Why Abkhazia is home to so many energetic centenarians

In Abkhazia, stories about people who live past a hundred are part of everyday conversation—and many of them still feel remarkably energetic. This isn’t folklore: the republic truly has a notable share of long-lived residents, a reality that has long drawn interest from scientists and the press.

Who are these people?

Back in the mid‑20th century, official records listed nearly 300 people over the age of 100, and some were said to be older than 120. By the 1970 census, about 40% of village residents were over 90.

Locals still recall Khfafa Lasuria, whose story reached National Geographic. They say she worked on a tea plantation until 128, after 130 would smoke and drink wine, and at 133 performed with a folk ensemble. There’s Temur Tarba, who rode horseback up to age 100, and Osman Bzhennia, who was still working on a collective farm at 120. There are many such examples.

What studies suggest

Researchers note several recurring patterns. Many centenarians have relatives who also lived long lives. Most come from large families: nearly half had four to six children, and some had more than ten. Only about 2–3% had no children at all.

Almost all of them respect tradition, avoid overeating, have a little wine on holidays, and stay active well into old age. Elders are valued in their families and feel needed—something the centenarians themselves point to as important. It’s hard to ignore how much that sense of purpose seems to matter.

Scientists keep probing the phenomenon

Several years ago, Abkhazia launched a dedicated study of longevity. Researchers gathered data on people aged 90, 100 and beyond, planning a detailed database to pinpoint what shapes such long lives. The project paused during the pandemic, but it is set to resume.

In interviews, Abkhaz researchers say new centenarians appear every year. Almost all live among relatives, care for loved ones, and handle simple household tasks. Some, well into their nineties, still refuse to sit still. One woman over 100, they recall, felt embarrassed she hadn’t set the table for guests—proof that caring for others can remain second nature even at that age. Small scenes like this say more than any statistic.

The takeaway

In Abkhazia, longevity feels less like a number in a passport and more like a feature of daily life. People keep moving, grow old within families that respect them, eat simply, and treat life with composure. Scientists haven’t pinned down a single cause, and the research continues. Meanwhile, these accounts nudge us to look closer at our own routines: perhaps a long life begins with how we live each day.