South Africa vs United Kingdom
South Africa vs United Kingdom: Life expectancy
Life expectancy in 2023: 66.1 years in South Africa and 81.3 years in United Kingdom, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in United Kingdom, by 15.2 years, or 1.23 times that in South Africa.
years · UN
What the numbers say
- United Kingdom has been higher in every year both have figures for since 1950.
- In 2023, South Africa ranked 194 and United Kingdom ranked 42 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts South Africa at 77.3 years and United Kingdom at 90.6 years in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 73.2 years in 2023.
Every year
years · UN
| Year | South Africa | United Kingdom | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 66.1 | 81.3 | 73.2 |
| 2022 | 65.5 | 81.1 | 72.6 |
| 2021 | 62 | 80.7 | 70.9 |
| 2020 | 65.2 | 80.4 | 71.9 |
| 2019 | 66.1 | 81.4 | 72.6 |
| 2018 | 65.7 | 81.1 | 72.4 |
| 2017 | 65.4 | 81.2 | 72.1 |
| 2016 | 64.8 | 81.1 | 71.9 |
| 2015 | 64.1 | 80.9 | 71.6 |
| 2014 | 63.2 | 81.2 | 71.4 |
| 2013 | 62.4 | 80.9 | 71.1 |
| 2012 | 61.7 | 80.9 | 70.8 |
| 2011 | 60.6 | 80.8 | 70.4 |
| 2010 | 58.9 | 80.4 | 70.1 |
| 2009 | 57.4 | 80.2 | 69.7 |
| 2008 | 56 | 79.7 | 69.3 |
| 2007 | 55 | 79.5 | 69 |
| 2006 | 54.2 | 79.4 | 68.6 |
| 2005 | 53.9 | 79.1 | 68.1 |
| 2004 | 54 | 78.9 | 67.7 |
| 2003 | 54.3 | 78.3 | 67.4 |
| 2002 | 55.6 | 78.2 | 67.1 |
| 2001 | 57.2 | 78.1 | 66.8 |
| 2000 | 58.4 | 77.9 | 66.4 |
| 1999 | 59.2 | 77.4 | 66 |
| 1998 | 59.9 | 77.3 | 65.7 |
| 1997 | 60.5 | 77.1 | 65.5 |
| 1996 | 61.1 | 76.9 | 65.2 |
| 1995 | 61.6 | 76.6 | 64.9 |
| 1994 | 62.1 | 76.7 | 64.3 |
| 1993 | 62.6 | 76.2 | 64.4 |
| 1992 | 62.8 | 76.3 | 64.3 |
| 1991 | 63 | 75.9 | 64.1 |
| 1990 | 62.9 | 75.7 | 64 |
| 1989 | 63 | 75.4 | 63.8 |
| 1988 | 62.9 | 75.3 | 63.4 |
| 1987 | 62.7 | 75.2 | 63.2 |
| 1986 | 62.4 | 74.8 | 62.7 |
| 1985 | 62.2 | 74.5 | 62.2 |
| 1984 | 61.8 | 74.7 | 61.9 |
| 1983 | 61.4 | 74.3 | 61.5 |
| 1982 | 60.9 | 74 | 61.3 |
| 1981 | 60.5 | 73.9 | 60.9 |
| 1980 | 60 | 73.6 | 60.5 |
| 1979 | 59.5 | 73.2 | 60.2 |
| 1978 | 59 | 73 | 59.5 |
| 1977 | 58.5 | 73.1 | 59.2 |
| 1976 | 58 | 72.6 | 58.6 |
| 1975 | 57.6 | 72.7 | 58.3 |
| 1974 | 57.1 | 72.4 | 58.1 |
| 1973 | 56.7 | 72.2 | 57.7 |
| 1972 | 56.4 | 72 | 57.2 |
| 1971 | 56 | 72.2 | 56 |
| 1970 | 55.7 | 71.9 | 56.3 |
| 1969 | 55.4 | 71.7 | 56 |
| 1968 | 55.2 | 71.7 | 55.6 |
| 1967 | 55 | 72.1 | 55.1 |
| 1966 | 54.7 | 71.4 | 54.6 |
| 1965 | 54.4 | 71.5 | 54 |
| 1964 | 54.2 | 71.5 | 54.3 |
| 1963 | 53.9 | 70.8 | 53.7 |
| 1962 | 53.6 | 70.9 | 53.2 |
| 1961 | 53.1 | 70.8 | 50.4 |
| 1960 | 52.6 | 71 | 47.8 |
| 1959 | 51.9 | 70.8 | 49.6 |
| 1958 | 51.2 | 70.7 | 51.6 |
| 1957 | 50.2 | 70.5 | 51.1 |
| 1956 | 49.2 | 70.4 | 50.7 |
| 1955 | 48.2 | 70.1 | 50.2 |
| 1954 | 47.1 | 70.2 | 49.7 |
| 1953 | 46.1 | 69.8 | 48.8 |
| 1952 | 45.1 | 69.5 | 48.2 |
| 1951 | 44.1 | 68.2 | 47.1 |
| 1950 | 43.1 | 68.6 | 46.4 |
| 1949 | – | 68.1 | – |
| 1948 | – | 68.4 | – |
| 1947 | – | 66.4 | – |
