South Africa vs Sweden
South Africa vs Sweden: Life expectancy
Life expectancy in 2023: 66.1 years in South Africa and 83.3 years in Sweden, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in Sweden, by 17.1 years, or 1.26 times that in South Africa.
years · UN
What the numbers say
- Sweden has been higher in every year both have figures for since 1950.
- In 2023, South Africa ranked 194 and Sweden ranked 19 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts South Africa at 77.3 years and Sweden at 92.2 years in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 73.2 years in 2023.
Every year
years · UN
| Year | South Africa | Sweden | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 66.1 | 83.3 | 73.2 |
| 2022 | 65.5 | 83.1 | 72.6 |
| 2021 | 62 | 83 | 70.9 |
| 2020 | 65.2 | 82.4 | 71.9 |
| 2019 | 66.1 | 83.1 | 72.6 |
| 2018 | 65.7 | 82.5 | 72.4 |
| 2017 | 65.4 | 82.4 | 72.1 |
| 2016 | 64.8 | 82.3 | 71.9 |
| 2015 | 64.1 | 82.2 | 71.6 |
| 2014 | 63.2 | 82.2 | 71.4 |
| 2013 | 62.4 | 81.9 | 71.1 |
| 2012 | 61.7 | 81.7 | 70.8 |
| 2011 | 60.6 | 81.8 | 70.4 |
| 2010 | 58.9 | 81.5 | 70.1 |
| 2009 | 57.4 | 81.4 | 69.7 |
| 2008 | 56 | 81.1 | 69.3 |
| 2007 | 55 | 81 | 69 |
| 2006 | 54.2 | 80.8 | 68.6 |
| 2005 | 53.9 | 80.6 | 68.1 |
| 2004 | 54 | 80.6 | 67.7 |
| 2003 | 54.3 | 80.2 | 67.4 |
| 2002 | 55.6 | 79.9 | 67.1 |
| 2001 | 57.2 | 79.8 | 66.8 |
| 2000 | 58.4 | 79.7 | 66.4 |
| 1999 | 59.2 | 79.5 | 66 |
| 1998 | 59.9 | 79.4 | 65.7 |
| 1997 | 60.5 | 79.3 | 65.5 |
| 1996 | 61.1 | 79 | 65.2 |
| 1995 | 61.6 | 78.8 | 64.9 |
| 1994 | 62.1 | 78.8 | 64.3 |
| 1993 | 62.6 | 78.1 | 64.4 |
| 1992 | 62.8 | 78.1 | 64.3 |
| 1991 | 63 | 77.7 | 64.1 |
| 1990 | 62.9 | 77.6 | 64 |
| 1989 | 63 | 77.7 | 63.8 |
| 1988 | 62.9 | 77 | 63.4 |
| 1987 | 62.7 | 77.1 | 63.2 |
| 1986 | 62.4 | 77 | 62.7 |
| 1985 | 62.2 | 76.7 | 62.2 |
| 1984 | 61.8 | 76.8 | 61.9 |
| 1983 | 61.4 | 76.6 | 61.5 |
| 1982 | 60.9 | 76.4 | 61.3 |
| 1981 | 60.5 | 76 | 60.9 |
| 1980 | 60 | 75.7 | 60.5 |
| 1979 | 59.5 | 75.5 | 60.2 |
| 1978 | 59 | 75.5 | 59.5 |
| 1977 | 58.5 | 75.4 | 59.2 |
| 1976 | 58 | 75 | 58.6 |
| 1975 | 57.6 | 75 | 58.3 |
| 1974 | 57.1 | 75 | 58.1 |
| 1973 | 56.7 | 74.9 | 57.7 |
| 1972 | 56.4 | 74.7 | 57.2 |
| 1971 | 56 | 74.6 | 56 |
| 1970 | 55.7 | 74.7 | 56.3 |
| 1969 | 55.4 | 74.1 | 56 |
| 1968 | 55.2 | 74 | 55.6 |
| 1967 | 55 | 74.2 | 55.1 |
| 1966 | 54.7 | 74.1 | 54.6 |
| 1965 | 54.4 | 73.9 | 54 |
| 1964 | 54.2 | 73.7 | 54.3 |
