South Africa vs South Sudan
South Africa vs South Sudan: Life expectancy
Life expectancy in 2023: 66.1 years in South Africa and 57.6 years in South Sudan, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in South Africa, by 8.5 years, or 1.15 times that in South Sudan.
years · UN
What the numbers say
- South Africa has been higher since 2009, when it overtook South Sudan.
- In 2023, South Africa ranked 194 and South Sudan ranked 225 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts South Africa at 77.3 years and South Sudan at 66.2 years in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 73.2 years in 2023.
Every year
years · UN
| Year | South Africa | South Sudan | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 66.1 | 57.6 | 73.2 |
| 2022 | 65.5 | 57.2 | 72.6 |
| 2021 | 62 | 57.1 | 70.9 |
| 2020 | 65.2 | 57.7 | 71.9 |
| 2019 | 66.1 | 58.1 | 72.6 |
| 2018 | 65.7 | 51.9 | 72.4 |
| 2017 | 65.4 | 35.4 | 72.1 |
| 2016 | 64.8 | 36.7 | 71.9 |
| 2015 | 64.1 | 39.8 | 71.6 |
| 2014 | 63.2 | 45.6 | 71.4 |
| 2013 | 62.4 | 58.3 | 71.1 |
| 2012 | 61.7 | 58.2 | 70.8 |
| 2011 | 60.6 | 57.7 | 70.4 |
| 2010 | 58.9 | 57.5 | 70.1 |
| 2009 | 57.4 | 56.9 | 69.7 |
| 2008 | 56 | 56.3 | 69.3 |
| 2007 | 55 | 55.4 | 69 |
| 2006 | 54.2 | 54.7 | 68.6 |
| 2005 | 53.9 | 54 | 68.1 |
| 2004 | 54 | 53.1 | 67.7 |
| 2003 | 54.3 | 52.3 | 67.4 |
| 2002 | 55.6 | 49.4 | 67.1 |
| 2001 | 57.2 | 48.6 | 66.8 |
| 2000 | 58.4 | 47.6 | 66.4 |
| 1999 | 59.2 | 44.5 | 66 |
| 1998 | 59.9 | 19.1 | 65.7 |
| 1997 | 60.5 | 33.1 | 65.5 |
| 1996 | 61.1 | 32.1 | 65.2 |
| 1995 | 61.6 | 31.5 | 64.9 |
| 1994 | 62.1 | 44.9 | 64.3 |
| 1993 | 62.6 | 22.3 | 64.4 |
| 1992 | 62.8 | 21.9 | 64.3 |
| 1991 | 63 | 29.2 | 64.1 |
| 1990 | 62.9 | 28.6 | 64 |
| 1989 | 63 | 28.2 | 63.8 |
| 1988 | 62.9 | 11 | 63.4 |
| 1987 | 62.7 | 20.7 | 63.2 |
| 1986 | 62.4 | 32.8 | 62.7 |
| 1985 | 62.2 | 32.4 | 62.2 |
| 1984 | 61.8 | 31.8 | 61.9 |
| 1983 | 61.4 | 34.7 | 61.5 |
| 1982 | 60.9 | 38.7 | 61.3 |
| 1981 | 60.5 | 38.3 | 60.9 |
| 1980 | 60 | 38 | 60.5 |
| 1979 | 59.5 | 37.8 | 60.2 |
| 1978 | 59 | 37.6 | 59.5 |
| 1977 | 58.5 | 37.4 | 59.2 |
| 1976 | 58 | 37.1 | 58.6 |
| 1975 | 57.6 | 36.9 | 58.3 |
| 1974 | 57.1 | 36.6 | 58.1 |
| 1973 | 56.7 | 36.3 | 57.7 |
| 1972 | 56.4 | 31.3 | 57.2 |
| 1971 | 56 | 31 | 56 |
| 1970 | 55.7 | 25.6 | 56.3 |
| 1969 | 55.4 | 25.4 | 56 |
| 1968 | 55.2 | 26.1 | 55.6 |
| 1967 | 55 | 25.9 | 55.1 |
| 1966 | 54.7 | 25.6 | 54.6 |
| 1965 | 54.4 | 28.8 | 54 |
| 1964 | 54.2 | 32.5 | 54.3 |
| 1963 | 53.9 | 28.3 | 53.7 |
| 1962 | 53.6 | 28.5 | 53.2 |
| 1961 | 53.1 | 28.3 | 50.4 |
| 1960 | 52.6 | 28.1 | 47.8 |
| 1959 | 51.9 | 27.8 | 49.6 |
| 1958 | 51.2 | 27.6 | 51.6 |
| 1957 | 50.2 | 30.9 | 51.1 |
| 1956 | 49.2 | 31.6 | 50.7 |
| 1955 | 48.2 | 32 | 50.2 |
| 1954 | 47.1 | 31.7 | 49.7 |
| 1953 | 46.1 | 31.4 | 48.8 |
| 1952 | 45.1 | 31 | 48.2 |
| 1951 | 44.1 | 30.6 | 47.1 |
| 1950 | 43.1 | 30.2 | 46.4 |
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | South Africa | South Sudan | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 66.365–67.7 | 57.756.1–59.2 | 73.3 |
