Life expectancy estimates and projections in South Africa
Life expectancy at birth in South Africa was 66.1 years in 2023. The value for 2023 is the highest in the series, which starts in 1950.
South Africa, 2023 (latest estimate)
66.1
Change from 2022
+1.0%
Median of G20 countries, 2023
78.7 years
Projection for 2030
67.3 years
Projection for 2050
70.3 years
Projection for 2100
77.3 years
Position in 2023
181st of 216
Life expectancy estimates and projections in South Africa over time
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South Africa
The chart loads when you scroll to it. The table below shows the same data.
The chart shows a calculation from the published values. The table below keeps the published values.
Years. Source: United Nations, DESA, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024. Gaps mean no published value; points are not joined across missing years. Dashed lines are projections.
| Period | South Africa |
|---|---|
| 2100 | 77.3 yearsf (Projection (medium variant)) |
| 2095 | 76.6 yearsf (Projection (medium variant)) |
| 2090 | 75.9 yearsf (Projection (medium variant)) |
| 2085 | 75.2 yearsf (Projection (medium variant)) |
| 2080 | 74.5 yearsf (Projection (medium variant)) |
| 2075 | 73.8 yearsf (Projection (medium variant)) |
| 2070 | 73.1 yearsf (Projection (medium variant)) |
| 2065 | 72.4 yearsf (Projection (medium variant)) |
| 2060 | 71.7 yearsf (Projection (medium variant)) |
| 2055 | 71.0 yearsf (Projection (medium variant)) |
| 2050 | 70.3 yearsf (Projection (medium variant)) |
| 2045 | 69.6 yearsf (Projection (medium variant)) |
| 2040 | 68.9 yearsf (Projection (medium variant)) |
| 2035 | 68.1 yearsf (Projection (medium variant)) |
| 2030 | 67.3 yearsf (Projection (medium variant)) |
| 2025 | 66.5 yearsf (Projection (medium variant)) |
| 2023 | 66.1 years |
| 2022 | 65.5 years |
| 2021 | 62.0 years |
| 2020 | 65.2 years |
| 2019 | 66.1 years |
| 2018 | 65.7 years |
| 2017 | 65.4 years |
| 2016 | 64.7 years |
| 2015 | 64.1 years |
| 2014 | 63.2 years |
Flags: f Projection (medium variant) . A dash means no value was published.
In short
- That is a change of +1.0% from 65.5 years in 2022.
- Since 2013, when it was 62.4 years, the figure has changed by +6.0%.
- Among the 216 countries with data for 2023, South Africa has the 181st highest value.