South Africa ranks 164/197 for average life expectancy at birth, with 63.1 years for males, 70.2 years for females, and 66.7 years for both sexes combined.
South Africa life expectancy at birth by year
| Year | Life expectancy, years | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Male | Female | |
| 2026 | 66.7 | 63.1 | 70.2 |
| 2025 | 66.5 | 63 | 70 |
| 2024 | 66.3 | 62.8 | 69.8 |
| 2023 | 66.1 | 62.6 | 69.6 |
| 2022 | 65.5 | 61.8 | 69 |
| 2021 | 62 | 59.2 | 64.8 |
| 2020 | 65.2 | 62.2 | 67.9 |
| 2019 | 66.1 | 62.7 | 69.2 |
| 2018 | 65.7 | 62.3 | 68.9 |
| 2017 | 65.4 | 62 | 68.6 |
| 2016 | 64.7 | 61.3 | 67.9 |
| 2015 | 64.1 | 60.8 | 67 |
| 2014 | 63.2 | 59.9 | 66.2 |
| 2013 | 62.4 | 59.2 | 65.2 |
| 2012 | 61.7 | 58.7 | 64.4 |
| 2011 | 60.6 | 57.7 | 63.1 |
| 2010 | 58.9 | 56.2 | 61.2 |
| 2009 | 57.4 | 54.8 | 59.7 |
| 2008 | 56 | 53.5 | 58.1 |
| 2007 | 54.9 | 52.7 | 56.9 |
| 2006 | 54.2 | 52.2 | 55.9 |
| 2005 | 53.9 | 52.1 | 55.5 |
| 2004 | 54 | 51.9 | 55.8 |
| 2003 | 54.2 | 52 | 56.3 |
| 2002 | 55.6 | 53.2 | 57.7 |
| 2001 | 57.2 | 54.6 | 59.5 |
| 2000 | 58.4 | 55.4 | 61.1 |
| 1999 | 59.2 | 56.1 | 62 |
| 1998 | 59.9 | 56.7 | 62.9 |
| 1997 | 60.5 | 57.2 | 63.7 |
| 1996 | 61.1 | 57.8 | 64.5 |
| 1995 | 61.6 | 58.3 | 65.2 |
| 1994 | 62.1 | 58.8 | 66 |
| 1993 | 62.6 | 59.1 | 66.5 |
| 1992 | 62.8 | 59.4 | 66.8 |
| 1991 | 63 | 59.5 | 67 |
| 1990 | 62.9 | 59.5 | 66.9 |
| 1989 | 63 | 59.6 | 66.8 |
| 1988 | 62.9 | 59.6 | 66.6 |
| 1987 | 62.7 | 59.5 | 66.2 |
| 1986 | 62.4 | 59.3 | 65.9 |
| 1985 | 62.2 | 59.2 | 65.5 |
| 1984 | 61.8 | 59 | 64.9 |
| 1983 | 61.4 | 58.7 | 64.4 |
| 1982 | 60.9 | 58.3 | 63.8 |
| 1981 | 60.4 | 57.9 | 63.3 |
| 1980 | 60 | 57.5 | 62.7 |
| 1979 | 59.5 | 57.1 | 62.1 |
| 1978 | 59 | 56.6 | 61.6 |
| 1977 | 58.5 | 56.2 | 61 |
| 1976 | 58 | 55.8 | 60.4 |
| 1975 | 57.6 | 55.5 | 59.9 |
| 1974 | 57.1 | 55 | 59.4 |
| 1973 | 56.7 | 54.6 | 59 |
| 1972 | 56.4 | 54.2 | 58.7 |
| 1971 | 56 | 53.8 | 58.4 |
| 1970 | 55.7 | 53.5 | 58.1 |
| 1969 | 55.4 | 53.3 | 57.8 |
| 1968 | 55.2 | 53.1 | 57.5 |
| 1967 | 55 | 52.9 | 57.2 |
| 1966 | 54.7 | 52.8 | 56.9 |
| 1965 | 54.4 | 52.5 | 56.6 |
| 1964 | 54.2 | 52.3 | 56.4 |
| 1963 | 53.9 | 52 | 56 |
| 1962 | 53.6 | 51.7 | 55.7 |
| 1961 | 53.1 | 51.2 | 55.2 |
| 1960 | 52.6 | 50.8 | 54.6 |
| 1959 | 51.9 | 50.2 | 53.8 |
| 1958 | 51.1 | 49.5 | 53 |
| 1957 | 50.2 | 48.6 | 52 |
| 1956 | 49.2 | 47.7 | 50.9 |
| 1955 | 48.2 | 46.8 | 49.7 |
| 1954 | 47.1 | 45.8 | 48.6 |
| 1953 | 46.1 | 44.9 | 47.4 |
| 1952 | 45 | 44 | 46.2 |
| 1951 | 44.1 | 43.1 | 45.2 |
| 1950 | 43.1 | 42.2 | 44.1 |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).
