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.
CanadaSouth Africa
Watch it change on the mapChange since 1950, years · UN
Latest figures
years · UN
| Country | Latest | 10 years before | Rank in 2023 | Projected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 82.6 2023 | 81.8 | 24 of 229 | 91.8 2100 |
| South Africa | 66.1 2023 | 62.4 | 194 of 229 | 77.3 2100 |
| World | 73.2 2023 | 71.1 | 81.7 2100 |
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