Myanmar (Burma) vs South Africa
Myanmar (Burma) vs South Africa: Life expectancy
Life expectancy in 2023: 66.9 years in Myanmar (Burma) and 66.1 years in South Africa, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in Myanmar (Burma), by 0.8 years, or 1.01 times that in South Africa.
years · UN
What the numbers say
- Myanmar (Burma) has been higher since 1999, when it overtook South Africa.
- In 2023, Myanmar (Burma) ranked 189 and South Africa ranked 194 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts Myanmar (Burma) at 79.1 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 | Myanmar (Burma) | South Africa | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 66.9 | 66.1 | 73.2 |
| 2022 | 66.5 | 65.5 | 72.6 |
| 2021 | 65.6 | 62 | 70.9 |
| 2020 | 66.6 | 65.2 | 71.9 |
| 2019 | 66.5 | 66.1 | 72.6 |
| 2018 | 66.2 | 65.7 | 72.4 |
| 2017 | 65.9 | 65.4 | 72.1 |
| 2016 | 65.6 | 64.8 | 71.9 |
| 2015 | 65.3 | 64.1 | 71.6 |
| 2014 | 65 | 63.2 | 71.4 |
| 2013 | 64.6 | 62.4 | 71.1 |
| 2012 | 64.3 | 61.7 | 70.8 |
| 2011 | 63.9 | 60.6 | 70.4 |
| 2010 | 63.5 | 58.9 | 70.1 |
| 2009 | 63.1 | 57.4 | 69.7 |
| 2008 | 56.4 | 56 | 69.3 |
| 2007 | 62.4 | 55 | 69 |
| 2006 | 62 | 54.2 | 68.6 |
| 2005 | 61.7 | 53.9 | 68.1 |
| 2004 | 61.4 | 54 | 67.7 |
| 2003 | 61.2 | 54.3 | 67.4 |
| 2002 | 60.9 | 55.6 | 67.1 |
| 2001 | 60.6 | 57.2 | 66.8 |
| 2000 | 60.4 | 58.4 | 66.4 |
| 1999 | 60.1 | 59.2 | 66 |
| 1998 | 59.9 | 59.9 | 65.7 |
| 1997 | 59.5 | 60.5 | 65.5 |
| 1996 | 59.2 | 61.1 | 65.2 |
| 1995 | 58.7 | 61.6 | 64.9 |
| 1994 | 58.3 | 62.1 | 64.3 |
| 1993 | 58 | 62.6 | 64.4 |
| 1992 | 57.7 | 62.8 | 64.3 |
| 1991 | 57.4 | 63 | 64.1 |
| 1990 | 57.2 | 62.9 | 64 |
| 1989 | 56.9 | 63 | 63.8 |
| 1988 | 56.6 | 62.9 | 63.4 |
| 1987 | 56.4 | 62.7 | 63.2 |
| 1986 | 56.1 | 62.4 | 62.7 |
| 1985 | 55.8 | 62.2 | 62.2 |
| 1984 | 55.6 | 61.8 | 61.9 |
| 1983 | 55.3 | 61.4 | 61.5 |
| 1982 | 55 | 60.9 | 61.3 |
| 1981 | 54.7 | 60.5 | 60.9 |
| 1980 | 54.4 | 60 | 60.5 |
| 1979 | 54 | 59.5 | 60.2 |
| 1978 | 53.5 | 59 | 59.5 |
| 1977 | 53.3 | 58.5 | 59.2 |
| 1976 | 52.9 | 58 | 58.6 |
| 1975 | 52.5 | 57.6 | 58.3 |
| 1974 | 52.1 | 57.1 | 58.1 |
| 1973 | 51.8 | 56.7 | 57.7 |
| 1972 | 51.4 | 56.4 | 57.2 |
| 1971 | 51 | 56 | 56 |
| 1970 | 50.5 | 55.7 | 56.3 |
| 1969 | 50 | 55.4 | 56 |
| 1968 | 49.4 | 55.2 | 55.6 |
| 1967 | 48.9 | 55 | 55.1 |
| 1966 | 48.2 | 54.7 | 54.6 |
| 1965 | 47.4 | 54.4 | 54 |
| 1964 | 46.7 | 54.2 | 54.3 |
| 1963 | 46 | 53.9 | 53.7 |
| 1962 | 45.3 | 53.6 | 53.2 |
| 1961 | 44.6 | 53.1 | 50.4 |
| 1960 | 44.1 | 52.6 | 47.8 |
| 1959 | 43.4 | 51.9 | 49.6 |
| 1958 | 42.8 | 51.2 | 51.6 |
| 1957 | 42 | 50.2 | 51.1 |
| 1956 | 41.2 | 49.2 | 50.7 |
| 1955 | 40.4 | 48.2 | 50.2 |
| 1954 | 39.6 | 47.1 | 49.7 |
| 1953 | 38.6 | 46.1 | 48.8 |
| 1952 | 37.7 | 45.1 | 48.2 |
| 1951 | 36.5 | 44.1 | 47.1 |
| 1950 | 35.7 | 43.1 | 46.4 |
| 1926 | 30.8 | – | – |
- 12.3Estimates, Our World in Data
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | Myanmar (Burma) | South Africa | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 67.165.7–68.5 | 66.365–67.7 | 73.3 |
