Japan vs South Africa
Japan vs South Africa: Life expectancy
Life expectancy in 2023: 84.7 years in Japan and 66.1 years in South Africa, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in Japan, by 18.6 years, or 1.28 times that in South Africa.
years · UN
What the numbers say
- Japan has been higher in every year both have figures for since 1950.
- In 2023, Japan ranked 4 and South Africa ranked 194 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts Japan at 94.4 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 | Japan | South Africa | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 84.7 | 66.1 | 73.2 |
| 2022 | 84.1 | 65.5 | 72.6 |
| 2021 | 84.6 | 62 | 70.9 |
| 2020 | 84.7 | 65.2 | 71.9 |
| 2019 | 84.4 | 66.1 | 72.6 |
| 2018 | 84.3 | 65.7 | 72.4 |
| 2017 | 84.2 | 65.4 | 72.1 |
| 2016 | 84.1 | 64.8 | 71.9 |
| 2015 | 83.9 | 64.1 | 71.6 |
| 2014 | 83.6 | 63.2 | 71.4 |
| 2013 | 83.4 | 62.4 | 71.1 |
| 2012 | 83.2 | 61.7 | 70.8 |
| 2011 | 82.7 | 60.6 | 70.4 |
| 2010 | 82.9 | 58.9 | 70.1 |
| 2009 | 83 | 57.4 | 69.7 |
| 2008 | 82.6 | 56 | 69.3 |
| 2007 | 82.6 | 55 | 69 |
| 2006 | 82.4 | 54.2 | 68.6 |
| 2005 | 82 | 53.9 | 68.1 |
| 2004 | 82.1 | 54 | 67.7 |
| 2003 | 81.9 | 54.3 | 67.4 |
| 2002 | 81.8 | 55.6 | 67.1 |
| 2001 | 81.5 | 57.2 | 66.8 |
| 2000 | 81.2 | 58.4 | 66.4 |
| 1999 | 80.6 | 59.2 | 66 |
| 1998 | 80.7 | 59.9 | 65.7 |
| 1997 | 80.6 | 60.5 | 65.5 |
| 1996 | 80.4 | 61.1 | 65.2 |
| 1995 | 79.7 | 61.6 | 64.9 |
| 1994 | 79.8 | 62.1 | 64.3 |
| 1993 | 79.5 | 62.6 | 64.4 |
| 1992 | 79.3 | 62.8 | 64.3 |
| 1991 | 79.3 | 63 | 64.1 |
| 1990 | 79 | 62.9 | 64 |
| 1989 | 79 | 63 | 63.8 |
| 1988 | 78.6 | 62.9 | 63.4 |
| 1987 | 78.6 | 62.7 | 63.2 |
| 1986 | 78.2 | 62.4 | 62.7 |
| 1985 | 77.8 | 62.2 | 62.2 |
| 1984 | 77.5 | 61.8 | 61.9 |
| 1983 | 77.1 | 61.4 | 61.5 |
| 1982 | 77.1 | 60.9 | 61.3 |
| 1981 | 76.6 | 60.5 | 60.9 |
| 1980 | 76.1 | 60 | 60.5 |
| 1979 | 76.2 | 59.5 | 60.2 |
| 1978 | 75.7 | 59 | 59.5 |
| 1977 | 75.3 | 58.5 | 59.2 |
| 1976 | 74.8 | 58 | 58.6 |
| 1975 | 74.4 | 57.6 | 58.3 |
| 1974 | 73.9 | 57.1 | 58.1 |
| 1973 | 73.4 | 56.7 | 57.7 |
| 1972 | 73.3 | 56.4 | 57.2 |
| 1971 | 72.8 | 56 | 56 |
| 1970 | 72 | 55.7 | 56.3 |
| 1969 | 71.9 | 55.4 | 56 |
| 1968 | 71.7 | 55.2 | 55.6 |
| 1967 | 71.4 | 55 | 55.1 |
| 1966 | 71.1 | 54.7 | 54.6 |
| 1965 | 70.3 | 54.4 | 54 |
| 1964 | 70.2 | 54.2 | 54.3 |
| 1963 | 69.8 | 53.9 | 53.7 |
| 1962 | 68.7 | 53.6 | 53.2 |
| 1961 | 68.4 | 53.1 | 50.4 |
| 1960 | 67.7 | 52.6 | 47.8 |
| 1959 | 67.5 | 51.9 | 49.6 |
| 1958 | 67 | 51.2 | 51.6 |
| 1957 | 65.4 | 50.2 | 51.1 |
| 1956 | 65.6 | 49.2 | 50.7 |
| 1955 | 65.7 | 48.2 | 50.2 |
| 1954 | 64.5 | 47.1 | 49.7 |
| 1953 | 63.3 | 46.1 | 48.8 |
| 1952 | 63 | 45.1 | 48.2 |
| 1951 | 61 | 44.1 | 47.1 |
| 1950 | 59.3 | 43.1 | 46.4 |
| 1949 | 57.7 | – | – |
| 1948 | 56.8 | – | – |
| 1947 | 51.7 | – | – |
| 1945 | 30.5 | – | – |
| 1935 | 48.2 | – | – |
| 1927 | 45.7 | – | – |
| 1922 | 42.6 | – | – |
| 1920 | 42 | – | – |
| 1915 | 40.9 | – | – |
