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South Africa Life Expectancy

South Africa's life expectancy rose to 66.14 years in 2023, up from 65.45 years in 2022, according to World Bank. This represents an increase of 1.1% (0.69) from the previous year. South Africa has life expectancy lower than the global median (66.14 vs median 74.52). Compared with the median in Africa, South Africa is higher (66.14 vs regional median 65.64) and ranks 24th out of 54 countries in Africa.

South Africa's happiness index fell to 5.21 points in 2024, down from 5.42 points in 2023.

Yearly Historical Data (1960-2023)

(in Years)
Year Life Expectancy (Years)
2023 66.14
2022 65.45
2021 62.01
2020 65.15
2019 66.07
2018 65.73
2017 65.42
2016 64.75
2015 64.05
2014 63.18
2013 62.39
2012 61.74
2011 60.6
2010 58.89
2009 57.41
2008 55.98
2007 54.95
2006 54.22
2005 53.91
2004 53.96
2003 54.24
2002 55.58
2001 57.16
2000 58.37
1999 59.19
1998 59.91
1997 60.54
1996 61.08
1995 61.6
1994 62.07
1993 62.62
1992 62.84
1991 62.98
1990 62.94
1989 63.02
1988 62.9
1987 62.69
1986 62.42
1985 62.2
1984 61.84
1983 61.39
1982 60.94
1981 60.44
1980 59.96
1979 59.47
1978 58.99
1977 58.48
1976 58
1975 57.59
1974 57.11
1973 56.72
1972 56.38
1971 56.02
1970 55.68
1969 55.44
1968 55.19
1967 54.95
1966 54.73
1965 54.43
1964 54.22
1963 53.9
1962 53.57
1961 53.07
1960 52.58
South Africa Life Expectancy : Definition
Life Expectancy measures the average number of years a newborn in South Africa is expected to live.
Indicator Last Value Prior Value Period
Infant Mortality Rate 24.4 24.5 2023
Physicians per 1,000 people 0.81 0.8 2021