Female and male life expectancy at birth in years in South Sudan
South Sudan: Female and male life expectancy at birth in years was 54.64 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Female and male life expectancy at birth in years in South Sudan, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for female and male life expectancy at birth in years in South Sudan is 54.64, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.6% on the previous year and down 3.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female and male life expectancy at birth in years in South Sudan peaked at 56.95 in 2012 and was at its lowest, 10.65, in 1988.
That places South Sudan 233rd out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 74 years of available data.
Female and male life expectancy at birth in years in South Sudan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 28.13 | — |
| 1951 | 28.5 | +1.3% |
| 1952 | 28.9 | +1.4% |
| 1953 | 29.27 | +1.3% |
| 1954 | 29.62 | +1.2% |
| 1955 | 30.01 | +1.3% |
| 1956 | 29.49 | -1.7% |
| 1957 | 28.79 | -2.4% |
| 1958 | 25.51 | -11.4% |
| 1959 | 25.75 | +0.9% |
| 1960 | 25.99 | +0.9% |
| 1961 | 26.24 | +0.9% |
| 1962 | 26.53 | +1.1% |
| 1963 | 25.36 | -4.4% |
| 1964 | 30.29 | +19.4% |
| 1965 | 25.93 | -14.4% |
| 1966 | 22.46 | -13.4% |
| 1967 | 22.66 | +0.9% |
| 1968 | 22.9 | +1.0% |
| 1969 | 22.12 | -3.4% |
| 1970 | 22.33 | +1.0% |
| 1971 | 28.3 | +26.7% |
| 1972 | 28.63 | +1.2% |
| 1973 | 35.1 | +22.6% |
| 1974 | 35.53 | +1.2% |
| 1975 | 35.9 | +1.0% |
| 1976 | 36.21 | +0.9% |
| 1977 | 36.46 | +0.7% |
| 1978 | 36.8 | +0.9% |
| 1979 | 37.12 | +0.9% |
| 1980 | 37.47 | +0.9% |
| 1981 | 37.8 | +0.9% |
| 1982 | 38.17 | +1.0% |
| 1983 | 33.66 | -11.8% |
| 1984 | 30.34 | -9.9% |
| 1985 | 30.81 | +1.5% |
| 1986 | 31.16 | +1.1% |
| 1987 | 18.89 | -39.4% |
| 1988 | 10.65 | -43.6% |
| 1989 | 26.13 | +145.4% |
| 1990 | 26.44 | +1.2% |
| 1991 | 26.9 | +1.8% |
| 1992 | 19.89 | -26.1% |
| 1993 | 20.13 | +1.2% |
| 1994 | 43.09 | +114.1% |
| 1995 | 29.2 | -32.2% |
| 1996 | 29.88 | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 30.9 | +3.4% |
| 1998 | 17.58 | -43.1% |
| 1999 | 43.21 | +145.8% |
| 2000 | 46.55 | +7.7% |
| 2001 | 47.5 | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 48.45 | +2.0% |
| 2003 | 51.77 | +6.9% |
| 2004 | 52.54 | +1.5% |
| 2005 | 53.39 | +1.6% |
| 2006 | 53.91 | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 54.61 | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 55.34 | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 55.82 | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 56.37 | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 56.31 | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 56.95 | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 56.83 | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 42.69 | -24.9% |
| 2015 | 36.94 | -13.5% |
| 2016 | 33.81 | -8.5% |
| 2017 | 32.41 | -4.2% |
| 2018 | 49.15 | +51.7% |
| 2019 | 55.73 | +13.4% |
| 2020 | 54.84 | -1.6% |
| 2021 | 54.37 | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 54.29 | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 54.64 | +0.6% |
South Sudan compared with similar countries
- South Sudan's 54.64 is below the median for low income countries, which is 61.66, 89% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- South Sudan's 54.64 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 62.07, 88% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Female and male life expectancy at birth in years in South Sudan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | +145.8% | 17.58 | 43.21 |
| 1989 | +145.4% | 10.65 | 26.13 |
| 1994 | +114.1% | 20.13 | 43.09 |
| 2018 | +51.7% | 32.41 | 49.15 |
| 1988 | -43.6% | 18.89 | 10.65 |
| 1998 | -43.1% | 30.9 | 17.58 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 28.4 | 25.51 | 30.01 | 10 |
| 1960s | 25.05 | 22.12 | 30.29 | 10 |
| 1970s | 33.24 | 22.33 | 37.12 | 10 |
| 1980s | 29.51 | 10.65 | 38.17 | 10 |
| 1990s | 28.72 | 17.58 | 43.21 | 10 |
| 2000s | 51.99 | 46.55 | 55.82 | 10 |
| 2010s | 47.72 | 32.41 | 56.95 | 10 |
| 2020s | 54.53 | 54.29 | 54.84 | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Sudan
More health data for South Sudan
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.47 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.665 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 12,029 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 57 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.93 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2015)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0637 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.92 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2015)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0654 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female and male life expectancy at birth in years in South Sudan?
- Female and male life expectancy at birth in years in South Sudan was 54.64 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female and male life expectancy at birth in years recorded in South Sudan?
- The highest recorded value was 56.95 in 2012.
- What is the lowest female and male life expectancy at birth in years recorded in South Sudan?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.65 in 1988.
- How does South Sudan rank for female and male life expectancy at birth in years?
- South Sudan ranks 233rd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is female and male life expectancy at birth in years rising or falling in South Sudan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Sudan data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Female and male life expectancy at birth in years. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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