Mexico vs South Africa
Mexico vs South Africa: Life expectancy
Life expectancy in 2023: 75.1 years in Mexico and 66.1 years in South Africa, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in Mexico, by 8.9 years, or 1.14 times that in South Africa.
years · UN
What the numbers say
- Mexico has been higher in every year both have figures for since 1950.
- In 2023, Mexico ranked 114 and South Africa ranked 194 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts Mexico at 86.8 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 | Mexico | South Africa | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 75.1 | 66.1 | 73.2 |
| 2022 | 74 | 65.5 | 72.6 |
| 2021 | 69.8 | 62 | 70.9 |
| 2020 | 70.5 | 65.2 | 71.9 |
| 2019 | 74.5 | 66.1 | 72.6 |
| 2018 | 74.3 | 65.7 | 72.4 |
| 2017 | 74.3 | 65.4 | 72.1 |
| 2016 | 74.4 | 64.8 | 71.9 |
| 2015 | 74.4 | 64.1 | 71.6 |
| 2014 | 74.4 | 63.2 | 71.4 |
| 2013 | 74.3 | 62.4 | 71.1 |
| 2012 | 74.1 | 61.7 | 70.8 |
| 2011 | 73.9 | 60.6 | 70.4 |
| 2010 | 73.7 | 58.9 | 70.1 |
| 2009 | 73.6 | 57.4 | 69.7 |
| 2008 | 73.7 | 56 | 69.3 |
| 2007 | 73.8 | 55 | 69 |
| 2006 | 73.8 | 54.2 | 68.6 |
| 2005 | 73.6 | 53.9 | 68.1 |
| 2004 | 73.4 | 54 | 67.7 |
| 2003 | 73.3 | 54.3 | 67.4 |
| 2002 | 73.1 | 55.6 | 67.1 |
| 2001 | 72.9 | 57.2 | 66.8 |
| 2000 | 72.6 | 58.4 | 66.4 |
| 1999 | 72.2 | 59.2 | 66 |
| 1998 | 71.8 | 59.9 | 65.7 |
| 1997 | 71.5 | 60.5 | 65.5 |
| 1996 | 71.1 | 61.1 | 65.2 |
| 1995 | 70.7 | 61.6 | 64.9 |
| 1994 | 70.3 | 62.1 | 64.3 |
| 1993 | 70 | 62.6 | 64.4 |
| 1992 | 69.7 | 62.8 | 64.3 |
| 1991 | 69.4 | 63 | 64.1 |
| 1990 | 69 | 62.9 | 64 |
| 1989 | 68.6 | 63 | 63.8 |
| 1988 | 68.3 | 62.9 | 63.4 |
| 1987 | 67.9 | 62.7 | 63.2 |
| 1986 | 67.4 | 62.4 | 62.7 |
| 1985 | 66.8 | 62.2 | 62.2 |
| 1984 | 66.2 | 61.8 | 61.9 |
| 1983 | 65.8 | 61.4 | 61.5 |
| 1982 | 65.3 | 60.9 | 61.3 |
| 1981 | 64.7 | 60.5 | 60.9 |
| 1980 | 64.3 | 60 | 60.5 |
| 1979 | 63.9 | 59.5 | 60.2 |
| 1978 | 63.4 | 59 | 59.5 |
| 1977 | 63 | 58.5 | 59.2 |
| 1976 | 62.5 | 58 | 58.6 |
| 1975 | 61.9 | 57.6 | 58.3 |
| 1974 | 61.2 | 57.1 | 58.1 |
| 1973 | 60.5 | 56.7 | 57.7 |
| 1972 | 60.1 | 56.4 | 57.2 |
| 1971 | 59.4 | 56 | 56 |
| 1970 | 58.9 | 55.7 | 56.3 |
| 1969 | 58.4 | 55.4 | 56 |
| 1968 | 58.2 | 55.2 | 55.6 |
| 1967 | 58 | 55 | 55.1 |
| 1966 | 57.4 | 54.7 | 54.6 |
| 1965 | 56.7 | 54.4 | 54 |
| 1964 | 55.9 | 54.2 | 54.3 |
| 1963 | 55.5 | 53.9 | 53.7 |
| 1962 | 55.1 | 53.6 | 53.2 |