| 1910 | 40 | – | – |
| 1905 | 39.2 | – | – |
| 1900 | 38.6 | – | – |
| 1895 | 38.1 | – | – |
| 1890 | 37.7 | – | – |
| 1885 | 37.3 | – | – |
| 1880 | 37 | – | – |
| 1875 | 36.8 | – | – |
| 1870 | 36.6 | – | – |
| 1865 | 36.4 | – | – |
- 12.3Estimates, Our World in Data
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | Japan | South Africa | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 84.984–85.8 | 66.365–67.7 | 73.3 |
| 2025 | 8583.7–86.4 | 66.564.5–68.5 | 73.5 |
| 2026 | 85.283.5–86.8 | 66.764.3–69 | 73.8 |
| 2027 | 85.383.4–87.3 | 66.864–69.6 | 73.9 |
| 2028 | 85.483.3–87.5 | 6763.8–70.1 | 74.1 |
| 2029 | 85.683.3–87.9 | 67.263.7–70.5 | 74.2 |
| 2030 | 85.783.3–88.3 | 67.363.6–71 | 74.4 |
| 2031 | 85.983.3–88.6 | 67.563.6–71.2 | 74.5 |
| 2032 | 8683.3–88.7 | 67.663.5–71.7 | 74.7 |
| 2033 | 86.283.3–89.1 | 67.863.5–71.9 | 74.8 |
| 2034 | 86.383.3–89.3 | 6863.4–72.3 | 75 |
| 2035 | 86.483.4–89.6 | 68.163.4–72.8 | 75.1 |
| 2036 | 86.683.4–89.8 | 68.363.2–73 | 75.3 |
| 2037 | 86.783.5–90 | 68.463.2–73.2 | 75.4 |
| 2038 | 86.883.5–90.4 | 68.663.1–73.3 | 75.5 |
| 2039 | 8783.6–90.7 | 68.763.3–73.9 | 75.7 |
| 2040 | 87.183.5–90.9 | 68.963.3–74 | 75.8 |
| 2041 | 87.283.4–91.1 | 6963.1–74.5 | 75.9 |
| 2042 | 87.483.6–91.2 | 69.263.1–74.7 | 76.1 |
| 2043 | 87.583.6–91.4 | 69.363.2–74.9 | 76.2 |
| 2044 | 87.683.7–91.7 | 69.563.3–75.2 | 76.3 |
| 2045 | 87.883.8–92.1 | 69.663.4–75.4 | 76.5 |
| 2046 | 87.984–92.2 | 69.863.4–75.8 | 76.6 |
| 2047 | 8883.8–92.4 | 69.963.3–76 | 76.7 |
| 2048 | 88.283.9–92.7 | 70.163.1–76.2 | 76.8 |
| 2049 | 88.384–93.1 | 70.263.1–76.5 | 76.9 |
| 2050 | 88.483.9–93.2 | 70.363.3–76.7 | 77 |
| 2051 | 88.583.9–93.3 | 70.563.6–77.1 | 77.1 |
| 2052 | 88.784–93.6 | 70.663.5–77.3 | 77.2 |
| 2053 | 88.884–93.6 | 70.863.3–77.8 | 77.3 |
| 2054 | 88.984.1–93.8 | 70.963.5–78 | 77.4 |
| 2055 | 8984.2–94 | 7163.5–78.2 | 77.6 |
| 2056 | 89.284.2–94.4 | 71.263.5–78.7 | 77.7 |
| 2057 | 89.384.4–94.5 | 71.363.7–78.9 | 77.8 |
| 2058 | 89.484.4–94.7 | 71.563.6–79.1 | 77.9 |
| 2059 | 89.584.5–95 | 71.663.7–79.5 | 78 |
| 2060 | 89.784.4–95.2 | 71.763.6–79.6 | 78.1 |
| 2061 | 89.884.4–95.2 | 71.963.7–79.8 | 78.2 |
| 2062 | 89.984.7–95.6 | 7263.7–79.9 | 78.3 |
| 2063 | 9084.6–95.8 | 72.263.9–80.1 | 78.4 |
| 2064 | 90.184.6–96 | 72.364–80.4 | 78.5 |
| 2065 | 90.384.6–96.2 | 72.464.1–80.6 | 78.6 |
| 2066 | 90.484.6–96.4 | 72.664.2–80.7 | 78.7 |
| 2067 | 90.584.7–96.6 | 72.764.1–81.3 | 78.8 |
| 2068 | 90.684.9–96.8 | 72.964.1–81.4 | 78.9 |
| 2069 | 90.785–97 | 7364.2–81.6 | 79 |
| 2070 | 90.985–97.2 | 73.164.2–82 | 79.1 |
| 2071 | 9185.1–97.4 | 73.364.1–82.3 | 79.2 |
| 2072 | 91.185–97.6 | 73.464.4–82.5 | 79.3 |
| 2073 | 91.285–97.6 | 73.664.2–82.8 | 79.4 |
| 2074 | 91.485.2–98.1 | 73.764.3–82.7 | 79.4 |
| 2075 | 91.585.3–98.2 | 73.864.5–82.9 | 79.5 |
| 2076 | 91.685.5–98.4 | 7464.5–83.2 | 79.6 |
| 2077 | 91.785.5–98.4 | 74.164.6–83.3 | 79.7 |
| 2078 | 91.885.6–98.5 | 74.364.5–83.7 | 79.8 |
| 2079 | 91.985.6–98.7 | 74.464.8–83.8 | 79.9 |