| 2025 | 66.564.5–68.5 | 57.955.6–60.1 | 73.5 |
| 2026 | 66.764.3–69 | 5855.1–60.7 | 73.8 |
| 2027 | 66.864–69.6 | 58.154.7–61.2 | 73.9 |
| 2028 | 6763.8–70.1 | 58.254.4–61.7 | 74.1 |
| 2029 | 67.263.7–70.5 | 58.354.3–62.1 | 74.2 |
| 2030 | 67.363.6–71 | 58.554.2–62.6 | 74.4 |
| 2031 | 67.563.6–71.2 | 58.654–62.7 | 74.5 |
| 2032 | 67.663.5–71.7 | 58.753.9–63.2 | 74.7 |
| 2033 | 67.863.5–71.9 | 58.853.6–63.6 | 74.8 |
| 2034 | 6863.4–72.3 | 58.953.7–63.9 | 75 |
| 2035 | 68.163.4–72.8 | 5953.4–64.1 | 75.1 |
| 2036 | 68.363.2–73 | 59.153.2–64.4 | 75.3 |
| 2037 | 68.463.2–73.2 | 59.353.3–64.9 | 75.4 |
| 2038 | 68.663.1–73.3 | 59.453.2–65.2 | 75.5 |
| 2039 | 68.763.3–73.9 | 59.553.1–65.5 | 75.7 |
| 2040 | 68.963.3–74 | 59.653–65.8 | 75.8 |
| 2041 | 6963.1–74.5 | 59.852.8–66 | 75.9 |
| 2042 | 69.263.1–74.7 | 59.952.8–66.3 | 76.1 |
| 2043 | 69.363.2–74.9 | 6052.6–66.5 | 76.2 |
| 2044 | 69.563.3–75.2 | 60.152.6–66.8 | 76.3 |
| 2045 | 69.663.4–75.4 | 60.252.6–67.1 | 76.5 |
| 2046 | 69.863.4–75.8 | 60.452.6–67.5 | 76.6 |
| 2047 | 69.963.3–76 | 60.552.4–67.7 | 76.7 |
| 2048 | 70.163.1–76.2 | 60.652.3–67.8 | 76.8 |
| 2049 | 70.263.1–76.5 | 60.752.1–67.9 | 76.9 |
| 2050 | 70.363.3–76.7 | 60.852.2–68.3 | 77 |
| 2051 | 70.563.6–77.1 | 60.952.1–68.4 | 77.1 |
| 2052 | 70.663.5–77.3 | 6152–68.7 | 77.2 |
| 2053 | 70.863.3–77.8 | 61.152.2–68.6 | 77.3 |
| 2054 | 70.963.5–78 | 61.252.3–68.9 | 77.4 |
| 2055 | 7163.5–78.2 | 61.352.4–69.5 | 77.6 |
| 2056 | 71.263.5–78.7 | 61.551.9–69.2 | 77.7 |
| 2057 | 71.363.7–78.9 | 61.651.9–69.4 | 77.8 |
| 2058 | 71.563.6–79.1 | 61.751.9–69.8 | 77.9 |
| 2059 | 71.663.7–79.5 | 61.851.9–70.3 | 78 |
| 2060 | 71.763.6–79.6 | 61.951.6–70.5 | 78.1 |
| 2061 | 71.963.7–79.8 | 6251.8–70.6 | 78.2 |
| 2062 | 7263.7–79.9 | 62.151.8–70.8 | 78.3 |
| 2063 | 72.263.9–80.1 | 62.351.7–70.9 | 78.4 |
| 2064 | 72.364–80.4 | 62.451.5–71.1 | 78.5 |
| 2065 | 72.464.1–80.6 | 62.551.5–71.3 | 78.6 |
| 2066 | 72.664.2–80.7 | 62.651.7–71.3 | 78.7 |
| 2067 | 72.764.1–81.3 | 62.751.7–71.5 | 78.8 |
| 2068 | 72.964.1–81.4 | 62.851.7–71.9 | 78.9 |
| 2069 | 7364.2–81.6 | 62.952–72.2 | 79 |
| 2070 | 73.164.2–82 | 6351.7–72.3 | 79.1 |
| 2071 | 73.364.1–82.3 | 63.251.7–72.3 | 79.2 |
| 2072 | 73.464.4–82.5 | 63.351.9–72.5 | 79.3 |
| 2073 | 73.664.2–82.8 | 63.451.8–72.8 | 79.4 |
| 2074 | 73.764.3–82.7 | 63.551.8–73.1 | 79.4 |
| 2075 | 73.864.5–82.9 | 63.651.8–73.4 | 79.5 |
| 2076 | 7464.5–83.2 | 63.751.7–73.7 | 79.6 |
| 2077 | 74.164.6–83.3 | 63.851.6–73.8 | 79.7 |
| 2078 | 74.364.5–83.7 | 63.951.9–73.8 | 79.8 |
| 2079 | 74.464.8–83.8 | 6451.6–74 | 79.9 |
| 2080 | 74.564.6–84 | 64.151.6–74.5 | 80 |
| 2081 | 74.764.7–84.1 | 64.251.3–74.6 | 80.1 |
| 2082 | 74.864.7–84.2 | 64.451.4–74.9 | 80.2 |
| 2083 | 7564.7–84.4 | 64.551.3–75.2 | 80.3 |
| 2084 | 75.164.7–84.6 | 64.651.1–74.9 | 80.3 |
| 2085 | 75.264.8–84.7 | 64.751.2–75 | 80.4 |
| 2086 | 75.464.8–84.8 | 64.851.3–75.4 | 80.5 |
| 2087 | 75.565–85.2 | 64.951.4–75.7 | 80.6 |