GeoRank.org/life-expectancy/south-africa | CC BY 
Life expectancy is the average age of death for a hypothetical cohort of newborns if they experienced the age-specific mortality rates of one particular year throughout their entire lives. It's a snapshot reflecting mortality rates in a given year that does not account for any future changes in those rates.
In South Africa, healthy life expectancy at birth, defined by the World Health Organization as the average number of years a person can expect to live in full health, is 51.7 years for men and 53.8 for women, with a combined average of 52.8 years. People who reach 60 can expect an additional 11.3 healthy years, 10.9 for males and 11.5 for females.
South Africa life expectancy calculator
This life expectancy calculator shows the odds of living to 100, 95, 90, and below based on current age for both males and females in South Africa, along with mean and median age of death. The calculations are based on the 2026 life tables (actuarial tables) from the UN World Population Prospects.
Mean remaining life expectancy: 40.6 Years
Mean expected age of death: 70.6 Years
Median expected age of death: 72.5 Years
Odds of living to
| Target age | Survival probability | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | Male | Female | |
| 40 | 94.6% | 93.6% | 95.5% |
| 50 | 86.3% | 83.6% | 88.9% |
| 60 | 73.7% | 68.1% | 79.2% |
| 65 | 65.4% | 58.1% | 72.5% |
| 70 | 55.4% | 46.7% | 63.7% |
| 75 | 44.3% | 35.1% | 53.0% |
| 80 | 32.4% | 24.0% | 40.5% |
| 85 | 21.6% | 14.9% | 27.9% |
| 90 | 12.2% | 7.8% | 16.1% |
| 95 | 5.4% | 3.3% | 7.3% |
| 100 | 1.8% | 1.1% | 2.4% |
Odds of dying at each age
| Age | Probability of dying | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | Male | Female | |
| 100 | 23.6% | 22.9% | 23.9% |
| 99 | 22.5% | 22% | 22.8% |
| 98 | 21.3% | 21% | 21.5% |
| 97 | 20.2% | 20% | 20.2% |
| 96 | 19% | 19.1% | 19% |
| 95 | 18% | 18.2% | 17.9% |
| 94 | 16.9% | 17.3% | 16.8% |
| 93 | 15.9% | 16.5% | 15.6% |
| 92 | 14.8% | 15.6% | 14.5% |
| 91 | 13.8% | 14.8% | 13.5% |
| 90 | 13% | 14.1% | 12.6% |
| 89 | 12.3% | 13.5% | 11.8% |
| 88 | 11.5% | 12.8% | 11.1% |
| 87 | 10.8% | 12.1% | 10.3% |
| 86 | 10.1% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| 85 | 9.43% | 10.7% | 8.88% |
| 84 | 8.78% | 10% | 8.21% |
| 83 | 8.21% | 9.46% | 7.62% |
| 82 | 7.71% | 8.97% | 7.1% |
| 81 | 7.3% | 8.57% | 6.66% |
| 80 | 6.96% | 8.26% | 6.28% |
| 79 | 6.67% | 8% | 5.94% |
| 78 | 6.37% | 7.73% | 5.61% |
| 77 | 6.06% | 7.42% | 5.26% |
