South Africa vs Switzerland
South Africa vs Switzerland: Life expectancy
Life expectancy in 2023: 66.1 years in South Africa and 84 years in Switzerland, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in Switzerland, by 17.8 years, or 1.27 times that in South Africa.
years · UN
What the numbers say
- Switzerland has been higher in every year both have figures for since 1950.
- In 2023, South Africa ranked 194 and Switzerland ranked 9 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts South Africa at 77.3 years and Switzerland at 92.8 years in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 73.2 years in 2023.
Every year
years · UN
| Year | South Africa | Switzerland | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 66.1 | 84 | 73.2 |
| 2022 | 65.5 | 83.2 | 72.6 |
| 2021 | 62 | 83.7 | 70.9 |
| 2020 | 65.2 | 83.1 | 71.9 |
| 2019 | 66.1 | 83.8 | 72.6 |
| 2018 | 65.7 | 83.6 | 72.4 |
| 2017 | 65.4 | 83.4 | 72.1 |
| 2016 | 64.8 | 83.5 | 71.9 |
| 2015 | 64.1 | 82.9 | 71.6 |
| 2014 | 63.2 | 83.1 | 71.4 |
| 2013 | 62.4 | 82.7 | 71.1 |
| 2012 | 61.7 | 82.6 | 70.8 |
| 2011 | 60.6 | 82.6 | 70.4 |
| 2010 | 58.9 | 82.3 | 70.1 |
| 2009 | 57.4 | 82 | 69.7 |
| 2008 | 56 | 82 | 69.3 |
| 2007 | 55 | 81.7 | 69 |
| 2006 | 54.2 | 81.6 | 68.6 |
| 2005 | 53.9 | 81.2 | 68.1 |
| 2004 | 54 | 81.1 | 67.7 |
| 2003 | 54.3 | 80.5 | 67.4 |
| 2002 | 55.6 | 80.4 | 67.1 |
| 2001 | 57.2 | 80.3 | 66.8 |
| 2000 | 58.4 | 79.8 | 66.4 |
| 1999 | 59.2 | 79.7 | 66 |
| 1998 | 59.9 | 79.5 | 65.7 |
| 1997 | 60.5 | 79.2 | 65.5 |
| 1996 | 61.1 | 79.1 | 65.2 |
| 1995 | 61.6 | 78.6 | 64.9 |
| 1994 | 62.1 | 78.5 | 64.3 |
| 1993 | 62.6 | 78.2 | 64.4 |
| 1992 | 62.8 | 77.9 | 64.3 |
| 1991 | 63 | 77.7 | 64.1 |
| 1990 | 62.9 | 77.4 | 64 |
| 1989 | 63 | 77.6 | 63.8 |
| 1988 | 62.9 | 77.4 | 63.4 |
| 1987 | 62.7 | 77.3 | 63.2 |
| 1986 | 62.4 | 77 | 62.7 |
| 1985 | 62.2 | 76.9 | 62.2 |
| 1984 | 61.8 | 76.8 | 61.9 |
| 1983 | 61.4 | 76.2 | 61.5 |
| 1982 | 60.9 | 76.2 | 61.3 |
| 1981 | 60.5 | 75.8 | 60.9 |
| 1980 | 60 | 75.6 | 60.5 |
| 1979 | 59.5 | 75.6 | 60.2 |
| 1978 | 59 | 75.3 | 59.5 |
| 1977 | 58.5 | 75.4 | 59.2 |
| 1976 | 58 | 74.9 | 58.6 |
| 1975 | 57.6 | 74.8 | 58.3 |
| 1974 | 57.1 | 74.4 | 58.1 |
| 1973 | 56.7 | 74.1 | 57.7 |
| 1972 | 56.4 | 73.8 | 57.2 |
| 1971 | 56 | 73.2 | 56 |
| 1970 | 55.7 | 73.1 | 56.3 |
| 1969 | 55.4 | 72.7 | 56 |
| 1968 | 55.2 | 72.7 | 55.6 |
| 1967 | 55 | 72.7 | 55.1 |
| 1966 | 54.7 | 72.5 | 54.6 |
| 1965 | 54.4 | 72.3 | 54 |
| 1964 | 54.2 | 72.2 | 54.3 |
| 1963 | 53.9 | 71.3 | 53.7 |
| 1962 | 53.6 | 71.3 | 53.2 |
| 1961 | 53.1 | 71.7 | 50.4 |
| 1960 | 52.6 | 71.4 | 47.8 |
| 1959 | 51.9 | 71.5 | 49.6 |
