World's oldest person now 'last living man born in 19th century'

According to the Gerontolgy Research Group at UCLA, 21 women born before 1901's New Year's Day are still living, the New York Daily News reported.

Majority are in the United States and Japan, while others are in Europe and Canada.

Jiroemon Kimura. Pic/ AFP

Kimura, who took the title last week after the death of James Emmanuel 'Doc' Sisnett, retired in 1962 at 65 after working 45 years in the Japanese post office.

His family said that he had five kids, 14 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and 13 great-great-grandchildren.

Kimura now lives in Kyotango, Kyoto Prefecture, with his eldest son's widow, 83, and his grandson's widow, 59, and attributes his long life to eating small portions of food.

He admits to spending most of his time in bed.