| 76 | 5.71% | 7.05% | 4.89% |
| 75 | 5.35% | 6.64% | 4.53% |
| 74 | 4.98% | 6.22% | 4.17% |
| 73 | 4.64% | 5.83% | 3.85% |
| 72 | 4.34% | 5.49% | 3.57% |
| 71 | 4.09% | 5.2% | 3.33% |
| 70 | 3.87% | 4.95% | 3.12% |
| 69 | 3.67% | 4.72% | 2.92% |
| 68 | 3.48% | 4.5% | 2.74% |
| 67 | 3.28% | 4.28% | 2.55% |
| 66 | 3.08% | 4.04% | 2.37% |
| 65 | 2.88% | 3.79% | 2.19% |
| 64 | 2.68% | 3.55% | 2.03% |
| 63 | 2.5% | 3.32% | 1.88% |
| 62 | 2.34% | 3.11% | 1.75% |
| 61 | 2.2% | 2.93% | 1.65% |
| 60 | 2.08% | 2.76% | 1.55% |
| 59 | 1.98% | 2.61% | 1.47% |
| 58 | 1.88% | 2.47% | 1.39% |
| 57 | 1.78% | 2.33% | 1.32% |
| 56 | 1.68% | 2.2% | 1.24% |
| 55 | 1.58% | 2.07% | 1.16% |
| 54 | 1.49% | 1.94% | 1.09% |
| 53 | 1.4% | 1.83% | 1.02% |
| 52 | 1.32% | 1.72% | 0.96% |
| 51 | 1.25% | 1.62% | 0.91% |
| 50 | 1.19% | 1.52% | 0.87% |
| 49 | 1.13% | 1.44% | 0.84% |
| 48 | 1.08% | 1.35% | 0.8% |
| 47 | 1.03% | 1.28% | 0.78% |
| 46 | 0.98% | 1.2% | 0.75% |
| 45 | 0.93% | 1.13% | 0.73% |
| 44 | 0.88% | 1.07% | 0.7% |
| 43 | 0.84% | 1.01% | 0.68% |
| 42 | 0.8% | 0.95% | 0.65% |
| 41 | 0.76% | 0.9% | 0.63% |
| 40 | 0.73% | 0.86% | 0.6% |
| 39 | 0.69% | 0.82% | 0.57% |
| 38 | 0.66% | 0.78% | 0.54% |
| 37 | 0.63% | 0.74% | 0.51% |
| 36 | 0.6% | 0.71% | 0.49% |
| 35 | 0.57% | 0.67% | 0.46% |
| 34 | 0.54% | 0.64% | 0.44% |
| 33 | 0.51% | 0.61% | 0.42% |
| 32 | 0.49% | 0.58% | 0.4% |
| 31 | 0.46% | 0.55% | 0.38% |
| 30 | 0.44% | 0.52% | 0.36% |
| 29 | 0.41% | 0.5% | 0.33% |
| 28 | 0.39% | 0.47% | 0.31% |
| 27 | 0.36% | 0.44% | 0.28% |
| 26 | 0.33% | 0.41% | 0.25% |
| 25 | 0.3% | 0.38% | 0.23% |
| 24 | 0.28% | 0.35% | 0.2% |
| 23 | 0.25% | 0.32% | 0.18% |
| 22 | 0.23% | 0.29% | 0.17% |
| 21 | 0.21% | 0.26% | 0.15% |
| 20 | 0.19% | 0.23% | 0.14% |
| 19 | 0.16% | 0.2% | 0.13% |
| 18 | 0.14% | 0.18% | 0.11% |
| 17 | 0.12% | 0.15% | 0.1% |
| 16 | 0.11% | 0.12% | 0.09% |
| 15 | 0.09% | 0.1% | 0.07% |
| 14 | 0.07% | 0.09% | 0.06% |
| 13 | 0.06% | 0.07% | 0.05% |
| 12 | 0.05% | 0.06% | 0.04% |
| 11 | 0.04% | 0.05% | 0.04% |
| 10 | 0.04% | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| 9 | 0.04% | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| 8 | 0.04% | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| 7 | 0.04% | 0.05% | 0.04% |
| 6 | 0.05% | 0.06% | 0.04% |
| 5 | 0.07% | 0.08% | 0.06% |
| 4 | 0.1% | 0.11% | 0.08% |
| 3 | 0.15% | 0.17% | 0.12% |
| 2 | 0.22% | 0.25% | 0.2% |
| 1 | 0.35% | 0.38% | 0.32% |
| 0 | 2.19% | 2.44% | 1.93% |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).