| 2025 | 67.365.3–69.2 | 66.564.5–68.5 | 73.5 |
| 2026 | 67.565.1–69.9 | 66.764.3–69 | 73.8 |
| 2027 | 67.764.9–70.4 | 66.864–69.6 | 73.9 |
| 2028 | 67.964.8–70.9 | 6763.8–70.1 | 74.1 |
| 2029 | 68.164.7–71.4 | 67.263.7–70.5 | 74.2 |
| 2030 | 68.364.7–71.8 | 67.363.6–71 | 74.4 |
| 2031 | 68.564.6–72.2 | 67.563.6–71.2 | 74.5 |
| 2032 | 68.764.7–72.7 | 67.663.5–71.7 | 74.7 |
| 2033 | 68.964.6–73 | 67.863.5–71.9 | 74.8 |
| 2034 | 6964.6–73.3 | 6863.4–72.3 | 75 |
| 2035 | 69.264.6–73.7 | 68.163.4–72.8 | 75.1 |
| 2036 | 69.464.6–74.1 | 68.363.2–73 | 75.3 |
| 2037 | 69.564.7–74.5 | 68.463.2–73.2 | 75.4 |
| 2038 | 69.764.6–74.9 | 68.663.1–73.3 | 75.5 |
| 2039 | 69.964.6–75.2 | 68.763.3–73.9 | 75.7 |
| 2040 | 70.164.6–75.4 | 68.963.3–74 | 75.8 |
| 2041 | 70.264.6–75.7 | 6963.1–74.5 | 75.9 |
| 2042 | 70.464.6–76.2 | 69.263.1–74.7 | 76.1 |
| 2043 | 70.564.6–76.3 | 69.363.2–74.9 | 76.2 |
| 2044 | 70.764.6–76.8 | 69.563.3–75.2 | 76.3 |
| 2045 | 70.864.6–77.2 | 69.663.4–75.4 | 76.5 |
| 2046 | 7164.7–77.4 | 69.863.4–75.8 | 76.6 |
| 2047 | 71.264.8–77.5 | 69.963.3–76 | 76.7 |
| 2048 | 71.364.9–77.9 | 70.163.1–76.2 | 76.8 |
| 2049 | 71.564.8–78.2 | 70.263.1–76.5 | 76.9 |
| 2050 | 71.664.7–78.5 | 70.363.3–76.7 | 77 |
| 2051 | 71.865–78.8 | 70.563.6–77.1 | 77.1 |
| 2052 | 71.964.9–79.1 | 70.663.5–77.3 | 77.2 |
| 2053 | 72.165.1–79.6 | 70.863.3–77.8 | 77.3 |
| 2054 | 72.264.9–79.7 | 70.963.5–78 | 77.4 |
| 2055 | 72.464.9–80.1 | 7163.5–78.2 | 77.6 |
| 2056 | 72.564.8–80.2 | 71.263.5–78.7 | 77.7 |
| 2057 | 72.764.9–80.7 | 71.363.7–78.9 | 77.8 |
| 2058 | 72.864.9–80.8 | 71.563.6–79.1 | 77.9 |
| 2059 | 7365.1–81.1 | 71.663.7–79.5 | 78 |
| 2060 | 73.165.3–81.5 | 71.763.6–79.6 | 78.1 |
| 2061 | 73.365.2–81.8 | 71.963.7–79.8 | 78.2 |
| 2062 | 73.465.2–82 | 7263.7–79.9 | 78.3 |
| 2063 | 73.665.3–82.1 | 72.263.9–80.1 | 78.4 |
| 2064 | 73.765.4–82.3 | 72.364–80.4 | 78.5 |
| 2065 | 73.965.5–82.5 | 72.464.1–80.6 | 78.6 |
| 2066 | 7465.4–82.6 | 72.664.2–80.7 | 78.7 |
| 2067 | 74.265.6–82.9 | 72.764.1–81.3 | 78.8 |
| 2068 | 74.365.5–83.2 | 72.964.1–81.4 | 78.9 |
| 2069 | 74.565.5–83.5 | 7364.2–81.6 | 79 |
| 2070 | 74.665.5–83.7 | 73.164.2–82 | 79.1 |
| 2071 | 74.865.7–83.7 | 73.364.1–82.3 | 79.2 |
| 2072 | 74.965.6–83.9 | 73.464.4–82.5 | 79.3 |
| 2073 | 75.165.9–84.1 | 73.664.2–82.8 | 79.4 |
| 2074 | 75.265.8–84.3 | 73.764.3–82.7 | 79.4 |
| 2075 | 75.466.1–84.5 | 73.864.5–82.9 | 79.5 |
| 2076 | 75.666–84.7 | 7464.5–83.2 | 79.6 |
| 2077 | 75.766.1–84.8 | 74.164.6–83.3 | 79.7 |
| 2078 | 75.966–85.2 | 74.364.5–83.7 | 79.8 |
| 2079 | 7666–85.3 | 74.464.8–83.8 | 79.9 |
| 2080 | 76.166–85.4 | 74.564.6–84 | 80 |
| 2081 | 76.366–85.4 | 74.764.7–84.1 | 80.1 |
| 2082 | 76.465.9–85.6 | 74.864.7–84.2 | 80.2 |
| 2083 | 76.665.9–85.6 | 7564.7–84.4 | 80.3 |
| 2084 | 76.765.8–85.8 | 75.164.7–84.6 | 80.3 |
| 2085 | 76.966.1–86 | 75.264.8–84.7 | 80.4 |
| 2086 | 7766.1–86.3 | 75.464.8–84.8 | 80.5 |
| 2087 | 77.266–86.4 | 75.565–85.2 | 80.6 |
| 2088 | 77.366.2–86.5 | 75.765–85.2 | 80.7 |
