Canada vs South Africa
Canada vs South Africa: Life expectancy
Life expectancy in 2023: 82.6 years in Canada and 66.1 years in South Africa, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in Canada, by 16.5 years, or 1.25 times that in South Africa.
years · UN
What the numbers say
- Canada has been higher in every year both have figures for since 1950.
- In 2023, Canada ranked 24 and South Africa ranked 194 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts Canada at 91.8 years and South Africa at 77.3 years in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 73.2 years in 2023.
Every year
years · UN
| Year | Canada | South Africa | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 82.6 | 66.1 | 73.2 |
| 2022 | 81.3 | 65.5 | 72.6 |
| 2021 | 82 | 62 | 70.9 |
| 2020 | 81.7 | 65.2 | 71.9 |
| 2019 | 82.3 | 66.1 | 72.6 |
| 2018 | 81.9 | 65.7 | 72.4 |
| 2017 | 81.9 | 65.4 | 72.1 |
| 2016 | 82 | 64.8 | 71.9 |
| 2015 | 81.9 | 64.1 | 71.6 |
| 2014 | 81.8 | 63.2 | 71.4 |
| 2013 | 81.8 | 62.4 | 71.1 |
| 2012 | 81.7 | 61.7 | 70.8 |
| 2011 | 81.5 | 60.6 | 70.4 |
| 2010 | 81.3 | 58.9 | 70.1 |
| 2009 | 81.1 | 57.4 | 69.7 |
| 2008 | 80.7 | 56 | 69.3 |
| 2007 | 80.5 | 55 | 69 |
| 2006 | 80.5 | 54.2 | 68.6 |
| 2005 | 80.1 | 53.9 | 68.1 |
| 2004 | 80 | 54 | 67.7 |
| 2003 | 79.7 | 54.3 | 67.4 |
| 2002 | 79.6 | 55.6 | 67.1 |
| 2001 | 79.5 | 57.2 | 66.8 |
| 2000 | 79.2 | 58.4 | 66.4 |
| 1999 | 78.9 | 59.2 | 66 |
| 1998 | 78.7 | 59.9 | 65.7 |
| 1997 | 78.5 | 60.5 | 65.5 |
| 1996 | 78.3 | 61.1 | 65.2 |
| 1995 | 78 | 61.6 | 64.9 |
| 1994 | 77.9 | 62.1 | 64.3 |
| 1993 | 77.7 | 62.6 | 64.4 |
| 1992 | 77.9 | 62.8 | 64.3 |
| 1991 | 77.6 | 63 | 64.1 |
| 1990 | 77.4 | 62.9 | 64 |
| 1989 | 77.1 | 63 | 63.8 |
| 1988 | 76.9 | 62.9 | 63.4 |
| 1987 | 76.8 | 62.7 | 63.2 |
| 1986 | 76.5 | 62.4 | 62.7 |
| 1985 | 76.4 | 62.2 | 62.2 |
| 1984 | 76.4 | 61.8 | 61.9 |
| 1983 | 76.1 | 61.4 | 61.5 |
| 1982 | 75.7 | 60.9 | 61.3 |
| 1981 | 75.5 | 60.5 | 60.9 |
| 1980 | 75.1 | 60 | 60.5 |
| 1979 | 74.8 | 59.5 | 60.2 |
| 1978 | 74.5 | 59 | 59.5 |
| 1977 | 74.2 | 58.5 | 59.2 |
| 1976 | 73.9 | 58 | 58.6 |
| 1975 | 73.5 | 57.6 | 58.3 |
| 1974 | 73.1 | 57.1 | 58.1 |
| 1973 | 73.1 | 56.7 | 57.7 |
| 1972 | 72.8 | 56.4 | 57.2 |
| 1971 | 73 | 56 | 56 |
| 1970 | 72.6 | 55.7 | 56.3 |
| 1969 | 72.4 | 55.4 | 56 |
| 1968 | 72.2 | 55.2 | 55.6 |
| 1967 | 72.1 | 55 | 55.1 |
| 1966 | 71.9 | 54.7 | 54.6 |
| 1965 | 71.8 | 54.4 | 54 |
| 1964 | 71.6 | 54.2 | 54.3 |
| 1963 | 71.3 | 53.9 | 53.7 |
| 1962 | 71.2 | 53.6 | 53.2 |