GeoRank.org/life-expectancy/south-africa | CC BY
This chart displays the probability of dying at any given age, as mortality rates vary throughout a lifetime.
In South Africa, the risk of dying is lowest at age 9 and increases afterward. The annual chance of dying is 2.19% in the birth year, 0.44% at age 30, 2.08% at 60, and 6.96% at 80.
Aging is often defined as the increasing probability of death with age. If a 20-year-old in South Africa never aged and faced the same risk of dying every year, their life expectancy would be 539 years — 431 for males and 725 for females.
Life expectancy by current age
| Current age, years | Total life expectancy, years | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | Male | Female | |
| 100 | 103.4 | 103.1 | 103.5 |
| 99 | 102.5 | 102.3 | 102.6 |
| 98 | 101.7 | 101.5 | 101.7 |
| 97 | 100.8 | 100.7 | 100.9 |
| 96 | 100 | 99.9 | 100 |
| 95 | 99.2 | 99.1 | 99.2 |
| 94 | 98.4 | 98.3 | 98.4 |
| 93 | 97.6 | 97.5 | 97.7 |
| 92 | 96.9 | 96.7 | 96.9 |
| 91 | 96.1 | 96 | 96.2 |
| 90 | 95.4 | 95.2 | 95.5 |
| 89 | 94.7 | 94.4 | 94.8 |
| 88 | 94 | 93.7 | 94.1 |
| 87 | 93.3 | 92.9 | 93.4 |
| 86 | 92.6 | 92.2 | 92.7 |
| 85 | 91.9 | 91.5 | 92.1 |
| 84 | 91.3 | 90.8 | 91.5 |
| 83 | 90.6 | 90.1 | 90.9 |
| 82 | 90 | 89.4 | 90.3 |
| 81 | 89.4 | 88.7 | 89.7 |
| 80 | 88.8 | 88 | 89.1 |
| 79 | 88.1 | 87.4 | 88.5 |
| 78 | 87.5 | 86.7 | 88 |
| 77 | 86.9 | 86 | 87.4 |
| 76 | 86.3 | 85.3 | 86.9 |
| 75 | 85.7 | 84.7 | 86.4 |
| 74 | 85.2 | 84 | 85.9 |
| 73 | 84.6 | 83.4 | 85.4 |
| 72 | 84.1 | 82.8 | 84.9 |
| 71 | 83.6 | 82.2 | 84.5 |
| 70 | 83.1 | 81.7 | 84.1 |
| 69 | 82.6 | 81.1 | 83.6 |
| 68 | 82.1 | 80.5 | 83.2 |
| 67 | 81.6 | 80 | 82.8 |
| 66 | 81.2 | 79.4 | 82.4 |
| 65 | 80.7 | 78.9 | 82.1 |
| 64 | 80.3 | 78.4 | 81.7 |
| 63 | 79.9 | 77.9 | 81.4 |
| 62 | 79.4 | 77.4 | 81 |
| 61 | 79 | 76.9 | 80.7 |
| 60 | 78.7 | 76.5 | 80.4 |
| 59 | 78.3 | 76 | 80.1 |
| 58 | 77.9 | 75.6 | 79.8 |
| 57 | 77.5 | 75.2 | 79.5 |
| 56 | 77.2 | 74.8 | 79.2 |
| 55 | 76.9 | 74.4 | 78.9 |
| 54 | 76.5 | 74 | 78.7 |
| 53 | 76.2 | 73.6 | 78.4 |
