Supercentenarian Profile

Rafael Chinchilla

Born:

1912-10-23

Turín, Ahuachapán Department

El Salvador

Died:

2023-08-30

Ciudad Arce, La Libertad Department

El Salvador

✔ Age Certified by LongeviQuest

Rafael Chinchilla was a Salvadoran supercentenarian whose age has been validated by LongeviQuest. He was the oldest known living man in El Salvador at the time of his own death.

BIOGRAPHY

Rafael Chinchilla was born in Turín, Ahuachapán Department, El Salvador on 23 October 1912. He grew up and dedicated himself to agricultural production, since he did not have any opportunity to study, because, at the age of 12, he began working to help his family with expenses. At the age of 14, he took responsibility for his four siblings, since his mother passed away. Later, he moved to El Centro neighborhood of Ciudad Arce, La Libertad, where he has spent most of his life.

Despite the fact that he was never able to attend school, Chinchilla was presented with the opportunity to learn to read and write, and he did so at the age of 105, because one of his goals was always to be able to obtain new knowledge, and reading and writing were no exception. In 2018, he began his studies and joined the course with high expectations, where he was able to share with people of all ages. With the support of his family and his own effort due to his desire to improve, he managed to finish the first level and graduated thanks to the National Literacy Program, in November of the same year when he had already turned 106 years old.

In October 2022, Chinchilla celebrated his 110th birthday and became a supercentenarian. At the time, he had eight children, 21 grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. He was also able to walk unassisted.

Chinchilla passed awat in Ciudad Arce, La Libertad Department, El Salvador on 30 August 2023 at the age of 110 years, 311 days.

RECOGNITION

His age was verified by an anonymous researcher, Stefan Maglov, James Roberts and Fabrizio Villatoro, and validated by LongeviQuest on 29 September 2026.