Singapore vs South Africa: Life expectancy
Life expectancy in 2023: 83.7 years in Singapore and 66.1 years in South Africa, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in Singapore, by 17.6 years, or 1.27 times that in South Africa.
SingaporeSouth Africa
Watch it change on the mapLatest figures
years · UN
| Country | Latest | 10 years before | Rank in 2023 | Projected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore | 83.7 2023 | 82.5 | 11 of 229 | 92.7 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
- Singapore has been higher in every year both have figures for since 1950.
- In 2023, Singapore ranked 11 and South Africa ranked 194 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts Singapore at 92.7 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 | Singapore | South Africa | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 83.7 | 66.1 | 73.2 |
| 2022 | 82.9 | 65.5 | 72.6 |
| 2021 | 83.5 | 62 | 70.9 |
| 2020 | 83.7 | 65.2 | 71.9 |
| 2019 | 83.7 | 66.1 | 72.6 |
| 2018 | 83.4 | 65.7 | 72.4 |
| 2017 | 83.1 | 65.4 | 72.1 |
| 2016 | 82.9 | 64.8 | 71.9 |
| 2015 | 82.8 | 64.1 | 71.6 |
| 2014 | 82.6 | 63.2 | 71.4 |
| 2013 | 82.5 | 62.4 | 71.1 |
| 2012 | 82.2 | 61.7 | 70.8 |
| 2011 | 81.9 | 60.6 | 70.4 |
| 2010 | 81.7 | 58.9 | 70.1 |
| 2009 | 81.4 | 57.4 | 69.7 |
| 2008 | 81.1 | 56 | 69.3 |
| 2007 | 80.9 | 55 | 69 |
| 2006 | 80.6 | 54.2 | 68.6 |
| 2005 | 80.3 | 53.9 | 68.1 |
| 2004 | 79.7 | 54 | 67.7 |
| 2003 | 79.2 | 54.3 | 67.4 |
| 2002 | 78.7 | 55.6 | 67.1 |
| 2001 | 78.3 | 57.2 | 66.8 |
| 2000 | 77.8 | 58.4 | 66.4 |
| 1999 | 77.3 | 59.2 | 66 |
| 1998 | 76.9 | 59.9 | 65.7 |
| 1997 | 76.4 | 60.5 | 65.5 |
| 1996 | 76.1 | 61.1 | 65.2 |
| 1995 | 75.7 | 61.6 | 64.9 |
| 1994 | 75.6 | 62.1 | 64.3 |
| 1993 | 75.5 | 62.6 | 64.4 |
| 1992 | 75.3 | 62.8 | 64.3 |
| 1991 | 75.1 | 63 | 64.1 |
| 1990 | 74.6 | 62.9 | 64 |
| 1989 | 74.3 | 63 | 63.8 |
| 1988 | 74.1 | 62.9 | 63.4 |
| 1987 | 74 | 62.7 | 63.2 |
| 1986 | 73.6 | 62.4 | 62.7 |
| 1985 | 73.1 | 62.2 | 62.2 |
| 1984 | 72.6 | 61.8 | 61.9 |
| 1983 | 72.4 | 61.4 | 61.5 |
| 1982 | 72 | 60.9 | 61.3 |
| 1981 | 71.8 | 60.5 | 60.9 |
| 1980 | 71.5 | 60 | 60.5 |
| 1979 | 71.4 | 59.5 | 60.2 |
| 1978 | 71.2 | 59 | 59.5 |
| 1977 | 70.9 | 58.5 | 59.2 |
| 1976 | 70.6 | 58 | 58.6 |