| 1961 | 71.2 | 53.1 | 50.4 |
| 1960 | 71 | 52.6 | 47.8 |
| 1959 | 70.6 | 51.9 | 49.6 |
| 1958 | 70.6 | 51.2 | 51.6 |
| 1957 | 69.9 | 50.2 | 51.1 |
| 1956 | 70 | 49.2 | 50.7 |
| 1955 | 70 | 48.2 | 50.2 |
| 1954 | 69.9 | 47.1 | 49.7 |
| 1953 | 69.1 | 46.1 | 48.8 |
| 1952 | 68.7 | 45.1 | 48.2 |
| 1951 | 68.5 | 44.1 | 47.1 |
| 1950 | 68.2 | 43.1 | 46.4 |
| 1949 | 67.6 | – | – |
| 1948 | 67.3 | – | – |
| 1947 | 66.8 | – | – |
| 1946 | 66.4 | – | – |
| 1945 | 66.3 | – | – |
| 1944 | 65.3 | – | – |
| 1943 | 64.6 | – | – |
| 1942 | 64.6 | – | – |
| 1941 | 63.7 | – | – |
| 1940 | 63.9 | – | – |
| 1939 | 63.7 | – | – |
| 1938 | 63.2 | – | – |
| 1937 | 61.3 | – | – |
| 1936 | 62.7 | – | – |
| 1935 | 62.4 | – | – |
| 1934 | 62.6 | – | – |
| 1933 | 62.3 | – | – |
| 1932 | 61.3 | – | – |
| 1931 | 60.3 | – | – |
| 1930 | 59 | – | – |
| 1929 | 57.9 | – | – |
| 1928 | 58.6 | – | – |
| 1927 | 58.6 | – | – |
| 1926 | 58 | – | – |
| 1925 | 59.3 | – | – |
| 1924 | 58.8 | – | – |
| 1923 | 57 | – | – |
| 1922 | 57.1 | – | – |
| 1921 | 57.1 | – | – |
| 1911 | 52.5 | – | – |
| 1901 | 48.6 | – | – |
| 1891 | 45.2 | – | – |
| 1881 | 44.7 | – | – |
| 1871 | 42.6 | – | – |
| 1861 | 41.6 | – | – |
| 1851 | 41.1 | – | – |
| 1841 | 40.3 | – | – |
| 1831 | 39.1 | – | – |
- 12.3Estimates, Our World in Data
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | Canada | South Africa | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 82.781.8–83.6 | 66.365–67.7 | 73.3 |
| 2025 | 82.981.7–84.1 | 66.564.5–68.5 | 73.5 |
| 2026 | 83.181.6–84.5 | 66.764.3–69 | 73.8 |
| 2027 | 83.281.5–84.9 | 66.864–69.6 | 73.9 |
| 2028 | 83.481.5–85.3 | 6763.8–70.1 | 74.1 |
| 2029 | 83.581.4–85.7 | 67.263.7–70.5 | 74.2 |
| 2030 | 83.781.3–85.9 | 67.363.6–71 | 74.4 |
| 2031 | 83.881.4–86.2 | 67.563.6–71.2 | 74.5 |
| 2032 | 8481.3–86.5 | 67.663.5–71.7 | 74.7 |
| 2033 | 84.181.3–86.8 | 67.863.5–71.9 | 74.8 |
| 2034 | 84.281.4–87.1 | 6863.4–72.3 | 75 |
| 2035 | 84.481.4–87.5 | 68.163.4–72.8 | 75.1 |
| 2036 | 84.581.4–87.6 | 68.363.2–73 | 75.3 |
| 2037 | 84.681.5–87.9 | 68.463.2–73.2 | 75.4 |
| 2038 | 84.881.5–88.1 | 68.663.1–73.3 | 75.5 |
| 2039 | 84.981.5–88.4 | 68.763.3–73.9 | 75.7 |
| 2040 | 8581.7–88.6 | 68.963.3–74 | 75.8 |
| 2041 | 85.281.7–88.7 | 6963.1–74.5 | 75.9 |
| 2042 | 85.381.8–89 | 69.263.1–74.7 | 76.1 |
| 2043 | 85.481.9–89.3 | 69.363.2–74.9 | 76.2 |
| 2044 | 85.581.9–89.6 | 69.563.3–75.2 | 76.3 |
| 2045 | 85.681.9–89.7 | 69.663.4–75.4 | 76.5 |
| 2046 | 85.881.9–89.8 | 69.863.4–75.8 | 76.6 |
| 2047 | 85.981.9–90.2 | 69.963.3–76 | 76.7 |