| 1958 | 51.2 | 71.3 | 51.6 |
| 1957 | 50.2 | 70.5 | 51.1 |
| 1956 | 49.2 | 70.2 | 50.7 |
| 1955 | 48.2 | 70.1 | 50.2 |
| 1954 | 47.1 | 70 | 49.7 |
| 1953 | 46.1 | 69.5 | 48.8 |
| 1952 | 45.1 | 69.6 | 48.2 |
| 1951 | 44.1 | 68.7 | 47.1 |
| 1950 | 43.1 | 68.9 | 46.4 |
| 1949 | – | 68 | – |
| 1948 | – | 67.3 | – |
| 1947 | – | 66.2 | – |
| 1946 | – | 66.1 | – |
| 1945 | – | 65.4 | – |
| 1944 | – | 64.9 | – |
| 1943 | – | 65.8 | – |
| 1942 | – | 65.6 | – |
| 1941 | – | 64.9 | – |
| 1940 | – | 63.5 | – |
| 1939 | – | 64 | – |
| 1938 | – | 63.8 | – |
| 1937 | – | 63.5 | – |
| 1936 | – | 63.1 | – |
| 1935 | – | 62.1 | – |
| 1934 | – | 62.8 | – |
| 1933 | – | 62.4 | – |
| 1932 | – | 61.2 | – |
| 1931 | – | 61.2 | – |
| 1930 | – | 61.4 | – |
| 1929 | – | 60.1 | – |
| 1928 | – | 60.4 | – |
| 1927 | – | 60.1 | – |
| 1926 | – | 60.6 | – |
| 1925 | – | 59.9 | – |
| 1924 | – | 59.5 | – |
| 1923 | – | 60 | – |
| 1922 | – | 58.5 | – |
| 1921 | – | 57.8 | – |
| 1920 | – | 54.5 | – |
| 1919 | – | 54.8 | – |
| 1918 | – | 46.3 | – |
| 1917 | – | 55.8 | – |
| 1916 | – | 56.5 | – |
| 1915 | – | 55.9 | – |
| 1914 | – | 55.1 | – |
| 1913 | – | 54.2 | – |
| 1912 | – | 54.4 | – |
| 1911 | – | 51.8 | – |
| 1910 | – | 52.9 | – |
| 1909 | – | 51.7 | – |
| 1908 | – | 52.3 | – |
| 1907 | – | 51.2 | – |
| 1906 | – | 50.8 | – |
| 1905 | – | 49.7 | – |
| 1904 | – | 49.2 | – |
| 1903 | – | 50.1 | – |
| 1902 | – | 50.4 | – |
| 1901 | – | 49 | – |
| 1900 | – | 47.6 | – |
| 1899 | – | 49.3 | – |
| 1898 | – | 48.3 | – |
| 1897 | – | 49.1 | – |
| 1896 | – | 48.9 | – |
| 1895 | – | 46.9 | – |
| 1894 | – | 45.9 | – |
| 1893 | – | 46.1 | – |
| 1892 | – | 47.2 | – |
| 1891 | – | 44.8 | – |
| 1890 | – | 45 | – |
| 1889 | – | 45.2 | – |
| 1888 | – | 46 | – |
| 1887 | – | 45.5 | – |
| 1886 | – | 44.8 | – |
| 1885 | – | 43.9 | – |
| 1884 | – | 45.1 | – |
| 1883 | – | 45 | – |
| 1882 | – | 43 | – |
| 1881 | – | 41.9 | – |
| 1880 | – | 42.5 | – |
| 1879 | – | 41.8 | – |
| 1878 | – | 40.6 | – |
| 1877 | – | 40 | – |
| 1876 | – | 40.2 | – |
- 12.3Estimates, Our World in Data
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | South Africa | Switzerland | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 66.365–67.7 | 84.183.2–85 | 73.3 |
| 2025 | 66.564.5–68.5 | 84.283.1–85.5 | 73.5 |
| 2026 | 66.764.3–69 | 84.482.8–85.9 | 73.8 |
| 2027 | 66.864–69.6 | 84.582.8–86.3 | 73.9 |
| 2028 | 6763.8–70.1 | 84.682.8–86.5 | 74.1 |
| 2029 | 67.263.7–70.5 | 84.882.7–86.9 | 74.2 |
| 2030 | 67.363.6–71 | 84.982.6–87.2 | 74.4 |
| 2031 | 67.563.6–71.2 | 8582.7–87.5 | 74.5 |
| 2032 | 67.663.5–71.7 | 85.282.7–87.8 | 74.7 |
| 2033 | 67.863.5–71.9 | 85.382.6–88 | 74.8 |