| 1975 | 70.2 | 57.6 | 58.3 |
| 1974 | 69.7 | 57.1 | 58.1 |
| 1973 | 69.4 | 56.7 | 57.7 |
| 1972 | 69 | 56.4 | 57.2 |
| 1971 | 68.8 | 56 | 56 |
| 1970 | 68.5 | 55.7 | 56.3 |
| 1969 | 68.1 | 55.4 | 56 |
| 1968 | 67.7 | 55.2 | 55.6 |
| 1967 | 67.3 | 55 | 55.1 |
| 1966 | 67.2 | 54.7 | 54.6 |
| 1965 | 66.9 | 54.4 | 54 |
| 1964 | 66.7 | 54.2 | 54.3 |
| 1963 | 66.5 | 53.9 | 53.7 |
| 1962 | 66.1 | 53.6 | 53.2 |
| 1961 | 65.7 | 53.1 | 50.4 |
| 1960 | 65.3 | 52.6 | 47.8 |
| 1959 | 64.8 | 51.9 | 49.6 |
| 1958 | 64 | 51.2 | 51.6 |
| 1957 | 63.4 | 50.2 | 51.1 |
| 1956 | 62.6 | 49.2 | 50.7 |
| 1955 | 61.2 | 48.2 | 50.2 |
| 1954 | 59.4 | 47.1 | 49.7 |
| 1953 | 57.5 | 46.1 | 48.8 |
| 1952 | 56.4 | 45.1 | 48.2 |
| 1951 | 55.3 | 44.1 | 47.1 |
| 1950 | 54.1 | 43.1 | 46.4 |
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | Singapore | South Africa | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 83.983–84.8 | 66.365–67.7 | 73.3 |
| 2025 | 8482.8–85.3 | 66.564.5–68.5 | 73.5 |
| 2026 | 84.182.7–85.7 | 66.764.3–69 | 73.8 |
| 2027 | 84.382.6–86.1 | 66.864–69.6 | 73.9 |
| 2028 | 84.482.5–86.4 | 6763.8–70.1 | 74.1 |
| 2029 | 84.582.5–86.7 | 67.263.7–70.5 | 74.2 |
| 2030 | 84.782.5–87 | 67.363.6–71 | 74.4 |
| 2031 | 84.882.4–87.3 | 67.563.6–71.2 | 74.5 |
| 2032 | 84.982.5–87.6 | 67.663.5–71.7 | 74.7 |
| 2033 | 8582.5–87.9 | 67.863.5–71.9 | 74.8 |
| 2034 | 85.282.5–88.2 | 6863.4–72.3 | 75 |
| 2035 | 85.382.5–88.4 | 68.163.4–72.8 | 75.1 |
| 2036 | 85.482.5–88.7 | 68.363.2–73 | 75.3 |
| 2037 | 85.682.7–88.9 | 68.463.2–73.2 | 75.4 |
| 2038 | 85.782.7–88.9 | 68.663.1–73.3 | 75.5 |
| 2039 | 85.882.7–89.3 | 68.763.3–73.9 | 75.7 |
| 2040 | 85.982.8–89.6 | 68.963.3–74 | 75.8 |
| 2041 | 8682.7–89.8 | 6963.1–74.5 | 75.9 |
| 2042 | 86.182.8–90 | 69.263.1–74.7 | 76.1 |
| 2043 | 86.382.7–90.3 | 69.363.2–74.9 | 76.2 |
| 2044 | 86.482.8–90.4 | 69.563.3–75.2 | 76.3 |
| 2045 | 86.582.9–90.7 | 69.663.4–75.4 | 76.5 |
| 2046 | 86.683–91 | 69.863.4–75.8 | 76.6 |
| 2047 | 86.782.8–91 | 69.963.3–76 | 76.7 |
| 2048 | 86.982.8–91.2 | 70.163.1–76.2 | 76.8 |
| 2049 | 8783–91.5 | 70.263.1–76.5 | 76.9 |
| 2050 | 87.183–91.6 | 70.363.3–76.7 | 77 |
| 2051 | 87.283.1–91.7 | 70.563.6–77.1 | 77.1 |
| 2052 | 87.383–92 | 70.663.5–77.3 | 77.2 |
| 2053 | 87.483.1–92.2 | 70.863.3–77.8 | 77.3 |