| 1946 | – | 66.2 | – |
| 1945 | – | 65.8 | – |
| 1944 | – | 64.8 | – |
| 1943 | – | 64 | – |
| 1942 | – | 64 | – |
| 1941 | – | 61.3 | – |
| 1940 | – | 60.9 | – |
| 1939 | – | 63.6 | – |
| 1938 | – | 63.2 | – |
| 1937 | – | 61.8 | – |
| 1936 | – | 61.8 | – |
| 1935 | – | 62 | – |
| 1934 | – | 61.3 | – |
| 1933 | – | 60.6 | – |
| 1932 | – | 60.5 | – |
| 1931 | – | 60 | – |
| 1930 | – | 60.8 | – |
| 1929 | – | 57.6 | – |
| 1928 | – | 59.9 | – |
| 1927 | – | 59 | – |
| 1926 | – | 59.6 | – |
| 1925 | – | 58.4 | – |
| 1924 | – | 58.1 | – |
| 1923 | – | 59.3 | – |
| 1922 | – | 57 | – |
| 1921 | – | 58.1 | – |
| 1920 | – | 57.3 | – |
| 1919 | – | 54.3 | – |
| 1918 | – | 47.3 | – |
| 1917 | – | 54.2 | – |
| 1916 | – | 54.2 | – |
| 1915 | – | 51.2 | – |
| 1914 | – | 53.2 | – |
| 1913 | – | 53.4 | – |
| 1912 | – | 54.3 | – |
| 1911 | – | 51.2 | – |
| 1910 | – | 53.3 | – |
| 1909 | – | 51.7 | – |
| 1908 | – | 51 | – |
| 1907 | – | 50.6 | – |
| 1906 | – | 49.6 | – |
| 1905 | – | 49.9 | – |
| 1904 | – | 48.2 | – |
| 1903 | – | 49.5 | – |
| 1902 | – | 48.4 | – |
| 1901 | – | 46.9 | – |
| 1900 | – | 45.6 | – |
| 1899 | – | 45.2 | – |
| 1898 | – | 46.1 | – |
| 1897 | – | 46.5 | – |
| 1896 | – | 47.1 | – |
| 1895 | – | 45.4 | – |
| 1894 | – | 48.3 | – |
| 1893 | – | 44.7 | – |
| 1892 | – | 45.6 | – |
| 1891 | – | 44.4 | – |
| 1890 | – | 44.1 | – |
| 1889 | – | 45.9 | – |
| 1888 | – | 46.3 | – |
| 1887 | – | 45.1 | – |
| 1886 | – | 44.6 | – |
| 1885 | – | 44.6 | – |
| 1884 | – | 43.6 | – |
| 1883 | – | 44 | – |
| 1882 | – | 44 | – |
| 1881 | – | 45.1 | – |
| 1880 | – | 43 | – |
| 1879 | – | 43.5 | – |
| 1878 | – | 42 | – |
| 1877 | – | 43.7 | – |
| 1876 | – | 42.7 | – |
| 1875 | – | 41.5 | – |
| 1874 | – | 42.1 | – |
| 1873 | – | 43.3 | – |
| 1872 | – | 42.7 | – |
| 1871 | – | 41.1 | – |
| 1870 | – | 40.6 | – |
| 1869 | – | 41.3 | – |
| 1868 | – | 41.7 | – |
| 1867 | – | 42 | – |
| 1866 | – | 40.1 | – |
| 1865 | – | 39.8 | – |
| 1864 | – | 39.6 | – |
| 1863 | – | 40.4 | – |
| 1862 | – | 42.1 | – |
| 1861 | – | 41.6 | – |
| 1860 | – | 42 | – |
| 1859 | – | 40.4 | – |
| 1858 | – | 39.6 | – |
| 1857 | – | 40.9 | – |
| 1856 | – | 42.5 | – |
| 1855 | – | 40.7 | – |
| 1854 | – | 39.5 | – |
| 1853 | – | 40 | – |
| 1852 | – | 40.4 | – |
| 1851 | – | 41 | – |
| 1850 | – | 42.8 | – |
| 1849 | – | 37.7 | – |
| 1848 | – | 39.9 | – |
| 1847 | – | 38.5 | – |
| 1846 | – | 40.2 | – |
| 1845 | – | 42.2 | – |
| 1844 | – | 41.2 | – |
| 1843 | – | 41.6 | – |
| 1842 | – | 41 | – |
| 1838 | – | 40.6 | – |
| 1833 | – | 40.9 | – |
| 1828 | – | 41.4 | – |
| 1823 | – | 40.5 | – |
| 1818 | – | 40.8 | – |
| 1813 | – | 41.3 | – |
| 1808 | – | 40.6 | – |
| 1803 | – | 40 | – |
- 12.3Estimates, Our World in Data
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | South Africa | United Kingdom | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 66.365–67.7 | 81.580.6–82.3 | 73.3 |
| 2025 | 66.564.5–68.5 | 81.680.3–82.8 | 73.5 |
| 2026 | 66.764.3–69 | 81.880.2–83.3 | 73.8 |
| 2027 | 66.864–69.6 | 81.980–83.7 | 73.9 |