| 1961 | 54.4 | 53.1 | 50.4 |
| 1960 | 53.6 | 52.6 | 47.8 |
| 1959 | 52.7 | 51.9 | 49.6 |
| 1958 | 51.8 | 51.2 | 51.6 |
| 1957 | 51.1 | 50.2 | 51.1 |
| 1956 | 50.4 | 49.2 | 50.7 |
| 1955 | 49.6 | 48.2 | 50.2 |
| 1954 | 48.3 | 47.1 | 49.7 |
| 1953 | 47 | 46.1 | 48.8 |
| 1952 | 45.7 | 45.1 | 48.2 |
| 1951 | 44.8 | 44.1 | 47.1 |
| 1950 | 43.8 | 43.1 | 46.4 |
| 1949 | 45.8 | – | – |
| 1948 | 48.3 | – | – |
| 1947 | 46.3 | – | – |
| 1946 | 44.8 | – | – |
| 1945 | 44.2 | – | – |
| 1944 | 43.2 | – | – |
| 1943 | 42.8 | – | – |
| 1942 | 39.8 | – | – |
| 1941 | 42.6 | – | – |
| 1940 | 39 | – | – |
| 1939 | 45.5 | – | – |
| 1938 | 39.4 | – | – |
| 1937 | 36.8 | – | – |
| 1936 | 38.3 | – | – |
| 1935 | 40.4 | – | – |
| 1934 | 38.2 | – | – |
| 1933 | 37.3 | – | – |
| 1932 | 38.4 | – | – |
| 1931 | 37.7 | – | – |
| 1930 | 34 | – | – |
| 1929 | 35.4 | – | – |
| 1928 | 34.5 | – | – |
| 1927 | 40.3 | – | – |
| 1926 | 34.2 | – | – |
| 1925 | 32.1 | – | – |
| 1924 | 32.8 | – | – |
| 1923 | 33.5 | – | – |
| 1922 | 32.6 | – | – |
| 1920 | 34 | – | – |
| 1910 | 28 | – | – |
| 1909 | 29.2 | – | – |
| 1908 | 28.7 | – | – |
| 1907 | 28 | – | – |
| 1906 | 27.9 | – | – |
| 1905 | 26.8 | – | – |
| 1904 | 29.1 | – | – |
| 1903 | 28.7 | – | – |
| 1902 | 28.4 | – | – |
| 1901 | 26.7 | – | – |
| 1900 | 25 | – | – |
| 1899 | 25 | – | – |
| 1898 | 27 | – | – |
| 1897 | 26.2 | – | – |
| 1896 | 28.8 | – | – |
| 1895 | 29.5 | – | – |
| 1894 | 26.6 | – | – |
| 1893 | 23.3 | – | – |
- 12.3Estimates, Our World in Data
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | Mexico | South Africa | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 75.374.1–76.4 | 66.365–67.7 | 73.3 |
| 2025 | 75.573.9–77 | 66.564.5–68.5 | 73.5 |
| 2026 | 75.673.7–77.6 | 66.764.3–69 | 73.8 |
| 2027 | 75.873.5–78 | 66.864–69.6 | 73.9 |
| 2028 | 7673.5–78.4 | 6763.8–70.1 | 74.1 |
| 2029 | 76.273.4–78.7 | 67.263.7–70.5 | 74.2 |
| 2030 | 76.473.4–79.1 | 67.363.6–71 | 74.4 |
| 2031 | 76.673.5–79.4 | 67.563.6–71.2 | 74.5 |
| 2032 | 76.773.4–79.8 | 67.663.5–71.7 | 74.7 |
| 2033 | 76.973.3–80 | 67.863.5–71.9 | 74.8 |
| 2034 | 77.173.3–80.4 | 6863.4–72.3 | 75 |
| 2035 | 77.273.2–80.7 | 68.163.4–72.8 | 75.1 |
| 2036 | 77.473.4–80.8 | 68.363.2–73 | 75.3 |
| 2037 | 77.673.5–81.1 | 68.463.2–73.2 | 75.4 |
| 2038 | 77.873.5–81.6 | 68.663.1–73.3 | 75.5 |
| 2039 | 7873.6–81.9 | 68.763.3–73.9 | 75.7 |
| 2040 | 78.173.6–82.3 | 68.963.3–74 | 75.8 |
