Life expectancy in South Africa
South Africa: Life expectancy was 65.25 years in 2020. ▲ Rising
Life expectancy in South Africa, 1870–2020
Source: Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
The most recent figure for life expectancy in South Africa is 65.25 years, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
The figure is up 10.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, life expectancy in South Africa peaked at 65.25 years in 2020 and was at its lowest, 30 years, in 1870.
South Africa ranks 126th of 162 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Life expectancy in South Africa, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 30 years | — |
| 1880 | 31.3 years | +4.3% |
| 1890 | 33.7 years | +7.7% |
| 1900 | 35 years | +3.9% |
| 1913 | 36.19 years | +3.4% |
| 1925 | 37 years | +2.2% |
| 1929 | 37.5 years | +1.4% |
| 1933 | 38.1 years | +1.6% |
| 1938 | 40 years | +5.0% |
| 1950 | 45 years | +12.5% |
| 1955 | 48 years | +6.7% |
| 1960 | 49.16 years | +2.4% |
| 1965 | 51.14 years | +4.0% |
| 1970 | 53.13 years | +3.9% |
| 1975 | 55.13 years | +3.8% |
| 1980 | 56.79 years | +3.0% |
| 1985 | 59.51 years | +4.8% |
| 1990 | 63.38 years | +6.5% |
| 1995 | 62.26 years | -1.8% |
| 2000 | 58.47 years | -6.1% |
| 2005 | 53.98 years | -7.7% |
| 2010 | 58.9 years | +9.1% |
| 2015 | 63.95 years | +8.6% |
| 2020 | 65.25 years | +2.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 30 years | 30 years | 30 years | 1 |
| 1880s | 31.3 years | 31.3 years | 31.3 years | 1 |
| 1890s | 33.7 years | 33.7 years | 33.7 years | 1 |
| 1900s | 35 years | 35 years | 35 years | 1 |
| 1910s | 36.19 years | 36.19 years | 36.19 years | 1 |
| 1920s | 37.25 years | 37 years | 37.5 years | 2 |
| 1930s | 39.05 years | 38.1 years | 40 years | 2 |
| 1950s | 46.5 years | 45 years | 48 years | 2 |
| 1960s | 50.15 years | 49.16 years | 51.14 years | 2 |
| 1970s | 54.13 years | 53.13 years | 55.13 years | 2 |
| 1980s | 58.15 years | 56.79 years | 59.51 years | 2 |
| 1990s | 62.82 years | 62.26 years | 63.38 years | 2 |
| 2000s | 56.23 years | 53.98 years | 58.47 years | 2 |
| 2010s | 61.42 years | 58.9 years | 63.95 years | 2 |
| 2020s | 65.25 years | 65.25 years | 65.25 years | 1 |
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)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,152 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 3,333 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 40-44, male, annual growth rate 3.07 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, per capita 0.0371 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, annual growth rate 4.05 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, per capita 0.0295 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is life expectancy in South Africa?
- Life expectancy in South Africa was 65.25 years in 2020, according to Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest life expectancy recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 65.25 years in 2020.
- What is the lowest life expectancy recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 30 years in 1870.
- How does South Africa rank for life expectancy?
- South Africa ranks 126th out of 162 countries with data for 2020.
- Is life expectancy rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Life expectancy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Average number of years a newborn would live if age-specific mortality rates in the current year were to stay the same throughout its life.