South Africa vs Spain: Life expectancy
Life expectancy in 2023: 66.1 years in South Africa and 83.7 years in Spain, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in Spain, by 17.5 years, or 1.27 times that in South Africa.
South AfricaSpain
Watch it change on the mapLatest figures
years · UN
| Country | Latest | 10 years before | Rank in 2023 | Projected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 66.1 2023 | 62.4 | 194 of 229 | 77.3 2100 |
| Spain | 83.7 2023 | 82.7 | 13 of 229 | 92.9 2100 |
| World | 73.2 2023 | 71.1 | 81.7 2100 |
What the numbers say
- Spain has been higher in every year both have figures for since 1950.
- In 2023, South Africa ranked 194 and Spain ranked 13 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts South Africa at 77.3 years and Spain at 92.9 years in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 73.2 years in 2023.
Every year
years · UN
| Year | South Africa | Spain | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 66.1 | 83.7 | 73.2 |
| 2022 | 65.5 | 82.4 | 72.6 |
| 2021 | 62 | 83 | 70.9 |
| 2020 | 65.2 | 82.2 | 71.9 |
| 2019 | 66.1 | 83.5 | 72.6 |
| 2018 | 65.7 | 83.1 | 72.4 |
| 2017 | 65.4 | 83 | 72.1 |
| 2016 | 64.8 | 83 | 71.9 |
| 2015 | 64.1 | 82.6 | 71.6 |
| 2014 | 63.2 | 82.8 | 71.4 |
| 2013 | 62.4 | 82.7 | 71.1 |
| 2012 | 61.7 | 82.2 | 70.8 |
| 2011 | 60.6 | 82.2 | 70.4 |
| 2010 | 58.9 | 82 | 70.1 |
| 2009 | 57.4 | 81.6 | 69.7 |
| 2008 | 56 | 81.3 | 69.3 |
| 2007 | 55 | 81 | 69 |
| 2006 | 54.2 | 81 | 68.6 |
| 2005 | 53.9 | 80.3 | 68.1 |
| 2004 | 54 | 80.3 | 67.7 |
| 2003 | 54.3 | 79.8 | 67.4 |
| 2002 | 55.6 | 79.8 | 67.1 |
| 2001 | 57.2 | 79.7 | 66.8 |
| 2000 | 58.4 | 79.4 | 66.4 |
| 1999 | 59.2 | 78.9 | 66 |
| 1998 | 59.9 | 78.9 | 65.7 |
| 1997 | 60.5 | 78.9 | 65.5 |
| 1996 | 61.1 | 78.3 | 65.2 |
| 1995 | 61.6 | 78.2 | 64.9 |
| 1994 | 62.1 | 78.1 | 64.3 |
| 1993 | 62.6 | 77.7 | 64.4 |
| 1992 | 62.8 | 77.6 | 64.3 |
| 1991 | 63 | 77.1 | 64.1 |
| 1990 | 62.9 | 77 | 64 |
| 1989 | 63 | 77 | 63.8 |
| 1988 | 62.9 | 77 | 63.4 |
| 1987 | 62.7 | 77 | 63.2 |
| 1986 | 62.4 | 76.7 | 62.7 |
| 1985 | 62.2 | 76.4 | 62.2 |
| 1984 | 61.8 | 76.5 | 61.9 |
| 1983 | 61.4 | 76.1 | 61.5 |
| 1982 | 60.9 | 76.3 | 61.3 |
| 1981 | 60.5 | 75.7 | 60.9 |
| 1980 | 60 | 75.5 | 60.5 |
| 1979 | 59.5 | 75 | 60.2 |
| 1978 | 59 | 74.5 | 59.5 |
| 1977 | 58.5 | 74.3 | 59.2 |
| 1976 | 58 | 73.8 | 58.6 |
| 1975 | 57.6 | 73.5 | 58.3 |
| 1974 | 57.1 | 73.1 | 58.1 |
| 1973 | 56.7 | 72.7 | 57.7 |
| 1972 | 56.4 | 73 | 57.2 |
| 1971 | 56 | 71.7 | 56 |
| 1970 | 55.7 | 72.2 | 56.3 |
| 1969 | 55.4 | 71.1 | 56 |
| 1968 | 55.2 | 71.7 | 55.6 |
| 1967 | 55 | 71.4 | 55.1 |
| 1966 | 54.7 | 71.2 | 54.6 |