| 52 | 75.9 | 73.3 | 78.2 |
| 51 | 75.6 | 72.9 | 77.9 |
| 50 | 75.3 | 72.6 | 77.7 |
| 49 | 75 | 72.2 | 77.4 |
| 48 | 74.7 | 71.9 | 77.2 |
| 47 | 74.4 | 71.6 | 77 |
| 46 | 74.2 | 71.3 | 76.7 |
| 45 | 73.9 | 71 | 76.5 |
| 44 | 73.6 | 70.7 | 76.3 |
| 43 | 73.4 | 70.4 | 76.1 |
| 42 | 73.1 | 70.2 | 75.8 |
| 41 | 72.9 | 69.9 | 75.6 |
| 40 | 72.6 | 69.7 | 75.4 |
| 39 | 72.4 | 69.4 | 75.2 |
| 38 | 72.2 | 69.2 | 75 |
| 37 | 72 | 68.9 | 74.8 |
| 36 | 71.8 | 68.7 | 74.6 |
| 35 | 71.6 | 68.5 | 74.5 |
| 34 | 71.4 | 68.3 | 74.3 |
| 33 | 71.2 | 68.1 | 74.1 |
| 32 | 71 | 67.9 | 73.9 |
| 31 | 70.8 | 67.7 | 73.8 |
| 30 | 70.6 | 67.5 | 73.6 |
| 29 | 70.4 | 67.3 | 73.5 |
| 28 | 70.3 | 67.1 | 73.3 |
| 27 | 70.1 | 66.9 | 73.2 |
| 26 | 70 | 66.8 | 73.1 |
| 25 | 69.9 | 66.6 | 73 |
| 24 | 69.7 | 66.5 | 72.9 |
| 23 | 69.6 | 66.3 | 72.8 |
| 22 | 69.5 | 66.2 | 72.7 |
| 21 | 69.4 | 66.1 | 72.6 |
| 20 | 69.3 | 66 | 72.6 |
| 19 | 69.2 | 65.9 | 72.5 |
| 18 | 69.2 | 65.8 | 72.4 |
| 17 | 69.1 | 65.7 | 72.4 |
| 16 | 69 | 65.7 | 72.3 |
| 15 | 69 | 65.6 | 72.3 |
| 14 | 68.9 | 65.6 | 72.3 |
| 13 | 68.9 | 65.5 | 72.2 |
| 12 | 68.9 | 65.5 | 72.2 |
| 11 | 68.9 | 65.5 | 72.2 |
| 10 | 68.8 | 65.4 | 72.2 |
| 9 | 68.8 | 65.4 | 72.1 |
| 8 | 68.8 | 65.4 | 72.1 |
| 7 | 68.8 | 65.4 | 72.1 |
| 6 | 68.7 | 65.3 | 72.1 |
| 5 | 68.7 | 65.3 | 72 |
| 4 | 68.6 | 65.2 | 72 |
| 3 | 68.5 | 65.1 | 71.9 |
| 2 | 68.4 | 64.9 | 71.8 |
| 1 | 68.1 | 64.7 | 71.5 |
| 0 | 66.7 | 63.1 | 70.2 |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).
GeoRank.org/life-expectancy/south-africa | CC BY
Life expectancy is often mistaken for the average lifespan of an adult. However, an adult has already survived the causes of early-age mortality and can expect to live longer than the figure calculated at birth.
In South Africa, a 65-year-old has a total life expectancy of 80.7 years, rising to 83.1 at 70, 85.7 at 75, and 88.8 at 80 — all higher than the 66.7 years calculated at birth.
The chart above accounts for remaining lifespan and displays total life expectancy by age and gender in South Africa.