| 2080 | 92.185.8–98.9 | 74.564.6–84 | 80 |
| 2081 | 92.285.8–99 | 74.764.7–84.1 | 80.1 |
| 2082 | 92.385.8–99.5 | 74.864.7–84.2 | 80.2 |
| 2083 | 92.485.9–99.5 | 7564.7–84.4 | 80.3 |
| 2084 | 92.586.1–99.8 | 75.164.7–84.6 | 80.3 |
| 2085 | 92.686.2–99.9 | 75.264.8–84.7 | 80.4 |
| 2086 | 92.785.9–100 | 75.464.8–84.8 | 80.5 |
| 2087 | 92.986.1–100.1 | 75.565–85.2 | 80.6 |
| 2088 | 9386.3–100.2 | 75.765–85.2 | 80.7 |
| 2089 | 93.186.4–100.3 | 75.865.2–85.5 | 80.8 |
| 2090 | 93.286.4–100.8 | 75.965.3–85.5 | 80.9 |
| 2091 | 93.386.7–100.8 | 76.165.3–85.6 | 81 |
| 2092 | 93.586.4–101.1 | 76.265.2–85.8 | 81 |
| 2093 | 93.686.5–101.4 | 76.365.6–86.1 | 81.1 |
| 2094 | 93.786.5–101.5 | 76.565.5–86.2 | 81.2 |
| 2095 | 93.886.4–101.6 | 76.665.4–86.3 | 81.3 |
| 2096 | 93.986.6–101.8 | 76.865.3–86.5 | 81.4 |
| 2097 | 9486.7–102.2 | 76.965.3–86.8 | 81.5 |
| 2098 | 94.286.6–102.3 | 77.165.3–86.9 | 81.6 |
| 2099 | 94.386.7–102.2 | 77.265.1–87.1 | 81.7 |
| 2100 | 94.486.7–102.4 | 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
Japan vs South Africa
Health
- Child mortalityJapan: 0.2 per 100 live births in 2024South Africa: 3.5 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityJapan: 1.6 per 1,000 live births in 2023South Africa: 27.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionJapan: 3.34% in 2017South Africa: 3.75% in 2017
- Suicide rateJapan: 15.7 per 100,000 people in 2017South Africa: 11.2 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationJapan: 124 million people in 2023South Africa: 63.2 million people in 2023
- Population growthJapan: -0.48% a year in 2023South Africa: 1.32% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateJapan: 1.21 births per woman in 2023South Africa: 2.22 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationJapan: 92.3% in 2025South Africa: 63.8% in 2025
- Median ageJapan: 49 years in 2023South Africa: 28.2 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overJapan: 29.6% in 2023South Africa: 6.5% in 2023
- Net migration rateJapan: 1.4 per 1,000 people in 2023South Africa: 3.6 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingJapan: 1.41% of GDP in 2025South Africa: 0.74% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsJapan: $59.5B in 2025South Africa: $3B in 2025
- Military spending per personJapan: $504 in 2025South Africa: $49 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingJapan: 3.8% of government spending in 2025South Africa: 2.2% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelJapan: 261,000 people in 2020South Africa: 89,000 people in 2020
- National powerJapan: 2.47% of world capability in 2022South Africa: 0.55% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersJapan: 0.38% of the labour force in 2020South Africa: 0.4% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsJapan: 1.72 billion TIV in 2025South Africa: 30 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsJapan: 28 million TIV in 2025South Africa: 115 million TIV in 2025