| 1965 | 54.4 | 70.9 | 54 |
| 1964 | 54.2 | 70.5 | 54.3 |
| 1963 | 53.9 | 69.8 | 53.7 |
| 1962 | 53.6 | 69.6 | 53.2 |
| 1961 | 53.1 | 69.6 | 50.4 |
| 1960 | 52.6 | 69.2 | 47.8 |
| 1959 | 51.9 | 68.7 | 49.6 |
| 1958 | 51.2 | 68.8 | 51.6 |
| 1957 | 50.2 | 66.6 | 51.1 |
| 1956 | 49.2 | 66.8 | 50.7 |
| 1955 | 48.2 | 66.7 | 50.2 |
| 1954 | 47.1 | 66.9 | 49.7 |
| 1953 | 46.1 | 65.7 | 48.8 |
| 1952 | 45.1 | 64.8 | 48.2 |
| 1951 | 44.1 | 61.5 | 47.1 |
| 1950 | 43.1 | 61.8 | 46.4 |
| 1949 | – | 60.9 | – |
| 1948 | – | 61.3 | – |
| 1947 | – | 59.1 | – |
| 1946 | – | 57.6 | – |
| 1945 | – | 57.8 | – |
| 1944 | – | 56.3 | – |
| 1943 | – | 54.9 | – |
| 1942 | – | 52.3 | – |
| 1941 | – | 47.3 | – |
| 1940 | – | 48.6 | – |
| 1939 | – | 47.2 | – |
| 1938 | – | 47.6 | – |
| 1937 | – | 47.3 | – |
| 1936 | – | 51 | – |
| 1935 | – | 52.7 | – |
| 1934 | – | 52.2 | – |
| 1933 | – | 51.6 | – |
| 1932 | – | 51.1 | – |
| 1931 | – | 49.3 | – |
| 1930 | – | 49.3 | – |
| 1929 | – | 49.5 | – |
| 1928 | – | 48.6 | – |
| 1927 | – | 48.5 | – |
| 1926 | – | 47.7 | – |
| 1925 | – | 47 | – |
| 1924 | – | 46.3 | – |
| 1923 | – | 44.8 | – |
| 1922 | – | 44.2 | – |
| 1921 | – | 42 | – |
| 1920 | – | 39.4 | – |
| 1919 | – | 41 | – |
| 1918 | – | 30.4 | – |
| 1917 | – | 42.6 | – |
| 1916 | – | 43.9 | – |
| 1915 | – | 43.1 | – |
| 1914 | – | 42.8 | – |
| 1913 | – | 42.6 | – |
| 1912 | – | 43.4 | – |
| 1911 | – | 39.8 | – |
| 1910 | – | 40.8 | – |
| 1909 | – | 41 | – |
| 1908 | – | 41.4 | – |
| 1900 | – | 34.8 | – |
| 1892 | – | 32.1 | – |
| 1882 | – | 29.5 | – |
- 12.3Estimates, Our World in Data
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | South Africa | Spain | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 66.365–67.7 | 83.882.9–84.7 | 73.3 |
| 2025 | 66.564.5–68.5 | 8482.7–85.3 | 73.5 |
| 2026 | 66.764.3–69 | 84.182.6–85.7 | 73.8 |
| 2027 | 66.864–69.6 | 84.282.5–86.1 | 73.9 |
| 2028 | 6763.8–70.1 | 84.482.5–86.5 | 74.1 |
| 2029 | 67.263.7–70.5 | 84.582.5–86.9 | 74.2 |
| 2030 | 67.363.6–71 | 84.682.5–87.2 | 74.4 |
| 2031 | 67.563.6–71.2 | 84.882.4–87.4 | 74.5 |
| 2032 | 67.663.5–71.7 | 84.982.5–87.8 | 74.7 |
| 2033 | 67.863.5–71.9 | 8582.5–87.9 | 74.8 |
| 2034 | 6863.4–72.3 | 85.282.5–88.3 | 75 |
| 2035 | 68.163.4–72.8 | 85.382.6–88.5 | 75.1 |
| 2036 | 68.363.2–73 | 85.482.6–88.7 | 75.3 |
| 2037 | 68.463.2–73.2 | 85.582.6–88.8 | 75.4 |
| 2038 | 68.663.1–73.3 | 85.782.6–89.1 | 75.5 |
| 2039 | 68.763.3–73.9 | 85.882.6–89.4 | 75.7 |
| 2040 | 68.963.3–74 | 85.982.6–89.7 | 75.8 |
| 2041 | 6963.1–74.5 | 8682.6–89.7 | 75.9 |
| 2042 | 69.263.1–74.7 | 86.282.6–90.1 | 76.1 |
| 2043 | 69.363.2–74.9 | 86.382.6–90.3 | 76.2 |
| 2044 | 69.563.3–75.2 | 86.482.6–90.5 | 76.3 |