Probability of surviving to a given age
| Age | Survival probability | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | Male | Female | |
| 100 | 1.63% | 1% | 2.22% |
| 99 | 2.11% | 1.28% | 2.88% |
| 98 | 2.68% | 1.62% | 3.67% |
| 97 | 3.36% | 2.02% | 4.59% |
| 96 | 4.15% | 2.5% | 5.67% |
| 95 | 5.06% | 3.06% | 6.91% |
| 94 | 6.09% | 3.7% | 8.3% |
| 93 | 7.24% | 4.43% | 9.84% |
| 92 | 8.49% | 5.25% | 11.5% |
| 91 | 9.86% | 6.16% | 13.3% |
| 90 | 11.3% | 7.18% | 15.2% |
| 89 | 12.9% | 8.29% | 17.3% |
| 88 | 14.6% | 9.51% | 19.4% |
| 87 | 16.4% | 10.8% | 21.7% |
| 86 | 18.2% | 12.2% | 24% |
| 85 | 20.1% | 13.7% | 26.3% |
| 84 | 22.1% | 15.2% | 28.6% |
| 83 | 24% | 16.8% | 31% |
| 82 | 26% | 18.5% | 33.4% |
| 81 | 28.1% | 20.2% | 35.8% |
| 80 | 30.2% | 22% | 38.2% |
| 79 | 32.3% | 23.9% | 40.6% |
| 78 | 34.6% | 25.9% | 43% |
| 77 | 36.8% | 28% | 45.4% |
| 76 | 39% | 30.1% | 47.7% |
| 75 | 41.2% | 32.3% | 50% |
| 74 | 43.4% | 34.4% | 52.1% |
| 73 | 45.5% | 36.6% | 54.2% |
| 72 | 47.5% | 38.7% | 56.2% |
| 71 | 49.6% | 40.8% | 58.2% |
| 70 | 51.6% | 42.9% | 60% |
| 69 | 53.5% | 45.1% | 61.9% |
| 68 | 55.5% | 47.2% | 63.6% |
| 67 | 57.3% | 49.3% | 65.3% |
| 66 | 59.2% | 51.4% | 66.8% |
| 65 | 60.9% | 53.4% | 68.3% |
| 64 | 62.6% | 55.4% | 69.8% |
| 63 | 64.2% | 57.3% | 71.1% |
| 62 | 65.7% | 59.1% | 72.4% |
| 61 | 67.2% | 60.9% | 73.6% |
| 60 | 68.7% | 62.6% | 74.7% |
| 59 | 70% | 64.3% | 75.9% |
| 58 | 71.4% | 65.9% | 76.9% |
| 57 | 72.7% | 67.5% | 78% |
| 56 | 73.9% | 69% | 78.9% |
| 55 | 75.1% | 70.5% | 79.9% |
| 54 | 76.2% | 71.9% | 80.7% |
| 53 | 77.3% | 73.2% | 81.6% |
| 52 | 78.4% | 74.5% | 82.4% |
| 51 | 79.4% | 75.7% | 83.1% |
| 50 | 80.3% | 76.9% | 83.9% |
| 49 | 81.2% | 78% | 84.6% |
| 48 | 82.1% | 79.1% | 85.3% |
| 47 | 83% | 80.1% | 85.9% |
| 46 | 83.8% | 81.1% | 86.6% |
| 45 | 84.6% | 82% | 87.2% |
| 44 | 85.3% | 82.9% | 87.8% |
| 43 | 86% | 83.7% | 88.4% |
| 42 | 86.7% | 84.5% | 89% |
| 41 | 87.4% | 85.3% | 89.6% |
| 40 | 88.1% | 86% | 90.1% |
| 39 | 88.7% | 86.7% | 90.6% |
| 38 | 89.2% | 87.4% | 91.1% |
| 37 | 89.8% | 88.1% | 91.6% |
| 36 | 90.4% | 88.7% | 92% |
| 35 | 90.9% | 89.3% | 92.5% |
| 34 | 91.4% | 89.9% | 92.9% |
| 33 | 91.8% | 90.4% | 93.3% |
| 32 | 92.3% | 91% | 93.6% |
| 31 | 92.7% | 91.5% | 94% |
| 30 | 93.1% | 91.9% | 94.3% |
| 29 | 93.5% | 92.4% | 94.6% |
| 28 | 93.9% | 92.8% | 94.9% |
| 27 | 94.2% | 93.2% | 95.2% |
| 26 | 94.5% | 93.6% | 95.4% |
| 25 | 94.8% | 94% | 95.7% |
| 24 | 95.1% | 94.3% | 95.9% |
| 23 | 95.3% | 94.6% | 96% |
| 22 | 95.5% | 94.9% | 96.2% |
| 21 | 95.7% | 95.1% | 96.3% |
| 20 | 95.9% | 95.4% | 96.5% |
| 19 | 96.1% | 95.6% | 96.6% |