| 2088 | 75.765–85.2 | 6551.2–75.5 | 80.7 |
| 2089 | 75.865.2–85.5 | 65.151.1–75.9 | 80.8 |
| 2090 | 75.965.3–85.5 | 65.250.9–76.3 | 80.9 |
| 2091 | 76.165.3–85.6 | 65.351–76.4 | 81 |
| 2092 | 76.265.2–85.8 | 65.451–76.7 | 81 |
| 2093 | 76.365.6–86.1 | 65.451.4–76.9 | 81.1 |
| 2094 | 76.565.5–86.2 | 65.651.2–77.1 | 81.2 |
| 2095 | 76.665.4–86.3 | 65.751.2–77.5 | 81.3 |
| 2096 | 76.865.3–86.5 | 65.851.2–77.4 | 81.4 |
| 2097 | 76.965.3–86.8 | 65.951.3–77.4 | 81.5 |
| 2098 | 77.165.3–86.9 | 6651.5–77.6 | 81.6 |
| 2099 | 77.265.1–87.1 | 66.151.2–77.6 | 81.7 |
| 2100 | 77.365.5–87.1 | 66.251.3–77.7 | 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
South Africa vs South Sudan
Health
- Child mortalitySouth Africa: 3.5 per 100 live births in 2024South Sudan: 9.7 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalitySouth Africa: 27.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023South Sudan: 63.8 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionSouth Africa: 3.75% in 2017South Sudan: 3.7% in 2017
- Suicide rateSouth Africa: 11.2 per 100,000 people in 2017South Sudan: 12 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationSouth Africa: 63.2 million people in 2023South Sudan: 11.5 million people in 2023
- Population growthSouth Africa: 1.32% a year in 2023South Sudan: 5.86% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateSouth Africa: 2.22 births per woman in 2023South Sudan: 3.86 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationSouth Africa: 63.8% in 2025South Sudan: 21.7% in 2025
- Median ageSouth Africa: 28.2 years in 2023South Sudan: 18 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overSouth Africa: 6.5% in 2023South Sudan: 2.9% in 2023
- Net migration rateSouth Africa: 3.6 per 1,000 people in 2023South Sudan: 39.6 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
- GDP per personSouth Africa: $5,713 in 2025South Sudan: $1,080 in 2015
- GDP growthSouth Africa: 1.1% a year in 2025South Sudan: 41.4% a year in 2025
- InflationSouth Africa: 3.2% a year in 2025South Sudan: 97.6% a year in 2025
- Government debtSouth Africa: 76% of GDP in 2024South Sudan: 64.2% of GDP in 2025
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingSouth Africa: 0.74% of GDP in 2025South Sudan: 3.43% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsSouth Africa: $3B in 2025South Sudan: $103M in 2025
- Military spending per personSouth Africa: $49 in 2025South Sudan: $15 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingSouth Africa: 2.2% of government spending in 2025South Sudan: 18.4% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelSouth Africa: 89,000 people in 2020South Sudan: 53,000 people in 2020
- National powerSouth Africa: 0.55% of world capability in 2022South Sudan: 0.08% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersSouth Africa: 0.4% of the labour force in 2020South Sudan: 1.18% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsSouth Africa: 30 million TIV in 2025South Sudan: 10 million TIV in 2022