| 2089 | 77.566.2–86.8 | 75.865.2–85.5 | 80.8 |
| 2090 | 77.666.1–86.9 | 75.965.3–85.5 | 80.9 |
| 2091 | 77.866.5–86.9 | 76.165.3–85.6 | 81 |
| 2092 | 77.966.4–87.1 | 76.265.2–85.8 | 81 |
| 2093 | 7866.3–87.3 | 76.365.6–86.1 | 81.1 |
| 2094 | 78.266.7–87.6 | 76.565.5–86.2 | 81.2 |
| 2095 | 78.366.5–87.6 | 76.665.4–86.3 | 81.3 |
| 2096 | 78.566.7–87.8 | 76.865.3–86.5 | 81.4 |
| 2097 | 78.666.9–87.9 | 76.965.3–86.8 | 81.5 |
| 2098 | 78.866.8–87.9 | 77.165.3–86.9 | 81.6 |
| 2099 | 78.966.6–88.1 | 77.265.1–87.1 | 81.7 |
| 2100 | 79.166.7–88.4 | 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
Myanmar (Burma) vs South Africa
Health
- Child mortalityMyanmar (Burma): 3.7 per 100 live births in 2024South Africa: 3.5 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityMyanmar (Burma): 31.8 per 1,000 live births in 2023South Africa: 27.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionMyanmar (Burma): 2.3% in 2017South Africa: 3.75% in 2017
- Suicide rateMyanmar (Burma): 5 per 100,000 people in 2017South Africa: 11.2 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationMyanmar (Burma): 54.1 million people in 2023South Africa: 63.2 million people in 2023
- Population growthMyanmar (Burma): 0.69% a year in 2023South Africa: 1.32% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateMyanmar (Burma): 2.12 births per woman in 2023South Africa: 2.22 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationMyanmar (Burma): 30.6% in 2025South Africa: 63.8% in 2025
- Median ageMyanmar (Burma): 29.5 years in 2023South Africa: 28.2 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overMyanmar (Burma): 7.1% in 2023South Africa: 6.5% in 2023
- Net migration rateMyanmar (Burma): -0.6 per 1,000 people in 2023South Africa: 3.6 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
- GDP per personMyanmar (Burma): $1,128 in 2025South Africa: $5,713 in 2025
- GDP growthMyanmar (Burma): -12% a year in 2021South Africa: 1.1% a year in 2025
- InflationMyanmar (Burma): 27.6% a year in 2023South Africa: 3.2% a year in 2025
- Government debtMyanmar (Burma): 37.6% of GDP in 2019South Africa: 76% of GDP in 2024
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingMyanmar (Burma): 6.61% of GDP in 2024South Africa: 0.74% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsMyanmar (Burma): $4.65B in 2024South Africa: $3B in 2025
- Military spending per personMyanmar (Burma): $92 in 2024South Africa: $49 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingMyanmar (Burma): 32% of government spending in 2024South Africa: 2.2% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelMyanmar (Burma): 463,000 people in 2020South Africa: 89,000 people in 2020
- National powerMyanmar (Burma): 0.53% of world capability in 2022South Africa: 0.55% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersMyanmar (Burma): 1.94% of the labour force in 2020South Africa: 0.4% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsMyanmar (Burma): 70 million TIV in 2025South Africa: 30 million TIV in 2025