Francisco Núñez Olivera was a Spanish supercentenarian who became the oldest living man in the world following the death of Israel Kristal on 11 August 2017, and held the title for more than five months until his own death. He is also the second-oldest Spanish man ever, behind Joan Riudavets Moll.
Núñez Olivera was born in Bienvenida, Extremadura, Spain, on 13 December 1904. He spent most of his life working as a farmer. Two of his siblings died at 97 and 93 respectively.
At the age if 19, he joined the army, being deployed in Morocco. He was a veteran of the Rif War (1921–26). At some point he got married and had four children (two sons and two daughters). His wife died in 1988.
His relatives credited his long life to his diet that included vegetables he grew on his own land, a daily glass of red wine and sponge cake made with olive oil. His oldest surviving daughter, María Antonia, was 82 years old in 2019.
Núñez Olivera died in Bienvenida, Extremadura, Spain, on 29 January 2018, at the age of 113 years, 47 days.
According to his ID card, he was actually born on 13 September 1904, but his eldest daughter claimed how he was actually two months younger.
On 13 April 2016, following the death of 111-year-old Harold Bracher of the UK, he became the oldest living man in Europe, at the age of 111 years, 122 days.
On 11 August 2017, following the death of 113-year-old Israel Kristal of Israel, he became a candidate for the title of the world’s oldest living man, at the age of 112 years, 241 days. His age was unvalidated at the time. Two days after his death, on 31 January 2018, his age was validated by the Gerontology Research Group, and his record was posthumously recognized by the Guinness World Records.
On 15 December 2017, following the death of 116-year-old Ana María Vela Rubio, he became the oldest living person in Spain, at the age of 113 years, 2 days.
