man. Meanwhile, the world's oldest living person remains the British woman Ethel, whose age also requires regular confirmation.