| 2034 | 6863.4–72.3 | 85.482.7–88.2 | 75 |
| 2035 | 68.163.4–72.8 | 85.582.6–88.6 | 75.1 |
| 2036 | 68.363.2–73 | 85.782.6–88.8 | 75.3 |
| 2037 | 68.463.2–73.2 | 85.882.6–89.2 | 75.4 |
| 2038 | 68.663.1–73.3 | 85.982.7–89.3 | 75.5 |
| 2039 | 68.763.3–73.9 | 8682.7–89.6 | 75.7 |
| 2040 | 68.963.3–74 | 86.182.7–89.8 | 75.8 |
| 2041 | 6963.1–74.5 | 86.382.7–90 | 75.9 |
| 2042 | 69.263.1–74.7 | 86.482.8–90.2 | 76.1 |
| 2043 | 69.363.2–74.9 | 86.582.8–90.5 | 76.2 |
| 2044 | 69.563.3–75.2 | 86.682.9–90.6 | 76.3 |
| 2045 | 69.663.4–75.4 | 86.783.1–90.8 | 76.5 |
| 2046 | 69.863.4–75.8 | 86.883.1–91.1 | 76.6 |
| 2047 | 69.963.3–76 | 8783.1–91.3 | 76.7 |
| 2048 | 70.163.1–76.2 | 87.183–91.5 | 76.8 |
| 2049 | 70.263.1–76.5 | 87.283–91.6 | 76.9 |
| 2050 | 70.363.3–76.7 | 87.383.2–91.9 | 77 |
| 2051 | 70.563.6–77.1 | 87.483.2–92.1 | 77.1 |
| 2052 | 70.663.5–77.3 | 87.583.2–92.3 | 77.2 |
| 2053 | 70.863.3–77.8 | 87.783.2–92.6 | 77.3 |
| 2054 | 70.963.5–78 | 87.883.3–92.9 | 77.4 |
| 2055 | 7163.5–78.2 | 87.983.3–93 | 77.6 |
| 2056 | 71.263.5–78.7 | 8883.4–93.1 | 77.7 |
| 2057 | 71.363.7–78.9 | 88.183.3–93.2 | 77.8 |
| 2058 | 71.563.6–79.1 | 88.283.5–93.3 | 77.9 |
| 2059 | 71.663.7–79.5 | 88.383.4–93.5 | 78 |
| 2060 | 71.763.6–79.6 | 88.583.6–93.6 | 78.1 |
| 2061 | 71.963.7–79.8 | 88.683.7–93.9 | 78.2 |
| 2062 | 7263.7–79.9 | 88.783.6–94.1 | 78.3 |
| 2063 | 72.263.9–80.1 | 88.883.7–94.2 | 78.4 |
| 2064 | 72.364–80.4 | 88.983.7–94.3 | 78.5 |
| 2065 | 72.464.1–80.6 | 8983.8–94.5 | 78.6 |
| 2066 | 72.664.2–80.7 | 89.183.7–94.7 | 78.7 |
| 2067 | 72.764.1–81.3 | 89.283.7–94.9 | 78.8 |
| 2068 | 72.964.1–81.4 | 89.383.8–95.1 | 78.9 |
| 2069 | 7364.2–81.6 | 89.484–95.3 | 79 |
| 2070 | 73.164.2–82 | 89.583.9–95.5 | 79.1 |
| 2071 | 73.364.1–82.3 | 89.784–95.5 | 79.2 |
| 2072 | 73.464.4–82.5 | 89.884.1–95.8 | 79.3 |
| 2073 | 73.664.2–82.8 | 89.984.2–96 | 79.4 |
| 2074 | 73.764.3–82.7 | 9084.2–96.1 | 79.4 |
| 2075 | 73.864.5–82.9 | 90.184.2–96.1 | 79.5 |
| 2076 | 7464.5–83.2 | 90.284.2–96.1 | 79.6 |
| 2077 | 74.164.6–83.3 | 90.384.5–96.4 | 79.7 |
| 2078 | 74.364.5–83.7 | 90.484.4–96.5 | 79.8 |
| 2079 | 74.464.8–83.8 | 90.584.5–96.7 | 79.9 |
| 2080 | 74.564.6–84 | 90.684.7–97.1 | 80 |
| 2081 | 74.764.7–84.1 | 90.884.6–97.3 | 80.1 |
| 2082 | 74.864.7–84.2 | 90.984.7–97.3 | 80.2 |
| 2083 | 7564.7–84.4 | 9184.7–97.5 | 80.3 |
| 2084 | 75.164.7–84.6 | 91.184.8–97.7 | 80.3 |
| 2085 | 75.264.8–84.7 | 91.284.8–97.7 | 80.4 |
| 2086 | 75.464.8–84.8 | 91.385–97.9 | 80.5 |
| 2087 | 75.565–85.2 | 91.485.2–98.2 | 80.6 |
| 2088 | 75.765–85.2 | 91.585.3–98.4 | 80.7 |
| 2089 | 75.865.2–85.5 | 91.685.3–98.6 | 80.8 |
