The world's oldest person has died of natural causes in Japan at the grand old age of 116.

Jiroemon Kimura, born in Kyotango in 1897, was also the oldest man to have ever lived.

He had seven children, 14 grandchildren, 25 great-grand children and 14 great-great grandchildren.

Mr Kimura worked at a post office for about 40 years, and after his retirement took up farming until the age of 90.

However he's well off the all-time record set by French woman Jeanne Calment - she popped off at the age of 122.

One tweeter reacts to the news:

Another World's Oldest Man has died. This is beginning to look suspicious.

— Mr Roger Quimbly (@RogerQuimbly) June 12, 2013