| 1963 | 53.9 | 73.5 | 53.7 |
| 1962 | 53.6 | 73.4 | 53.2 |
| 1961 | 53.1 | 73.5 | 50.4 |
| 1960 | 52.6 | 73 | 47.8 |
| 1959 | 51.9 | 73.4 | 49.6 |
| 1958 | 51.2 | 73.2 | 51.6 |
| 1957 | 50.2 | 72.5 | 51.1 |
| 1956 | 49.2 | 72.7 | 50.7 |
| 1955 | 48.2 | 72.6 | 50.2 |
| 1954 | 47.1 | 72.4 | 49.7 |
| 1953 | 46.1 | 71.9 | 48.8 |
| 1952 | 45.1 | 71.9 | 48.2 |
| 1951 | 44.1 | 71.4 | 47.1 |
| 1950 | 43.1 | 71.1 | 46.4 |
| 1949 | – | 70.8 | – |
| 1948 | – | 70.7 | – |
| 1947 | – | 69.5 | – |
| 1946 | – | 69.5 | – |
| 1945 | – | 68.3 | – |
| 1944 | – | 67.7 | – |
| 1943 | – | 68.7 | – |
| 1942 | – | 69 | – |
| 1941 | – | 67 | – |
| 1940 | – | 66.7 | – |
| 1939 | – | 66.4 | – |
| 1938 | – | 65.5 | – |
| 1937 | – | 64.6 | – |
| 1936 | – | 64.6 | – |
| 1935 | – | 64.9 | – |
| 1934 | – | 65 | – |
| 1933 | – | 64.8 | – |
| 1932 | – | 63.9 | – |
| 1931 | – | 62.7 | – |
| 1930 | – | 63.2 | – |
| 1929 | – | 62.3 | – |
| 1928 | – | 62.2 | – |
| 1927 | – | 61.6 | – |
| 1926 | – | 62.7 | – |
| 1925 | – | 62.5 | – |
| 1924 | – | 61.9 | – |
| 1923 | – | 62.9 | – |
| 1922 | – | 61.1 | – |
| 1921 | – | 61 | – |
| 1920 | – | 58.9 | – |
| 1919 | – | 56.4 | – |
| 1918 | – | 49.7 | – |
| 1917 | – | 58.8 | – |
| 1916 | – | 58.1 | – |
| 1915 | – | 57.1 | – |
| 1914 | – | 58.2 | – |
| 1913 | – | 58.6 | – |
| 1912 | – | 57.7 | – |
| 1911 | – | 58 | – |
| 1910 | – | 57.7 | – |
| 1909 | – | 58.3 | – |
| 1908 | – | 56.3 | – |
| 1907 | – | 56.9 | – |
| 1906 | – | 56.6 | – |
| 1905 | – | 54.4 | – |
| 1904 | – | 55.3 | – |
| 1903 | – | 55 | – |
| 1902 | – | 54.7 | – |
| 1901 | – | 52.9 | – |
| 1900 | – | 52.2 | – |
| 1899 | – | 50.9 | – |
| 1898 | – | 54.6 | – |
| 1897 | – | 54 | – |
| 1896 | – | 53.3 | – |
| 1895 | – | 54 | – |
| 1894 | – | 51.9 | – |
| 1893 | – | 51.2 | – |
| 1892 | – | 50.5 | – |
| 1891 | – | 51 | – |
| 1890 | – | 50.4 | – |
| 1889 | – | 52.2 | – |
| 1888 | – | 52.3 | – |
| 1887 | – | 51.4 | – |
| 1886 | – | 50.5 | – |
| 1885 | – | 48.8 | – |
| 1884 | – | 49 | – |
| 1883 | – | 48.8 | – |
| 1882 | – | 48.4 | – |
| 1881 | – | 48.4 | – |
| 1880 | – | 47.7 | – |
| 1879 | – | 49 | – |
| 1878 | – | 46.8 | – |
| 1877 | – | 46.1 | – |
| 1876 | – | 44.8 | – |
| 1875 | – | 44.5 | – |
| 1874 | – | 44.2 | – |
| 1873 | – | 48.6 | – |
| 1872 | – | 49.9 | – |
| 1871 | – | 48.9 | – |
| 1870 | – | 45 | – |
| 1869 | – | 41 | – |
| 1868 | – | 43.3 | – |
| 1867 | – | 46.3 | – |
| 1866 | – | 44.8 | – |
| 1865 | – | 45.5 | – |
| 1864 | – | 44.8 | – |