| 18 | 96.2% | 95.7% | 96.7% |
| 17 | 96.3% | 95.9% | 96.8% |
| 16 | 96.4% | 96% | 96.9% |
| 15 | 96.5% | 96.1% | 97% |
| 14 | 96.6% | 96.2% | 97% |
| 13 | 96.6% | 96.2% | 97.1% |
| 12 | 96.7% | 96.3% | 97.1% |
| 11 | 96.7% | 96.3% | 97.1% |
| 10 | 96.8% | 96.4% | 97.2% |
| 9 | 96.8% | 96.4% | 97.2% |
| 8 | 96.8% | 96.5% | 97.2% |
| 7 | 96.9% | 96.5% | 97.3% |
| 6 | 96.9% | 96.6% | 97.3% |
| 5 | 97% | 96.7% | 97.4% |
| 4 | 97.1% | 96.8% | 97.4% |
| 3 | 97.2% | 96.9% | 97.6% |
| 2 | 97.5% | 97.2% | 97.8% |
| 1 | 97.8% | 97.6% | 98.1% |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).
GeoRank.org/life-expectancy/south-africa | CC BY
This chart shows the odds of living to each age from birth. In South Africa, 68.7% of newborns are expected to live past 60, 51.6% past 70, 30.2% past 80, 11.3% past 90, and only 1.63% past 100.
For longevity rates starting from a different age, use the calculator provided above.
Compare South Africa Life expectancy vs other countries
Death rate by age in South Africa
| Age | Death rate | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Male | Female | |
| 100 | 359 | 204.6 | 501 |
| 99 | 475 | 280.8 | 655 |
| 98 | 572 | 340 | 787 |
| 97 | 677 | 406 | 928 |
| 96 | 789 | 478 | 1,077 |
| 95 | 909 | 558 | 1,236 |
| 94 | 1,031 | 642 | 1,393 |
| 93 | 1,148 | 729 | 1,540 |
| 92 | 1,257 | 818 | 1,670 |
| 91 | 1,363 | 912 | 1,794 |
| 90 | 1,476 | 1,014 | 1,924 |
| 89 | 1,585 | 1,118 | 2,045 |
| 88 | 1,686 | 1,220 | 2,150 |
| 87 | 1,775 | 1,315 | 2,238 |
| 86 | 1,845 | 1,397 | 2,299 |
| 85 | 1,897 | 1,467 | 2,335 |
| 84 | 1,937 | 1,530 | 2,353 |
| 83 | 1,972 | 1,591 | 2,363 |
| 82 | 2,008 | 1,656 | 2,371 |
| 81 | 2,052 | 1,732 | 2,383 |
| 80 | 2,102 | 1,819 | 2,399 |
| 79 | 2,156 | 1,914 | 2,411 |
| 78 | 2,202 | 2,006 | 2,410 |
| 77 | 2,228 | 2,080 | 2,386 |
| 76 | 2,228 | 2,126 | 2,335 |
| 75 | 2,204 | 2,144 | 2,262 |
| 74 | 2,161 | 2,141 | 2,176 |
| 73 | 2,112 | 2,132 | 2,089 |
| 72 | 2,066 | 2,123 | 2,008 |
| 71 | 2,028 | 2,121 | 1,936 |
| 70 | 1,997 | 2,124 | 1,871 |
| 69 | 1,966 | 2,128 | 1,807 |
| 68 | 1,929 | 2,124 | 1,740 |
| 67 | 1,882 | 2,108 | 1,667 |
| 66 | 1,822 | 2,074 | 1,585 |
| 65 | 1,752 | 2,025 | 1,500 |
| 64 | 1,679 | 1,965 | 1,415 |
| 63 | 1,606 | 1,901 | 1,337 |
| 62 | 1,540 | 1,839 | 1,269 |
| 61 | 1,482 | 1,782 | 1,211 |
| 60 | 1,431 | 1,730 | 1,162 |
| 59 | 1,384 | 1,679 | 1,116 |
| 58 | 1,339 | 1,629 | 1,072 |
| 57 | 1,292 | 1,575 | 1,026 |
| 56 | 1,242 | 1,519 | 978 |
| 55 | 1,190 | 1,459 | 929 |
| 54 | 1,137 | 1,397 | 881 |
| 53 | 1,085 | 1,337 | 835 |
| 52 | 1,037 | 1,279 | 795 |
| 51 | 994 | 1,223 | 760 |
