Former US President Jimmy Carter dies aged 100

Former US President Jimmy Carter has died aged 100, the centre he founded has confirmed.

The former peanut farmer lived longer than any president in history and celebrated his 100th birthday in October.

The Carter Center, which advocates for democracy and human rights around the world, said he died on Sunday afternoon at his home in Plains, Georgia.

The Democrat served as president from 1977 to 1981, a period beset by economic and diplomatic crises.

After leaving the White House with low approval ratings, his reputation was restored through humanitarian work which earned him the Nobel Peace Prize.

Mr Carter, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, who was president between 1976 and 1981, is survived by his children Jack, Chip, Jeff, and Amy, 11 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.

Carter is survived by his four children, 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

His wife, Rosalynn, who he was married to for 77 years, died in November 2023.

Related: Rosalynn Carter, mental health activist, humanitarian and Jimmy Carter's wife, dies at 96

His son Chip Carter said: "My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love.

"The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honouring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs."

"My brothers, sister, and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honouring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs."

In February last year it was revealed Mr Carter was receiving hospice care and would "spend his remaining time at home with his family".

He had decided against "additional medical intervention" following a series of brief hospital stays, the Carter Centre said in a statement at the time.

Mr Carter, a Democrat, became the 39th US president when he defeated former president Gerald Ford in 1976.

The Georgia native served a single term as president and was defeated by Republican Ronald Reagan in 1980.

The final year of his administration was dominated by a hostage crisis in Iran, when 52 Americans were taken captive at the US embassy in November 1979.

On the day he left office, 20 January 1981, the hostages were released. Carter had continued negotiations behind the scenes, even after his election defeat.

In 2002 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to avoid conflict around the world.

Mr Carter conducted diplomatic missions into his 80s and was involved in building houses for the poor well into his 90s.

"My faith demands - this is not optional - my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can, with whatever I have to try to make a difference," Mr Carter once said.

When his wife of 77 years, Rosalynn Carter, died aged 96, in November 2023, the former president went to the memorial service held in her honour in Atlanta, Georgia.

He wore a blue and white blanket which was embroidered with her face.