| 1863 | – | 45.5 | – |
| 1862 | – | 42.7 | – |
| 1861 | – | 47.2 | – |
| 1860 | – | 48.5 | – |
| 1859 | – | 44.3 | – |
| 1858 | – | 42 | – |
| 1857 | – | 34.6 | – |
| 1856 | – | 42.1 | – |
| 1855 | – | 43.1 | – |
| 1854 | – | 44.5 | – |
| 1853 | – | 40 | – |
| 1852 | – | 41.4 | – |
| 1851 | – | 43.6 | – |
| 1850 | – | 44.7 | – |
| 1849 | – | 44.5 | – |
| 1848 | – | 45.1 | – |
| 1847 | – | 40.1 | – |
| 1846 | – | 42 | – |
| 1845 | – | 46 | – |
| 1844 | – | 44 | – |
| 1843 | – | 42.8 | – |
| 1842 | – | 42.8 | – |
| 1841 | – | 45.1 | – |
| 1840 | – | 44 | – |
| 1839 | – | 39.9 | – |
| 1838 | – | 40 | – |
| 1837 | – | 39.6 | – |
| 1836 | – | 45.2 | – |
| 1835 | – | 47.2 | – |
| 1834 | – | 38.6 | – |
| 1833 | – | 42.5 | – |
| 1832 | – | 40.9 | – |
| 1831 | – | 39 | – |
| 1830 | – | 41 | – |
| 1829 | – | 36.2 | – |
| 1828 | – | 37.8 | – |
| 1827 | – | 42.7 | – |
| 1826 | – | 43.1 | – |
| 1825 | – | 45.3 | – |
| 1824 | – | 45 | – |
| 1823 | – | 45.2 | – |
| 1822 | – | 42.8 | – |
| 1821 | – | 38.2 | – |
| 1820 | – | 40.2 | – |
| 1819 | – | 37 | – |
| 1818 | – | 40 | – |
| 1817 | – | 40.3 | – |
| 1816 | – | 41.8 | – |
| 1815 | – | 40.5 | – |
| 1814 | – | 38.6 | – |
| 1813 | – | 36.5 | – |
| 1812 | – | 35.1 | – |
| 1811 | – | 34.6 | – |
| 1810 | – | 32 | – |
| 1809 | – | 26.9 | – |
| 1808 | – | 30.2 | – |
| 1807 | – | 38.8 | – |
| 1806 | – | 36.2 | – |
| 1805 | – | 41.1 | – |
| 1804 | – | 39.7 | – |
| 1803 | – | 40.2 | – |
| 1802 | – | 40.2 | – |
| 1801 | – | 36.9 | – |
| 1800 | – | 32.2 | – |
- 12.3Estimates, Our World in Data
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | South Africa | Sweden | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 66.365–67.7 | 83.482.6–84.3 | 73.3 |
| 2025 | 66.564.5–68.5 | 83.682.3–84.8 | 73.5 |
| 2026 | 66.764.3–69 | 83.782.2–85.3 | 73.8 |
| 2027 | 66.864–69.6 | 83.982.1–85.6 | 73.9 |
| 2028 | 6763.8–70.1 | 8482.1–85.9 | 74.1 |
| 2029 | 67.263.7–70.5 | 84.282.1–86.2 | 74.2 |
| 2030 | 67.363.6–71 | 84.382.2–86.5 | 74.4 |
| 2031 | 67.563.6–71.2 | 84.482.2–86.8 | 74.5 |
| 2032 | 67.663.5–71.7 | 84.582.1–87.1 | 74.7 |
| 2033 | 67.863.5–71.9 | 84.782.2–87.4 | 74.8 |
| 2034 | 6863.4–72.3 | 84.882.2–87.7 | 75 |
| 2035 | 68.163.4–72.8 | 84.982.1–88 | 75.1 |
| 2036 | 68.363.2–73 | 85.182.1–88.1 | 75.3 |
| 2037 | 68.463.2–73.2 | 85.282.3–88.4 | 75.4 |
| 2038 | 68.663.1–73.3 | 85.382.4–88.7 | 75.5 |
| 2039 | 68.763.3–73.9 | 85.482.3–88.9 | 75.7 |