| 2048 | 8681.9–90.2 | 70.163.1–76.2 | 76.8 |
| 2049 | 86.182.1–90.3 | 70.263.1–76.5 | 76.9 |
| 2050 | 86.282.2–90.6 | 70.363.3–76.7 | 77 |
| 2051 | 86.482.4–90.8 | 70.563.6–77.1 | 77.1 |
| 2052 | 86.582.4–91 | 70.663.5–77.3 | 77.2 |
| 2053 | 86.682.5–91.2 | 70.863.3–77.8 | 77.3 |
| 2054 | 86.782.5–91.5 | 70.963.5–78 | 77.4 |
| 2055 | 86.882.6–91.7 | 7163.5–78.2 | 77.6 |
| 2056 | 8782.6–91.8 | 71.263.5–78.7 | 77.7 |
| 2057 | 87.182.7–92.1 | 71.363.7–78.9 | 77.8 |
| 2058 | 87.282.7–92.2 | 71.563.6–79.1 | 77.9 |
| 2059 | 87.382.8–92.3 | 71.663.7–79.5 | 78 |
| 2060 | 87.482.7–92.6 | 71.763.6–79.6 | 78.1 |
| 2061 | 87.582.7–92.9 | 71.963.7–79.8 | 78.2 |
| 2062 | 87.782.7–93 | 7263.7–79.9 | 78.3 |
| 2063 | 87.882.8–93.3 | 72.263.9–80.1 | 78.4 |
| 2064 | 87.982.8–93.5 | 72.364–80.4 | 78.5 |
| 2065 | 8882.8–93.8 | 72.464.1–80.6 | 78.6 |
| 2066 | 88.182.8–93.9 | 72.664.2–80.7 | 78.7 |
| 2067 | 88.282.9–93.9 | 72.764.1–81.3 | 78.8 |
| 2068 | 88.382.9–94.2 | 72.964.1–81.4 | 78.9 |
| 2069 | 88.483–94.3 | 7364.2–81.6 | 79 |
| 2070 | 88.583.1–94.5 | 73.164.2–82 | 79.1 |
| 2071 | 88.683.2–94.6 | 73.364.1–82.3 | 79.2 |
| 2072 | 88.783.4–94.6 | 73.464.4–82.5 | 79.3 |
| 2073 | 88.983.4–94.8 | 73.664.2–82.8 | 79.4 |
| 2074 | 8983.4–95 | 73.764.3–82.7 | 79.4 |
| 2075 | 89.183.5–95.2 | 73.864.5–82.9 | 79.5 |
| 2076 | 89.283.6–95.4 | 7464.5–83.2 | 79.6 |
| 2077 | 89.383.7–95.4 | 74.164.6–83.3 | 79.7 |
| 2078 | 89.483.8–95.6 | 74.364.5–83.7 | 79.8 |
| 2079 | 89.583.9–95.8 | 74.464.8–83.8 | 79.9 |
| 2080 | 89.683.9–95.9 | 74.564.6–84 | 80 |
| 2081 | 89.783.8–96 | 74.764.7–84.1 | 80.1 |
| 2082 | 89.883.9–96.3 | 74.864.7–84.2 | 80.2 |
| 2083 | 89.984–96.5 | 7564.7–84.4 | 80.3 |
| 2084 | 9084.1–96.7 | 75.164.7–84.6 | 80.3 |
| 2085 | 90.184.3–96.9 | 75.264.8–84.7 | 80.4 |
| 2086 | 90.284.3–97 | 75.464.8–84.8 | 80.5 |
| 2087 | 90.384.1–96.9 | 75.565–85.2 | 80.6 |
| 2088 | 90.484.4–97.2 | 75.765–85.2 | 80.7 |
| 2089 | 90.684.5–97.4 | 75.865.2–85.5 | 80.8 |
| 2090 | 90.784.5–97.4 | 75.965.3–85.5 | 80.9 |
| 2091 | 90.884.5–97.7 | 76.165.3–85.6 | 81 |
| 2092 | 90.984.7–98.1 | 76.265.2–85.8 | 81 |
| 2093 | 9184.8–98.1 | 76.365.6–86.1 | 81.1 |
| 2094 | 91.184.7–98.3 | 76.565.5–86.2 | 81.2 |
| 2095 | 91.284.7–98.5 | 76.665.4–86.3 | 81.3 |
| 2096 | 91.384.8–98.5 | 76.865.3–86.5 | 81.4 |
| 2097 | 91.484.9–98.7 | 76.965.3–86.8 | 81.5 |
| 2098 | 91.584.7–99 | 77.165.3–86.9 | 81.6 |
| 2099 | 91.684.8–99.1 | 77.265.1–87.1 | 81.7 |