| 2028 | 6763.8–70.1 | 8279.9–83.9 | 74.1 |
| 2029 | 67.263.7–70.5 | 82.279.9–84.3 | 74.2 |
| 2030 | 67.363.6–71 | 82.479.9–84.6 | 74.4 |
| 2031 | 67.563.6–71.2 | 82.579.9–84.9 | 74.5 |
| 2032 | 67.663.5–71.7 | 82.779.9–85.1 | 74.7 |
| 2033 | 67.863.5–71.9 | 82.879.9–85.4 | 74.8 |
| 2034 | 6863.4–72.3 | 82.979.9–85.6 | 75 |
| 2035 | 68.163.4–72.8 | 83.179.8–85.9 | 75.1 |
| 2036 | 68.363.2–73 | 83.279.9–86.1 | 75.3 |
| 2037 | 68.463.2–73.2 | 83.479.9–86.2 | 75.4 |
| 2038 | 68.663.1–73.3 | 83.579.8–86.5 | 75.5 |
| 2039 | 68.763.3–73.9 | 83.679.8–86.7 | 75.7 |
| 2040 | 68.963.3–74 | 83.879.8–87 | 75.8 |
| 2041 | 6963.1–74.5 | 83.980–87.3 | 75.9 |
| 2042 | 69.263.1–74.7 | 8479.9–87.6 | 76.1 |
| 2043 | 69.363.2–74.9 | 84.279.9–87.8 | 76.2 |
| 2044 | 69.563.3–75.2 | 84.379.9–88 | 76.3 |
| 2045 | 69.663.4–75.4 | 84.579.9–88.3 | 76.5 |
| 2046 | 69.863.4–75.8 | 84.680.2–88.4 | 76.6 |
| 2047 | 69.963.3–76 | 84.780–88.6 | 76.7 |
| 2048 | 70.163.1–76.2 | 84.880.1–88.9 | 76.8 |
| 2049 | 70.263.1–76.5 | 84.980.2–89.1 | 76.9 |
| 2050 | 70.363.3–76.7 | 85.180.2–89.2 | 77 |
| 2051 | 70.563.6–77.1 | 85.280.4–89.5 | 77.1 |
| 2052 | 70.663.5–77.3 | 85.380.6–89.7 | 77.2 |
| 2053 | 70.863.3–77.8 | 85.580.7–90 | 77.3 |
| 2054 | 70.963.5–78 | 85.680.8–90.2 | 77.4 |
| 2055 | 7163.5–78.2 | 85.780.8–90.4 | 77.6 |
| 2056 | 71.263.5–78.7 | 85.880.8–90.5 | 77.7 |
| 2057 | 71.363.7–78.9 | 85.980.8–90.9 | 77.8 |
| 2058 | 71.563.6–79.1 | 86.180.9–91 | 77.9 |
| 2059 | 71.663.7–79.5 | 86.281.1–91.1 | 78 |
| 2060 | 71.763.6–79.6 | 86.381.1–91.3 | 78.1 |
| 2061 | 71.963.7–79.8 | 86.481.2–91.5 | 78.2 |
| 2062 | 7263.7–79.9 | 86.581.3–91.8 | 78.3 |
| 2063 | 72.263.9–80.1 | 86.681.4–92 | 78.4 |
| 2064 | 72.364–80.4 | 86.881.3–92.2 | 78.5 |
| 2065 | 72.464.1–80.6 | 86.981.6–92.4 | 78.6 |
| 2066 | 72.664.2–80.7 | 8781.7–92.5 | 78.7 |
| 2067 | 72.764.1–81.3 | 87.181.8–92.8 | 78.8 |
| 2068 | 72.964.1–81.4 | 87.281.7–92.9 | 78.9 |
| 2069 | 7364.2–81.6 | 87.381.9–93.1 | 79 |
| 2070 | 73.164.2–82 | 87.481.9–93.4 | 79.1 |
| 2071 | 73.364.1–82.3 | 87.582.2–93.4 | 79.2 |
| 2072 | 73.464.4–82.5 | 87.682.1–93.7 | 79.3 |
| 2073 | 73.664.2–82.8 | 87.882.3–93.8 | 79.4 |
| 2074 | 73.764.3–82.7 | 87.982.3–93.9 | 79.4 |
| 2075 | 73.864.5–82.9 | 8882.4–94 | 79.5 |
| 2076 | 7464.5–83.2 | 88.182.3–94.2 | 79.6 |
| 2077 | 74.164.6–83.3 | 88.282.4–94.5 | 79.7 |
| 2078 | 74.364.5–83.7 | 88.382.6–94.7 | 79.8 |
| 2079 | 74.464.8–83.8 | 88.482.5–94.8 | 79.9 |
| 2080 | 74.564.6–84 | 88.582.6–94.9 | 80 |
| 2081 | 74.764.7–84.1 | 88.682.5–95.1 | 80.1 |
| 2082 | 74.864.7–84.2 | 88.782.5–95.4 | 80.2 |
| 2083 | 7564.7–84.4 | 88.882.5–95.5 | 80.3 |
| 2084 | 75.164.7–84.6 | 88.982.6–95.6 | 80.3 |
| 2085 | 75.264.8–84.7 | 8982.7–95.8 | 80.4 |
| 2086 | 75.464.8–84.8 | 89.182.8–96.2 | 80.5 |
| 2087 | 75.565–85.2 | 89.283–96.4 | 80.6 |
| 2088 | 75.765–85.2 | 89.382.9–96.6 | 80.7 |
| 2089 | 75.865.2–85.5 | 89.482.9–96.8 | 80.8 |
| 2090 | 75.965.3–85.5 | 89.582.9–96.9 | 80.9 |
| 2091 | 76.165.3–85.6 | 89.683.1–97 | 81 |
