Longevity Cultures

If you travel to the southernmost islands of Japan, you’ll find Okinawa—a place often referred to as the “Land of Immortals.” Not because its people live forever, of course, but because the percentage of centenarians (those over 100 years old) is higher here than almost anywhere else in the world.

You’ve probably heard of “Blue Zones”—places where people routinely live past 90 and even 100, not just surviving but thriving. These regions were identified by National Geographic Fellow Dan Buettner and a team of scientists, demographers, and medical researchers who set out to discover the world’s longest-living populations. The five officially designated Blue Zones are:

Tucked away in the heart of the Mediterranean, the Italian island of Sardinia has something extraordinary: an unusually high number of centenarians, particularly men. While women tend to live longer in most parts of the world, Sardinian men are just as likely to reach 100. In fact, the mountain villages of Barbagia boast one of the highest male longevity rates ever recorded.

While Japan’s Okinawa and Italy’s Sardinia often grab the longevity headlines, a less talked-about region quietly competes for the top spot: the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica. Located in the northwest part of the country, this rural, sun-drenched region is one of the five original Blue Zones identified by Dan Buettner and his team. And it’s not just a statistical fluke—Nicoya’s elders consistently live past 90 and 100, often without chronic illness or medications.

Ikaria, a mountainous island in the Aegean Sea, has become legendary for one reason: people here forget to die. That’s not poetic exaggeration—Ikaria has some of the highest percentages of nonagenarians and centenarians in the world. More impressively, many residents live into their 90s and beyond without suffering from chronic illnesses like cancer, heart disease, or dementia.

In a country where the average life expectancy hovers around 77, there’s one place that stands out like a healthy thumb—Loma Linda, California. Nestled an hour east of Los Angeles, this small city consistently produces residents who live 7 to 10 years longer than the national average.

Living to 100 might seem like a genetic lottery, but researchers have found that people who reach this milestone often share certain lifestyle habits—regardless of where they live. Whether it's the mountains of Sardinia, the villages of Okinawa, or the small towns of Loma Linda, patterns emerge that help explain how people live longer—and better.

When most people think of longevity, they think of places like Okinawa, Sardinia, or Loma Linda—the famous Blue Zones where people live well beyond 100. But what if I told you there are hidden villages, tucked away in corners of the world, where long life is the norm, but they haven’t yet made it to the mainstream?

Have you ever wondered what the longest-living people in the world do every morning? Do they wake up at the crack of dawn and go for a run? Do they follow a complex health regimen? While the secret to longevity isn’t in one magic habit, there are certain things that centenarians around the world do each morning that help them start their day—and their lives—on the right foot.

As people around the world live longer than ever, the pursuit of longevity has become a global conversation. Whether it’s through diet, lifestyle, or medical advancements, different cultures have developed their own strategies for aging gracefully and staying healthy. But while some countries have embraced modern technologies and innovations, others have adhered to traditional ways of living that promote longevity.