| 2100 | 91.885–99.3 | 77.365.5–87.1 | 81.7 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- How long a newborn would live on average if the year’s death rates held all its life.
- Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects 2024.
- Before 1950: Our World in Data, long-run life expectancy.
- The dashed line is the UN projection (medium variant), a scenario rather than a forecast; the band is its 95% prediction interval.
- Ranks count the 229 countries with a value in 2023, highest first.
- The faint line is the world as a whole, as the same source counts it.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time
Canada vs South Africa
Health
- Child mortalityCanada: 0.5 per 100 live births in 2024South Africa: 3.5 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityCanada: 4.3 per 1,000 live births in 2023South Africa: 27.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionCanada: 3.99% in 2017South Africa: 3.75% in 2017
- Suicide rateCanada: 10.9 per 100,000 people in 2017South Africa: 11.2 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationCanada: 39.3 million people in 2023South Africa: 63.2 million people in 2023
- Population growthCanada: 1.22% a year in 2023South Africa: 1.32% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateCanada: 1.35 births per woman in 2023South Africa: 2.22 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationCanada: 82.9% in 2025South Africa: 63.8% in 2025
- Median ageCanada: 40.3 years in 2023South Africa: 28.2 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overCanada: 19.4% in 2023South Africa: 6.5% in 2023
- Net migration rateCanada: 11 per 1,000 people in 2023South Africa: 3.6 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingCanada: 1.63% of GDP in 2025South Africa: 0.74% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsCanada: $37.5B in 2025South Africa: $3B in 2025
- Military spending per personCanada: $939 in 2025South Africa: $49 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingCanada: 3.7% of government spending in 2025South Africa: 2.2% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelCanada: 72,000 people in 2020South Africa: 89,000 people in 2020
- National powerCanada: 0.81% of world capability in 2022South Africa: 0.55% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersCanada: 0.35% of the labour force in 2020South Africa: 0.4% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsCanada: 83 million TIV in 2025South Africa: 30 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsCanada: 312 million TIV in 2025South Africa: 115 million TIV in 2025