Healthy life expectancy at birth in South Africa
South Africa: Healthy life expectancy at birth was 52.76 in 2021. ▲ Rising
Healthy life expectancy at birth in South Africa, 2000–2021
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for healthy life expectancy at birth in South Africa is 52.76, measured in 2021.
That represents a change of down 4.1% on the previous year and up 3.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, healthy life expectancy at birth in South Africa peaked at 56.29 in 2019 and was at its lowest, 45.16, in 2005.
That places South Africa 174th out of 185 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Healthy life expectancy at birth in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 49.4 | — |
| 2001 | 48.34 | -2.1% |
| 2002 | 47.07 | -2.6% |
| 2003 | 45.94 | -2.4% |
| 2004 | 45.36 | -1.3% |
| 2005 | 45.16 | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 45.21 | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 45.85 | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 46.67 | +1.8% |
| 2009 | 47.77 | +2.4% |
| 2010 | 49.24 | +3.1% |
| 2011 | 50.84 | +3.3% |
| 2012 | 52.23 | +2.7% |
| 2013 | 53.27 | +2.0% |
| 2014 | 53.84 | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 54.25 | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 54.75 | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 55.45 | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 55.9 | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 56.29 | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 55.04 | -2.2% |
| 2021 | 52.76 | -4.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 52.76 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 63.16, 84% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 52.76 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 54.75, 96% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 46.68 | 45.16 | 49.4 | 10 |
| 2010s | 53.61 | 49.24 | 56.29 | 10 |
| 2020s | 53.9 | 52.76 | 55.04 | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More health data for South Africa
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.2 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1386 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 3,333 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.5504 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.045 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.0003 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.046 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is healthy life expectancy at birth in South Africa?
- Healthy life expectancy at birth in South Africa was 52.76 in 2021, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest healthy life expectancy at birth recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 56.29 in 2019.
- What is the lowest healthy life expectancy at birth recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 45.16 in 2005.
- How does South Africa rank for healthy life expectancy at birth?
- South Africa ranks 174th out of 185 countries with data for 2021.
- Is healthy life expectancy at birth rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Healthy life expectancy at birth. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 22 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).