Federal health officials reported on Thursday that the number of Americans aged 100 and above has gone up by 44% since 2000. The report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggested that in 2014, there were 72,197 of them, raised from 50,281 in 2000. They numbered just about 15,000 in 1980.

Even demographers looked impressed. William H. Frey, the senior demographer at the Brookings Institution, said, “There is certainly a wow factor here, that there are this many people in the United States over 100 years old. Not so long ago in our society, this was somewhat rare”.

There is not only a rise in the number of centenarians, but they are in fact living even longer lives. The report said that death rate has fallen for all demographic groups of centenarians, including white, black, Hispanic, female, male, in the six years until 2014.

Women, who generally live longer as compared to men, accounted for the vast majority of centenarians in 2014, with 80% presence.

The group of centenarians is a privileged one. Most people who took birth in 1900 died below 50. However, the survival probability to such ripe ages has seen an improvement due to the rise of vaccines and antibiotics, and enhancements in hygiene, medical treatments and technology. Though there are some exceptions, including the explosion of opioid overdose deaths lately has erased progress for a few groups mainly young and middle-age whites.

Central New York resident Malvina Hunt, who turned 100 in October, said that the secret behind her health was vigorous exercise. She does leg lifts and rapid arm raises every morning to get the blood flowing.

She said that the muscle that seems weak to her, she just give it a slight touch-up. She also bowls as it gives her a good workout.