| 2041 | 78.373.5–82.4 | 6963.1–74.5 | 75.9 |
| 2042 | 78.573.6–82.6 | 69.263.1–74.7 | 76.1 |
| 2043 | 78.773.6–82.9 | 69.363.2–74.9 | 76.2 |
| 2044 | 78.873.6–83.1 | 69.563.3–75.2 | 76.3 |
| 2045 | 7973.6–83.3 | 69.663.4–75.4 | 76.5 |
| 2046 | 79.273.7–83.6 | 69.863.4–75.8 | 76.6 |
| 2047 | 79.373.7–83.8 | 69.963.3–76 | 76.7 |
| 2048 | 79.573.8–84 | 70.163.1–76.2 | 76.8 |
| 2049 | 79.773.9–84.3 | 70.263.1–76.5 | 76.9 |
| 2050 | 79.874.1–84.6 | 70.363.3–76.7 | 77 |
| 2051 | 8074–84.9 | 70.563.6–77.1 | 77.1 |
| 2052 | 80.274.3–85.1 | 70.663.5–77.3 | 77.2 |
| 2053 | 80.374.3–85.1 | 70.863.3–77.8 | 77.3 |
| 2054 | 80.574.3–85.3 | 70.963.5–78 | 77.4 |
| 2055 | 80.774.5–85.7 | 7163.5–78.2 | 77.6 |
| 2056 | 80.874.3–85.9 | 71.263.5–78.7 | 77.7 |
| 2057 | 8174.6–86 | 71.363.7–78.9 | 77.8 |
| 2058 | 81.174.5–86.4 | 71.563.6–79.1 | 77.9 |
| 2059 | 81.374.5–86.3 | 71.663.7–79.5 | 78 |
| 2060 | 81.574.5–86.8 | 71.763.6–79.6 | 78.1 |
| 2061 | 81.674.5–86.7 | 71.963.7–79.8 | 78.2 |
| 2062 | 81.874.7–87.1 | 7263.7–79.9 | 78.3 |
| 2063 | 81.974.9–87.3 | 72.263.9–80.1 | 78.4 |
| 2064 | 82.174.8–87.4 | 72.364–80.4 | 78.5 |
| 2065 | 82.275–87.5 | 72.464.1–80.6 | 78.6 |
| 2066 | 82.475.1–87.7 | 72.664.2–80.7 | 78.7 |
| 2067 | 82.575.3–87.9 | 72.764.1–81.3 | 78.8 |
| 2068 | 82.775.4–88 | 72.964.1–81.4 | 78.9 |
| 2069 | 82.875.4–88.1 | 7364.2–81.6 | 79 |
| 2070 | 82.975.4–88.5 | 73.164.2–82 | 79.1 |
| 2071 | 83.175.5–88.6 | 73.364.1–82.3 | 79.2 |
| 2072 | 83.275.4–88.8 | 73.464.4–82.5 | 79.3 |
| 2073 | 83.475.3–88.9 | 73.664.2–82.8 | 79.4 |
| 2074 | 83.575.6–89 | 73.764.3–82.7 | 79.4 |
| 2075 | 83.675.5–89.2 | 73.864.5–82.9 | 79.5 |
| 2076 | 83.875.6–89.4 | 7464.5–83.2 | 79.6 |
| 2077 | 83.976–89.8 | 74.164.6–83.3 | 79.7 |
| 2078 | 84.176.2–90 | 74.364.5–83.7 | 79.8 |
| 2079 | 84.276.1–90.1 | 74.464.8–83.8 | 79.9 |
| 2080 | 84.375.9–90.3 | 74.564.6–84 | 80 |
| 2081 | 84.576.4–90.6 | 74.764.7–84.1 | 80.1 |
| 2082 | 84.676.5–90.6 | 74.864.7–84.2 | 80.2 |
| 2083 | 84.776.6–90.9 | 7564.7–84.4 | 80.3 |
| 2084 | 84.976.8–91.1 | 75.164.7–84.6 | 80.3 |
| 2085 | 8576.8–91.4 | 75.264.8–84.7 | 80.4 |
| 2086 | 85.177–91.4 | 75.464.8–84.8 | 80.5 |
| 2087 | 85.277.1–91.7 | 75.565–85.2 | 80.6 |
| 2088 | 85.477.2–91.8 | 75.765–85.2 | 80.7 |
| 2089 | 85.577.3–92 | 75.865.2–85.5 | 80.8 |
| 2090 | 85.677.5–92.3 | 75.965.3–85.5 | 80.9 |
| 2091 | 85.777.7–92.4 | 76.165.3–85.6 | 81 |
