Mens life expectancy at birth in South Africa
South Africa: Mens life expectancy at birth was 62.61 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
62.61
Change on year
up 1.3%
World rank
207th
of 236 countries
All-time high
62.7
in 2019
All-time low
42.18
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Mens life expectancy at birth in South Africa, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, mens life expectancy at birth in South Africa stood at 62.61.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.3% on the previous year and up 5.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mens life expectancy at birth in South Africa peaked at 62.7 in 2019 and was at its lowest, 42.18, in 1950.
That places South Africa 207th 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.
Mens life expectancy at birth in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 42.18 | — |
| 1951 | 43.07 | +2.1% |
| 1952 | 43.98 | +2.1% |
| 1953 | 44.89 | +2.1% |
| 1954 | 45.84 | +2.1% |
| 1955 | 46.82 | +2.1% |
| 1956 | 47.74 | +2.0% |
| 1957 | 48.61 | +1.8% |
| 1958 | 49.51 | +1.8% |
| 1959 | 50.17 | +1.4% |
| 1960 | 50.82 | +1.3% |
| 1961 | 51.19 | +0.7% |
| 1962 | 51.71 | +1.0% |
| 1963 | 51.99 | +0.6% |
| 1964 | 52.31 | +0.6% |
| 1965 | 52.49 | +0.4% |
| 1966 | 52.76 | +0.5% |
| 1967 | 52.93 | +0.3% |
| 1968 | 53.12 | +0.4% |
| 1969 | 53.32 | +0.4% |
| 1970 | 53.5 | +0.3% |
| 1971 | 53.82 | +0.6% |
| 1972 | 54.22 | +0.7% |
| 1973 | 54.58 | +0.7% |
| 1974 | 54.97 | +0.7% |
| 1975 | 55.48 | +0.9% |
| 1976 | 55.79 | +0.6% |
| 1977 | 56.16 | +0.7% |
| 1978 | 56.64 | +0.9% |
| 1979 | 57.06 | +0.7% |
| 1980 | 57.45 | +0.7% |
| 1981 | 57.89 | +0.8% |
| 1982 | 58.31 | +0.7% |
| 1983 | 58.69 | +0.7% |
| 1984 | 59.03 | +0.6% |
| 1985 | 59.23 | +0.3% |
| 1986 | 59.31 | +0.1% |
| 1987 | 59.54 | +0.4% |
| 1988 | 59.6 | +0.1% |
| 1989 | 59.65 | +0.1% |
| 1990 | 59.48 | -0.3% |
| 1991 | 59.49 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 59.37 | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 59.11 | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 58.8 | -0.5% |
| 1995 | 58.28 | -0.9% |
| 1996 | 57.78 | -0.9% |
| 1997 | 57.22 | -1.0% |
| 1998 | 56.72 | -0.9% |
| 1999 | 56.11 | -1.1% |
| 2000 | 55.41 | -1.2% |
| 2001 | 54.58 | -1.5% |
| 2002 | 53.22 | -2.5% |
| 2003 | 51.99 | -2.3% |
| 2004 | 51.91 | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 52.09 | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 52.23 | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 52.72 | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 53.51 | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 54.82 | +2.4% |
| 2010 | 56.2 | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 57.73 | +2.7% |
| 2012 | 58.71 | +1.7% |
| 2013 | 59.23 | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 59.91 | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 60.8 | +1.5% |
| 2016 | 61.33 | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 61.98 | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 62.3 | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 62.7 | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 62.17 | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 59.19 | -4.8% |
| 2022 | 61.81 | +4.4% |
| 2023 | 62.61 | +1.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 62.61 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 70.5, 89% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 62.61 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 62.07, 1.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 46.28 | 42.18 | 50.17 | 10 |
| 1960s | 52.26 | 50.82 | 53.32 | 10 |
| 1970s | 55.22 | 53.5 | 57.06 | 10 |
| 1980s | 58.87 | 57.45 | 59.65 | 10 |
| 1990s | 58.23 | 56.11 | 59.49 | 10 |
| 2000s | 53.25 | 51.91 | 55.41 | 10 |
| 2010s | 60.09 | 56.2 | 62.7 | 10 |
| 2020s | 61.45 | 59.19 | 62.61 | 4 |
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 mens life expectancy at birth in South Africa?
- Mens life expectancy at birth in South Africa was 62.61 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest mens life expectancy at birth recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 62.7 in 2019.
- What is the lowest mens life expectancy at birth recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 42.18 in 1950.
- How does South Africa rank for mens life expectancy at birth?
- South Africa ranks 207th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is mens life expectancy at birth rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.7%. 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 Mens life expectancy at birth. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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