Summary

• Avatar: The Last Airbender franchise explores the history of Avatars like Wan, who initiated the Avatar Cycle, and other notable Avatars.
• Kuruk lived a short life but fought dark spirits, while Kyoshi became the oldest human in history at 230 years old.
• Aang, trapped in an iceberg for a century, lived to be 165 years old, while Korra is the current Avatar at least 21 years old.

Thousands of Avatars have presumably lived throughout Avatar: The Last Airbender's story, but only a handful of them are known - and among those, some have lived much longer lives than others. While bits and pieces of the Avatar's history were revealed in The Last Airbender series, the Avatar's origins weren't explored fully until The Legend of Korra. In season 2, Korra spent some time learning about Avatar: The Last Airbender's Spirit World and how the spirits of light (Raava) and darkness (Vatuu) brought balance to everything.

10,000 years before The Legend of Korra, Wan became the first Avatar after severing the bond between the spirits Raava and Vaatu, inadvertently releasing darkness into the world. Banished from his home for keeping the power of firebending from a lion turtle, Wan's quest for the other elements led him to merge with Raava, battling Vaatu and learning to master all four elements. This union initiated the Avatar Cycle, with Raava's spirit reincarnating upon Wan's death. Wan and Raava continued to work towards maintaining global balance until Wan's passing, marking the beginning of an ongoing legacy.

Wan

He Was Born In 9850 BG

Wan was the first Avatar and he began the Avatar Cycle that continues thousands of years later. Wan was born in the year 9,850 BG, though it's unclear how long he lived for. He was 20 years old when he met and bound with Raava, and he appeared to be middle-aged when he died. It stands to reason, then, that Wan lived until he was at least 40 years old, though that has yet to be confirmed.

Yangchen

She Died In 345 BG

Not much is known about the Avatars who arrived after Wan - until Yangchen's time. Yangchen was the previous Airbender who became the Avatar before Aang. She succeeded Avatar Szeto and spent most of her life trying to maintain peace and balance in the world, either through wisdom or aggression (despite growing up as a pacifist). Although it's unclear how old she lived to be since her birthdate has never been revealed, it's been confirmed that she died in 345 BG. Like Wan, she lived to be at least middle-aged, based on information gleaned from the shows and graphic novels.

Kuruk

Kuruk Was 33 Years Old When He Died In 312 BG

Kuruk was the previous Avatar who hailed from one of the water tribes - before Korra's time - but unfortunately, he was also one of the Avatars who lived a short life. Born in 345 BG, Kuruk spent most of his time traveling the world and taking on dark spirits so others didn't have to. Combined with the high stresses of his daily and solitary life, Kuruk's mission took its toll on him until he ultimately died at the age of 33 years old in 312 BG.

Kyoshi

She Was 230 Years Old When She Died In 82 BG

The odds of being born the Avatar are next to impossible, but to then become not only the longest-living Avatar but the oldest human on the planet is something else entirely. That's exactly what makes Kyoshi unique, not including the many feats she accomplished in her years. Kyoshi was born in 312 BG and lived until 82 BG, thus making her 230 years old at the time of her death. The secret to her long life was never confirmed, though there have been hints that she learned how to become immortal from her spiritual teacher, Lao Ge.

Roku

Roku Was 70 When He Died In 12 BG

Unlike those who lived short or abnormally long lives, Roku's life span was relatively normal. He was born in the year 82 BG and lived until 12 BG, just over a decade before the Hundred Year War began. It was Roku's hesitancy to kill his childhood friend, Fire Lord Sozin, that ultimately led to the war beginning.

However, the decades he spent fighting as the Avatar brought balance to the world, and he continued to offer his wisdom to his successor, Aang, long after his death. However, his legacy also carried through to Avatar: The Last Airbender's Zuko, his grandson. Despite not having a show of his own, nor books dedicated to him, Roku's influence on the world of Avatar has been nothing short of extraordinary.

Aang

Aang Was 165 Years Old When He Died In 153 AG

Aang lived much longer than anyone would've anticipated, which was entirely due to the fact that he was trapped in an iceberg for a century. Aang was born in 12 BG and went into the ice when he was 12 years old. He reemerged 100 years later when Katara broke the iceberg with her waterbending powers. While Avatar: The Last Airbender only follows Aang for about a year of his life, the franchise's graphic novels chronicle the rest of his journey. Aang lived to be 165 years old (only 66 years old biologically), dying in the year 153 AG.

Korra

Korra Is At Least 21 Years Old

Korra is the current Avatar and is at least 21 years old, as of the end of the Legend of Korra series. Her main story ended when the series wrapped up after season 4, but her journey has been continued through Avatar: The Last Airbender graphic novels. Given that Korra can no longer access the Avatar's past lives since they were stripped away from Raava, it's possible the next Avatar won't be able to communicate with Korra. But it's also plausible she began a new Avatar Cycle when she rebounded herself with Raava after the Dark Avatar's defeat.