| 2040 | 68.963.3–74 | 85.682.4–89.2 | 75.8 |
| 2041 | 6963.1–74.5 | 85.782.4–89.4 | 75.9 |
| 2042 | 69.263.1–74.7 | 85.882.5–89.6 | 76.1 |
| 2043 | 69.363.2–74.9 | 85.982.5–89.7 | 76.2 |
| 2044 | 69.563.3–75.2 | 86.182.5–90.1 | 76.3 |
| 2045 | 69.663.4–75.4 | 86.282.5–90.3 | 76.5 |
| 2046 | 69.863.4–75.8 | 86.382.6–90.6 | 76.6 |
| 2047 | 69.963.3–76 | 86.482.7–90.8 | 76.7 |
| 2048 | 70.163.1–76.2 | 86.582.6–90.9 | 76.8 |
| 2049 | 70.263.1–76.5 | 86.782.7–91.1 | 76.9 |
| 2050 | 70.363.3–76.7 | 86.882.6–91.2 | 77 |
| 2051 | 70.563.6–77.1 | 86.982.6–91.5 | 77.1 |
| 2052 | 70.663.5–77.3 | 8782.8–91.8 | 77.2 |
| 2053 | 70.863.3–77.8 | 87.182.8–91.9 | 77.3 |
| 2054 | 70.963.5–78 | 87.282.9–92.1 | 77.4 |
| 2055 | 7163.5–78.2 | 87.382.8–92.2 | 77.6 |
| 2056 | 71.263.5–78.7 | 87.482.9–92.5 | 77.7 |
| 2057 | 71.363.7–78.9 | 87.583–92.5 | 77.8 |
| 2058 | 71.563.6–79.1 | 87.783.1–92.6 | 77.9 |
| 2059 | 71.663.7–79.5 | 87.883.3–92.9 | 78 |
| 2060 | 71.763.6–79.6 | 87.983.2–93.1 | 78.1 |
| 2061 | 71.963.7–79.8 | 8883.2–93.3 | 78.2 |
| 2062 | 7263.7–79.9 | 88.183–93.5 | 78.3 |
| 2063 | 72.263.9–80.1 | 88.283.1–93.5 | 78.4 |
| 2064 | 72.364–80.4 | 88.383.2–93.8 | 78.5 |
| 2065 | 72.464.1–80.6 | 88.483.3–94.1 | 78.6 |
| 2066 | 72.664.2–80.7 | 88.583.2–94 | 78.7 |
| 2067 | 72.764.1–81.3 | 88.683.2–94.2 | 78.8 |
| 2068 | 72.964.1–81.4 | 88.883.2–94.3 | 78.9 |
| 2069 | 7364.2–81.6 | 88.983.2–94.4 | 79 |
| 2070 | 73.164.2–82 | 8983.3–94.7 | 79.1 |
| 2071 | 73.364.1–82.3 | 89.183.3–94.9 | 79.2 |
| 2072 | 73.464.4–82.5 | 89.283.4–95 | 79.3 |
| 2073 | 73.664.2–82.8 | 89.383.5–95.1 | 79.4 |
| 2074 | 73.764.3–82.7 | 89.483.7–95.3 | 79.4 |
| 2075 | 73.864.5–82.9 | 89.683.7–95.5 | 79.5 |
| 2076 | 7464.5–83.2 | 89.783.8–95.9 | 79.6 |
| 2077 | 74.164.6–83.3 | 89.883.9–95.9 | 79.7 |
| 2078 | 74.364.5–83.7 | 89.983.9–96.1 | 79.8 |
| 2079 | 74.464.8–83.8 | 9084–96.3 | 79.9 |
| 2080 | 74.564.6–84 | 90.184.1–96.6 | 80 |
| 2081 | 74.764.7–84.1 | 90.284.2–96.6 | 80.1 |
| 2082 | 74.864.7–84.2 | 90.384.1–96.8 | 80.2 |
| 2083 | 7564.7–84.4 | 90.484.2–96.9 | 80.3 |
| 2084 | 75.164.7–84.6 | 90.584.3–97.1 | 80.3 |
| 2085 | 75.264.8–84.7 | 90.684.4–97.5 | 80.4 |
| 2086 | 75.464.8–84.8 | 90.784.4–97.6 | 80.5 |
| 2087 | 75.565–85.2 | 90.884.3–97.6 | 80.6 |
| 2088 | 75.765–85.2 | 90.984.6–97.6 | 80.7 |
| 2089 | 75.865.2–85.5 | 9184.5–97.9 | 80.8 |
| 2090 | 75.965.3–85.5 | 91.284.4–98.1 | 80.9 |
| 2091 | 76.165.3–85.6 | 91.384.4–98.3 | 81 |
| 2092 | 76.265.2–85.8 | 91.384.5–98.5 | 81 |