| 2090 | 75.965.3–85.5 | 91.785.3–98.7 | 80.9 |
| 2091 | 76.165.3–85.6 | 91.885.5–99.1 | 81 |
| 2092 | 76.265.2–85.8 | 9285.4–99.1 | 81 |
| 2093 | 76.365.6–86.1 | 92.185.5–99.3 | 81.1 |
| 2094 | 76.565.5–86.2 | 92.285.6–99.5 | 81.2 |
| 2095 | 76.665.4–86.3 | 92.385.6–99.6 | 81.3 |
| 2096 | 76.865.3–86.5 | 92.485.7–99.9 | 81.4 |
| 2097 | 76.965.3–86.8 | 92.585.8–99.9 | 81.5 |
| 2098 | 77.165.3–86.9 | 92.685.9–100 | 81.6 |
| 2099 | 77.265.1–87.1 | 92.786–100.1 | 81.7 |
| 2100 | 77.365.5–87.1 | 92.886.1–100.2 | 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 Switzerland
Health
- Child mortalitySouth Africa: 3.5 per 100 live births in 2024Switzerland: 0.4 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalitySouth Africa: 27.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023Switzerland: 3.2 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionSouth Africa: 3.75% in 2017Switzerland: 3.71% in 2017
- Suicide rateSouth Africa: 11.2 per 100,000 people in 2017Switzerland: 9.3 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationSouth Africa: 63.2 million people in 2023Switzerland: 8.87 million people in 2023
- Population growthSouth Africa: 1.32% a year in 2023Switzerland: 0.62% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateSouth Africa: 2.22 births per woman in 2023Switzerland: 1.43 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationSouth Africa: 63.8% in 2025Switzerland: 85.7% in 2025
- Median ageSouth Africa: 28.2 years in 2023Switzerland: 42.3 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overSouth Africa: 6.5% in 2023Switzerland: 19.6% in 2023
- Net migration rateSouth Africa: 3.6 per 1,000 people in 2023Switzerland: 5.1 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingSouth Africa: 0.74% of GDP in 2025Switzerland: 0.76% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsSouth Africa: $3B in 2025Switzerland: $7.15B in 2025
- Military spending per personSouth Africa: $49 in 2025Switzerland: $849 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingSouth Africa: 2.2% of government spending in 2025Switzerland: 2.4% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelSouth Africa: 89,000 people in 2020Switzerland: 20,000 people in 2020
- National powerSouth Africa: 0.55% of world capability in 2022Switzerland: 0.12% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersSouth Africa: 0.4% of the labour force in 2020Switzerland: 0.4% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsSouth Africa: 30 million TIV in 2025Switzerland: 33 million TIV in 2023
- Arms exportsSouth Africa: 115 million TIV in 2025Switzerland: 129 million TIV in 2025