Life expectancy at age 60 in South Africa

South Africa: Life expectancy at age 60 was 15.27 in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
15.27
Change on year
down 10.4%
World rank
163rd
of 184 countries
All-time high
18.71
in 2019
All-time low
15.27
in 2021
Years of data
22
2000–2021

Life expectancy at age 60 in South Africa, 2000–2021

051015202000201020212000: 172001: 16.92002: 16.62003: 16.42004: 16.42005: 16.42006: 16.32007: 16.42008: 16.52009: 16.62010: 16.72011: 172012: 17.32013: 17.62014: 17.62015: 17.62016: 17.82017: 18.12018: 18.32019: 18.72020: 172021: 15.3

Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.

Analysis

In 2021, life expectancy at age 60 in South Africa stood at 15.27. That is the lowest value across all 22 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 10.4% on the previous year and down 10.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, life expectancy at age 60 in South Africa peaked at 18.71 in 2019 and was at its lowest, 15.27, in 2021.

South Africa ranks 163rd of 184 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.

Life expectancy at age 60 in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Life expectancy at age 60 (years) in South Africa, 2000 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2000 17.01
2001 16.9 -0.6%
2002 16.64 -1.5%
2003 16.4 -1.5%
2004 16.44 +0.3%
2005 16.44 -0.0%
2006 16.35 -0.5%
2007 16.44 +0.5%
2008 16.5 +0.4%
2009 16.55 +0.3%
2010 16.71 +1.0%
2011 17.01 +1.8%
2012 17.33 +1.9%
2013 17.59 +1.5%
2014 17.63 +0.2%
2015 17.63 -0.0%
2016 17.76 +0.8%
2017 18.07 +1.7%
2018 18.3 +1.3%
2019 18.71 +2.2%
2020 17.04 -8.9%
2021 15.27 -10.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 16.57 16.35 17.01 10
2010s 17.67 16.71 18.71 10
2020s 16.16 15.27 17.04 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 160 Indonesia 15.4 compare
  2. 161 Democratic Republic of Congo 15.4 compare
  3. 162 Malawi 15.28 compare
  4. 164 Congo 15.18 compare
  5. 165 Haiti 15.17 compare
  6. 166 South Sudan 15.07 compare

See the full ranking of 196 places →

More health data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is life expectancy at age 60 in South Africa?
Life expectancy at age 60 in South Africa was 15.27 in 2021, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
What is the highest life expectancy at age 60 recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 18.71 in 2019.
What is the lowest life expectancy at age 60 recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 15.27 in 2021.
How does South Africa rank for life expectancy at age 60?
South Africa ranks 163rd out of 184 countries with data for 2021.
Is life expectancy at age 60 rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 10.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Life expectancy at age 60 (years). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Life expectancy at age 60 in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. Retrieved 28 August 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/life-expectancy-at-age-60-years/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Life expectancy at age 60 (years)
Source
World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO)
Coverage
196 places, 4,312 data points, 2000–2021
Last refreshed