People are living longer on average but the very oldest have not become any older over the last 30 years, Dutch researchers say.

Statistical research by researchers from Tilburg and Erasmus universities show that although the number of people reaching the age of 95 has tripled, there is no increase in the maximum life span.

The researchers base their conclusion on precise ages at death of 75,000 Dutch people who died in the last 30 years after reaching at least the age of 94.

Their Extreme Value Theory shows that a clear ceiling exists for the maximum age to which people could live – for women it is estimated at 115.7 years and for men at 114.1 years.

This maximum age has not increased between1986 until 2015, even though the number of people reaching the age of 95 almost trebled, the researchers say.

‘There is certainly some kind of wall here,’ professor John Einmahl, one of three scientists involved in the study, told news agency AFP.

People reaching the age of 65 in the Netherlands this year are forecast to reach an average age of 84, if female, and 80 if male.