| 50 | 954 | 1,171 | 731 |
| 49 | 918 | 1,120 | 707 |
| 48 | 883 | 1,071 | 686 |
| 47 | 850 | 1,022 | 668 |
| 46 | 818 | 974 | 652 |
| 45 | 786 | 928 | 635 |
| 44 | 755 | 884 | 619 |
| 43 | 724 | 842 | 601 |
| 42 | 695 | 804 | 581 |
| 41 | 667 | 770 | 560 |
| 40 | 639 | 738 | 538 |
| 39 | 613 | 708 | 515 |
| 38 | 587 | 680 | 492 |
| 37 | 562 | 653 | 470 |
| 36 | 538 | 626 | 449 |
| 35 | 515 | 600 | 429 |
| 34 | 493 | 575 | 410 |
| 33 | 471 | 551 | 392 |
| 32 | 450 | 527 | 374 |
| 31 | 429 | 504 | 355 |
| 30 | 408 | 481 | 335 |
| 29 | 386 | 458 | 314 |
| 28 | 363 | 434 | 291.3 |
| 27 | 339 | 410 | 266.7 |
| 26 | 314 | 384 | 241.5 |
| 25 | 289.1 | 358 | 217.1 |
| 24 | 264.7 | 331 | 195.1 |
| 23 | 241.4 | 304 | 176 |
| 22 | 219.2 | 276.6 | 159.6 |
| 21 | 198.1 | 249 | 145.6 |
| 20 | 177.8 | 221.4 | 133.1 |
| 19 | 158 | 194.2 | 121.2 |
| 18 | 138.5 | 167.7 | 108.8 |
| 17 | 119.5 | 142.6 | 96 |
| 16 | 101.4 | 119.6 | 82.9 |
| 15 | 85 | 99.4 | 70.2 |
| 14 | 70.7 | 82.4 | 58.8 |
| 13 | 58.9 | 68.7 | 49 |
| 12 | 49.7 | 58.1 | 41.1 |
| 11 | 43 | 50.5 | 35.3 |
| 10 | 38.7 | 45.8 | 31.6 |
| 9 | 37 | 43.9 | 30 |
| 8 | 37.9 | 45.2 | 30.6 |
| 7 | 42.2 | 50.2 | 34.1 |
| 6 | 51.2 | 60.6 | 41.7 |
| 5 | 67.2 | 79 | 55.4 |
| 4 | 95.3 | 110.3 | 80 |
| 3 | 141.9 | 161.3 | 121.7 |
| 2 | 218.6 | 243.8 | 192.5 |
| 1 | 343 | 375 | 310 |
| 0 | 2,192 | 2,441 | 1,934 |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).
GeoRank.org/life-expectancy/south-africa | CC BY
This chart shows the number of deaths by age up to 100 for 3 cohorts of 100,000 newborns each — male, female, and both combined — illustrating how expected mortality is distributed throughout life.
In South Africa, the most probable age of death — the age at which the highest number of deaths occur — is 77 for both sexes combined, 0 for males, and 79 for females. Vertical lines mark the median age of death: 66.7 for men, 75 for women, and 70.8 combined, meaning only half of each cohort is expected to live past that age.
Note that this chart does not show rates per 100,000 population, as those would be skewed by age structure and reflect South Africa's demographics more than its death rate.
Life expectancy in other countries
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).
GeoRank.org/life-expectancy/south-africa | CC BY
Help us show the world through your eyes
Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.
Data sources:
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- World Health Organization (WHO) | Global Health Observatory (2021, retrieved 2026-02-08)
Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.