Life expectancy at birth, total (years) (Life World Population) in South Sudan
South Sudan: Life expectancy at birth, total (years) (Life World Population) was 57.74 years in 2024. ▲ Rising
Life expectancy at birth, total in South Sudan, 1960–2024
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in years.
Analysis
The most recent figure for life expectancy at birth, total in South Sudan is 57.74 years, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 26.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, life expectancy at birth, total in South Sudan peaked at 58.28 years in 2013 and was at its lowest, 10.99 years, in 1988.
That places South Sudan 215th out of 218 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 65 years of available data.
Life expectancy at birth, total (years) (Life World Population) in South Sudan, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 28.05 years | — |
| 1961 | 28.28 years | +0.8% |
| 1962 | 28.51 years | +0.8% |
| 1963 | 28.25 years | -0.9% |
| 1964 | 32.46 years | +14.9% |
| 1965 | 28.78 years | -11.3% |
| 1966 | 25.63 years | -10.9% |
| 1967 | 25.86 years | +0.9% |
| 1968 | 26.1 years | +0.9% |
| 1969 | 25.4 years | -2.7% |
| 1970 | 25.63 years | +0.9% |
| 1971 | 30.99 years | +20.9% |
| 1972 | 31.29 years | +1.0% |
| 1973 | 36.28 years | +15.9% |
| 1974 | 36.59 years | +0.9% |
| 1975 | 36.87 years | +0.8% |
| 1976 | 37.09 years | +0.6% |
| 1977 | 37.4 years | +0.8% |
| 1978 | 37.59 years | +0.5% |
| 1979 | 37.8 years | +0.6% |
| 1980 | 38.03 years | +0.6% |
| 1981 | 38.31 years | +0.7% |
| 1982 | 38.68 years | +1.0% |
| 1983 | 34.73 years | -10.2% |
| 1984 | 31.79 years | -8.5% |
| 1985 | 32.36 years | +1.8% |
| 1986 | 32.82 years | +1.4% |
| 1987 | 20.72 years | -36.9% |
| 1988 | 10.99 years | -47.0% |
| 1989 | 28.22 years | +156.8% |
| 1990 | 28.63 years | +1.5% |
| 1991 | 29.18 years | +1.9% |
| 1992 | 21.94 years | -24.8% |
| 1993 | 22.26 years | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 44.86 years | +101.5% |
| 1995 | 31.51 years | -29.8% |
| 1996 | 32.12 years | +1.9% |
| 1997 | 33.07 years | +2.9% |
| 1998 | 19.05 years | -42.4% |
| 1999 | 44.54 years | +133.8% |
| 2000 | 47.59 years | +6.9% |
| 2001 | 48.55 years | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 49.39 years | +1.7% |
| 2003 | 52.32 years | +5.9% |
| 2004 | 53.05 years | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 53.97 years | +1.7% |
| 2006 | 54.65 years | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 55.42 years | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 56.28 years | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 56.85 years | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 57.48 years | +1.1% |
| 2011 | 57.67 years | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 58.24 years | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 58.28 years | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 45.62 years | -21.7% |
| 2015 | 39.76 years | -12.9% |
| 2016 | 36.72 years | -7.6% |
| 2017 | 35.35 years | -3.7% |
| 2018 | 51.91 years | +46.8% |
| 2019 | 58.13 years | +12.0% |
| 2020 | 57.65 years | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 57.05 years | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 57.2 years | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 57.62 years | +0.7% |
| 2024 | 57.74 years | +0.2% |
South Sudan compared with similar countries
- South Sudan's 57.74 years is below the median for low income countries, which is 63.84 years, 90% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- South Sudan's 57.74 years is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 64.26 years, 90% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Life expectancy at birth, total (years) (Life World Population) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | +156.8% | 10.99 years | 28.22 years |
| 1999 | +133.8% | 19.05 years | 44.54 years |
| 1994 | +101.5% | 22.26 years | 44.86 years |
| 1988 | -47.0% | 20.72 years | 10.99 years |
| 2018 | +46.8% | 35.35 years | 51.91 years |
| 1998 | -42.4% | 33.07 years | 19.05 years |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 27.73 years | 25.4 years | 32.46 years | 10 |
| 1970s | 34.75 years | 25.63 years | 37.8 years | 10 |
| 1980s | 30.66 years | 10.99 years | 38.68 years | 10 |
| 1990s | 30.72 years | 19.05 years | 44.86 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 52.81 years | 47.59 years | 56.85 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 49.92 years | 35.35 years | 58.28 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 57.45 years | 57.05 years | 57.74 years | 5 |
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)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,347 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 12,029 deaths (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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is life expectancy at birth, total in South Sudan?
- Life expectancy at birth, total in South Sudan was 57.74 years in 2024, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest life expectancy at birth, total recorded in South Sudan?
- The highest recorded value was 58.28 years in 2013.
- What is the lowest life expectancy at birth, total recorded in South Sudan?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.99 years in 1988.
- How does South Sudan rank for life expectancy at birth, total?
- South Sudan ranks 215th out of 218 countries with data for 2024.
- Is life expectancy at birth, total rising or falling in South Sudan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Sudan data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Life expectancy at birth, total (years). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Life expectancy at birth indicates the number of years a newborn infant would live if prevailing patterns of mortality at the time of its birth were to stay the same throughout its life.