Jonathan the tortoise is 194 and has lived through 39 of 45 US presidents, from Andrew Jackson to Trump
• Science
Key takeaways
- Jonathan has lived through the terms of 39 of the 45 presidents who have served the US administration.
- The US population has grown almost 25 times since he hatched: from 13.742 million to 342.864 million.
- When Jonathan was young, around 1850, the average life expectancy at birth among white Americans was roughly 38 years, which means that he has now lived about 5 times as long.
What America looked like in 1832
When Jonathan hatched, the US was an entirely different country compared to today—starting with its demographics. He hatched when Andrew Jackson was president. He had taken office in 1829 and would remain until 1837. The country was made up of 24 states, and the population was roughly 13.742 million. Now, with its 50 states, the US has a population 25 times that, reaching 342.864 million in 2026.
There is something to clear up: 1832 is a conservative estimate. It’s based on the tortoise’s arrival at Saint Helena in 1882. Jonathan was then at least 50 years old—a fully grown adult. But while his official date of birth is unknown, in 2022, Nigel Phillips, governor of Saint Helena, established his birthday on December 4, giving people an opportunity to celebrate his life.
US population growth (1820-2020) mapped alongside US presidents and the hatching of Jonathan
Dozens of presidents, one lifespan
Jonathan the tortoise has seen 39 different men serve as US presidents—87% of the total of 45.
He’s lived through many crucial historical events that have shaped the country. He was 29 when the American Civil War broke out, and in his 40s when the telephone was invented. He was just over 70 when the Wright brothers took their first powered flight.
He lived through both World Wars, aged 82 to 113, and the Apollo 11 Moon landing at 137. At 159, he saw the launch of the World Wide Web—and all the technological advancements that have since come along with it.
How many human lives fit in Jonathan’s?
It is estimated that in the mid-19th century, US life expectancy at birth among white Americans was roughly 38 years. Therefore, compared to the average white American born around the same time, Jonathan has lived about 5 times as long.
A life expectancy of 38 doesn’t mean that most adults died at 38; it was due to a high infant mortality rate (IMR)—roughly 216.8 per 1,000 live births. Those who survived childhood could live well into their 60s.
Now, with an IMR of around 5.5 per 1,000, US life expectancy at birth has more than doubled, reaching 79 years in 2024. But even with this impressive improvement, Jonathan’s lifespan is still almost 2.5 times the life expectancy of a person born in the US today.
How Jonathan keeps going
According to a recent epigenetic study published in Science Advances, Jonathan’s lifespan may be explained by highly efficient cellular mechanisms. Thanks to these, his body can repair DNA, regulate inflammation, and suppress cancer. Moreover, the energy production in his cells has been exceptionally stable over his whole life.
The US has been an independent country for 250 years. Jonathan has been alive for 78% of that time—and counting.
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