| 2093 | 76.365.6–86.1 | 91.484.3–98.5 | 81.1 |
| 2094 | 76.565.5–86.2 | 91.684.4–98.6 | 81.2 |
| 2095 | 76.665.4–86.3 | 91.784.5–98.7 | 81.3 |
| 2096 | 76.865.3–86.5 | 91.884.8–99.1 | 81.4 |
| 2097 | 76.965.3–86.8 | 91.984.7–99.2 | 81.5 |
| 2098 | 77.165.3–86.9 | 9284.6–99.3 | 81.6 |
| 2099 | 77.265.1–87.1 | 92.184.8–99.4 | 81.7 |
| 2100 | 77.365.5–87.1 | 92.284.9–99.6 | 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
South Africa vs Sweden
Health
- Child mortalitySouth Africa: 3.5 per 100 live births in 2024Sweden: 0.2 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalitySouth Africa: 27.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023Sweden: 1.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionSouth Africa: 3.75% in 2017Sweden: 4.49% in 2017
- Suicide rateSouth Africa: 11.2 per 100,000 people in 2017Sweden: 11.1 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationSouth Africa: 63.2 million people in 2023Sweden: 10.6 million people in 2023
- Population growthSouth Africa: 1.32% a year in 2023Sweden: 0.56% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateSouth Africa: 2.22 births per woman in 2023Sweden: 1.43 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationSouth Africa: 63.8% in 2025Sweden: 89.1% in 2025
- Median ageSouth Africa: 28.2 years in 2023Sweden: 39.9 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overSouth Africa: 6.5% in 2023Sweden: 20.5% in 2023
- Net migration rateSouth Africa: 3.6 per 1,000 people in 2023Sweden: 5.2 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingSouth Africa: 0.74% of GDP in 2025Sweden: 2.47% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsSouth Africa: $3B in 2025Sweden: $15B in 2025
- Military spending per personSouth Africa: $49 in 2025Sweden: $1,549 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingSouth Africa: 2.2% of government spending in 2025Sweden: 5% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelSouth Africa: 89,000 people in 2020Sweden: 15,000 people in 2020
- National powerSouth Africa: 0.55% of world capability in 2022Sweden: 0.19% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersSouth Africa: 0.4% of the labour force in 2020Sweden: 0.27% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsSouth Africa: 30 million TIV in 2025Sweden: 146 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsSouth Africa: 115 million TIV in 2025Sweden: 235 million TIV in 2025