| 2045 | 69.663.4–75.4 | 86.682.7–90.7 | 76.5 |
| 2046 | 69.863.4–75.8 | 86.782.6–90.9 | 76.6 |
| 2047 | 69.963.3–76 | 86.882.7–91.2 | 76.7 |
| 2048 | 70.163.1–76.2 | 86.982.7–91.4 | 76.8 |
| 2049 | 70.263.1–76.5 | 8782.8–91.7 | 76.9 |
| 2050 | 70.363.3–76.7 | 87.182.8–92 | 77 |
| 2051 | 70.563.6–77.1 | 87.382.9–92.1 | 77.1 |
| 2052 | 70.663.5–77.3 | 87.482.9–92.5 | 77.2 |
| 2053 | 70.863.3–77.8 | 87.583–92.7 | 77.3 |
| 2054 | 70.963.5–78 | 87.783.1–92.9 | 77.4 |
| 2055 | 7163.5–78.2 | 87.883.1–93.2 | 77.6 |
| 2056 | 71.263.5–78.7 | 87.983.1–93.5 | 77.7 |
| 2057 | 71.363.7–78.9 | 8883–93.5 | 77.8 |
| 2058 | 71.563.6–79.1 | 88.183–93.7 | 77.9 |
| 2059 | 71.663.7–79.5 | 88.282.8–93.9 | 78 |
| 2060 | 71.763.6–79.6 | 88.483–94 | 78.1 |
| 2061 | 71.963.7–79.8 | 88.583.3–94.1 | 78.2 |
| 2062 | 7263.7–79.9 | 88.683.3–94.3 | 78.3 |
| 2063 | 72.263.9–80.1 | 88.783.4–94.6 | 78.4 |
| 2064 | 72.364–80.4 | 88.883.4–94.9 | 78.5 |
| 2065 | 72.464.1–80.6 | 88.983.4–95.1 | 78.6 |
| 2066 | 72.664.2–80.7 | 89.183.4–95.2 | 78.7 |
| 2067 | 72.764.1–81.3 | 89.283.4–95.4 | 78.8 |
| 2068 | 72.964.1–81.4 | 89.383.6–95.7 | 78.9 |
| 2069 | 7364.2–81.6 | 89.483.6–95.9 | 79 |
| 2070 | 73.164.2–82 | 89.583.8–96.1 | 79.1 |
| 2071 | 73.364.1–82.3 | 89.684.1–96.4 | 79.2 |
| 2072 | 73.464.4–82.5 | 89.884.1–96.5 | 79.3 |
| 2073 | 73.664.2–82.8 | 89.984.1–96.7 | 79.4 |
| 2074 | 73.764.3–82.7 | 9084.1–96.8 | 79.4 |
| 2075 | 73.864.5–82.9 | 90.184.2–97.1 | 79.5 |
| 2076 | 7464.5–83.2 | 90.284.3–97.2 | 79.6 |
| 2077 | 74.164.6–83.3 | 90.384.4–97.3 | 79.7 |
| 2078 | 74.364.5–83.7 | 90.484.4–97.4 | 79.8 |
| 2079 | 74.464.8–83.8 | 90.684.4–97.4 | 79.9 |
| 2080 | 74.564.6–84 | 90.784.3–97.9 | 80 |
| 2081 | 74.764.7–84.1 | 90.884.5–97.9 | 80.1 |
| 2082 | 74.864.7–84.2 | 90.984.6–98.1 | 80.2 |
| 2083 | 7564.7–84.4 | 9184.7–98.3 | 80.3 |
| 2084 | 75.164.7–84.6 | 91.184.8–98.4 | 80.3 |
| 2085 | 75.264.8–84.7 | 91.284.9–98.6 | 80.4 |
| 2086 | 75.464.8–84.8 | 91.384.9–98.8 | 80.5 |
| 2087 | 75.565–85.2 | 91.584.8–99 | 80.6 |
| 2088 | 75.765–85.2 | 91.685–99 | 80.7 |
| 2089 | 75.865.2–85.5 | 91.784.9–99.1 | 80.8 |
| 2090 | 75.965.3–85.5 | 91.884.8–99.1 | 80.9 |
| 2091 | 76.165.3–85.6 | 91.984.8–99.4 | 81 |
| 2092 | 76.265.2–85.8 | 9285.1–99.5 | 81 |
| 2093 | 76.365.6–86.1 | 92.185.2–99.6 | 81.1 |
| 2094 | 76.565.5–86.2 | 92.285.2–99.8 | 81.2 |
| 2095 | 76.665.4–86.3 | 92.385.2–99.9 | 81.3 |
| 2096 | 76.865.3–86.5 | 92.485.3–100.2 | 81.4 |
| 2097 | 76.965.3–86.8 | 92.585.3–100.4 | 81.5 |
| 2098 | 77.165.3–86.9 | 92.685.4–100.6 | 81.6 |
| 2099 | 77.265.1–87.1 | 92.885.4–100.7 | 81.7 |
| 2100 | 77.365.5–87.1 | 92.985.4–100.8 | 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