| 2092 | 76.265.2–85.8 | 89.883.1–97.1 | 81 |
| 2093 | 76.365.6–86.1 | 89.983.2–97.2 | 81.1 |
| 2094 | 76.565.5–86.2 | 9083.3–97.4 | 81.2 |
| 2095 | 76.665.4–86.3 | 90.183.2–97.5 | 81.3 |
| 2096 | 76.865.3–86.5 | 90.283.3–97.6 | 81.4 |
| 2097 | 76.965.3–86.8 | 90.383.4–97.7 | 81.5 |
| 2098 | 77.165.3–86.9 | 90.483.5–98 | 81.6 |
| 2099 | 77.265.1–87.1 | 90.583.4–98 | 81.7 |
| 2100 | 77.365.5–87.1 | 90.683.7–98.3 | 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 United Kingdom
Health
- Child mortalitySouth Africa: 3.5 per 100 live births in 2024United Kingdom: 0.5 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalitySouth Africa: 27.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023United Kingdom: 3.7 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionSouth Africa: 3.75% in 2017United Kingdom: 4.12% in 2017
- Suicide rateSouth Africa: 11.2 per 100,000 people in 2017United Kingdom: 7.4 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationSouth Africa: 63.2 million people in 2023United Kingdom: 68.7 million people in 2023
- Population growthSouth Africa: 1.32% a year in 2023United Kingdom: 0.7% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateSouth Africa: 2.22 births per woman in 2023United Kingdom: 1.56 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationSouth Africa: 63.8% in 2025United Kingdom: 83.3% in 2025
- Median ageSouth Africa: 28.2 years in 2023United Kingdom: 39.8 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overSouth Africa: 6.5% in 2023United Kingdom: 19.2% in 2023
- Net migration rateSouth Africa: 3.6 per 1,000 people in 2023United Kingdom: 6.5 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
- GDP per personSouth Africa: $5,713 in 2025United Kingdom: $48,420 in 2025
- GDP growthSouth Africa: 1.1% a year in 2025United Kingdom: 1.2% a year in 2025
- InflationSouth Africa: 3.2% a year in 2025United Kingdom: 3.4% a year in 2025
- Government debtSouth Africa: 76% of GDP in 2024United Kingdom: 102.1% of GDP in 2025
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingSouth Africa: 0.74% of GDP in 2025United Kingdom: 2.35% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsSouth Africa: $3B in 2025United Kingdom: $88B in 2025
- Military spending per personSouth Africa: $49 in 2025United Kingdom: $1,283 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingSouth Africa: 2.2% of government spending in 2025United Kingdom: 5.4% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelSouth Africa: 89,000 people in 2020United Kingdom: 153,000 people in 2020
- National powerSouth Africa: 0.55% of world capability in 2022United Kingdom: 1.25% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersSouth Africa: 0.4% of the labour force in 2020United Kingdom: 0.45% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsSouth Africa: 30 million TIV in 2025United Kingdom: 609 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsSouth Africa: 115 million TIV in 2025United Kingdom: 702 million TIV in 2025