| 2092 | 85.877.7–92.5 | 76.265.2–85.8 | 81 |
| 2093 | 8677.7–92.8 | 76.365.6–86.1 | 81.1 |
| 2094 | 86.177.7–92.8 | 76.565.5–86.2 | 81.2 |
| 2095 | 86.277.7–93.1 | 76.665.4–86.3 | 81.3 |
| 2096 | 86.377.9–93.3 | 76.865.3–86.5 | 81.4 |
| 2097 | 86.478.2–93.5 | 76.965.3–86.8 | 81.5 |
| 2098 | 86.678.2–93.7 | 77.165.3–86.9 | 81.6 |
| 2099 | 86.778.6–94 | 77.265.1–87.1 | 81.7 |
| 2100 | 86.878.7–94.1 | 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
Mexico vs South Africa
Health
- Child mortalityMexico: 1.3 per 100 live births in 2024South Africa: 3.5 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityMexico: 10.4 per 1,000 live births in 2023South Africa: 27.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionMexico: 2.79% in 2017South Africa: 3.75% in 2017
- Suicide rateMexico: 5.9 per 100,000 people in 2017South Africa: 11.2 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationMexico: 130 million people in 2023South Africa: 63.2 million people in 2023
- Population growthMexico: 0.88% a year in 2023South Africa: 1.32% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateMexico: 1.91 births per woman in 2023South Africa: 2.22 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationMexico: 80% in 2025South Africa: 63.8% in 2025
- Median ageMexico: 28.9 years in 2023South Africa: 28.2 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overMexico: 8% in 2023South Africa: 6.5% in 2023
- Net migration rateMexico: -0.8 per 1,000 people in 2023South Africa: 3.6 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingMexico: 0.74% of GDP in 2025South Africa: 0.74% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsMexico: $13.8B in 2025South Africa: $3B in 2025
- Military spending per personMexico: $104 in 2025South Africa: $49 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingMexico: 2.5% of government spending in 2025South Africa: 2.2% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelMexico: 341,000 people in 2020South Africa: 89,000 people in 2020
- National powerMexico: 1.14% of world capability in 2022South Africa: 0.55% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersMexico: 0.64% of the labour force in 2020South Africa: 0.4% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsMexico: 9 million TIV in 2025South Africa: 30 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsMexico: 1 million TIV in 2019South Africa: 115 million TIV in 2025