| 2054 | 87.683.2–92.5 | 70.963.5–78 | 77.4 |
| 2055 | 87.783.2–92.6 | 7163.5–78.2 | 77.6 |
| 2056 | 87.883.4–92.9 | 71.263.5–78.7 | 77.7 |
| 2057 | 87.983.4–93.1 | 71.363.7–78.9 | 77.8 |
| 2058 | 8883.4–93.4 | 71.563.6–79.1 | 77.9 |
| 2059 | 88.183.4–93.5 | 71.663.7–79.5 | 78 |
| 2060 | 88.283.5–93.7 | 71.763.6–79.6 | 78.1 |
| 2061 | 88.383.6–93.8 | 71.963.7–79.8 | 78.2 |
| 2062 | 88.583.6–94.2 | 7263.7–79.9 | 78.3 |
| 2063 | 88.683.7–94.3 | 72.263.9–80.1 | 78.4 |
| 2064 | 88.783.6–94.3 | 72.364–80.4 | 78.5 |
| 2065 | 88.883.6–94.5 | 72.464.1–80.6 | 78.6 |
| 2066 | 88.983.6–94.7 | 72.664.2–80.7 | 78.7 |
| 2067 | 8983.5–94.9 | 72.764.1–81.3 | 78.8 |
| 2068 | 89.183.8–95.1 | 72.964.1–81.4 | 78.9 |
| 2069 | 89.283.7–95.1 | 7364.2–81.6 | 79 |
| 2070 | 89.384–95.4 | 73.164.2–82 | 79.1 |
| 2071 | 89.583.8–95.4 | 73.364.1–82.3 | 79.2 |
| 2072 | 89.684–95.6 | 73.464.4–82.5 | 79.3 |
| 2073 | 89.783.9–95.9 | 73.664.2–82.8 | 79.4 |
| 2074 | 89.884.1–96.2 | 73.764.3–82.7 | 79.4 |
| 2075 | 89.984.1–96.3 | 73.864.5–82.9 | 79.5 |
| 2076 | 9084.1–96.3 | 7464.5–83.2 | 79.6 |
| 2077 | 90.184.3–96.7 | 74.164.6–83.3 | 79.7 |
| 2078 | 90.284.2–96.8 | 74.364.5–83.7 | 79.8 |
| 2079 | 90.384.3–97 | 74.464.8–83.8 | 79.9 |
| 2080 | 90.484.4–97.3 | 74.564.6–84 | 80 |
| 2081 | 90.584.6–97.3 | 74.764.7–84.1 | 80.1 |
| 2082 | 90.684.5–97.5 | 74.864.7–84.2 | 80.2 |
| 2083 | 90.884.3–97.5 | 7564.7–84.4 | 80.3 |
| 2084 | 90.984.6–97.8 | 75.164.7–84.6 | 80.3 |
| 2085 | 9184.5–98 | 75.264.8–84.7 | 80.4 |
| 2086 | 91.184.5–98.1 | 75.464.8–84.8 | 80.5 |
| 2087 | 91.284.5–98.3 | 75.565–85.2 | 80.6 |
| 2088 | 91.384.4–98.4 | 75.765–85.2 | 80.7 |
| 2089 | 91.484.6–98.7 | 75.865.2–85.5 | 80.8 |
| 2090 | 91.584.6–98.9 | 75.965.3–85.5 | 80.9 |
| 2091 | 91.684.7–99.1 | 76.165.3–85.6 | 81 |
| 2092 | 91.884.8–99.2 | 76.265.2–85.8 | 81 |
| 2093 | 91.984.6–99.2 | 76.365.6–86.1 | 81.1 |
| 2094 | 9284.5–99.5 | 76.565.5–86.2 | 81.2 |
| 2095 | 92.184.8–99.5 | 76.665.4–86.3 | 81.3 |
| 2096 | 92.285–99.7 | 76.865.3–86.5 | 81.4 |
| 2097 | 92.385–99.9 | 76.965.3–86.8 | 81.5 |
| 2098 | 92.585.1–100.1 | 77.165.3–86.9 | 81.6 |
| 2099 | 92.685–100.4 | 77.265.1–87.1 | 81.7 |
| 2100 | 92.785.2–100.5 | 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.
- 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