South Africa vs United States
South Africa vs United States: Life expectancy
Life expectancy in 2023: 66.1 years in South Africa and 79.3 years in United States, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in United States, by 13.2 years, or 1.2 times that in South Africa.
years · UN
What the numbers say
- United States has been higher in every year both have figures for since 1950.
- In 2023, South Africa ranked 194 and United States ranked 59 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts South Africa at 77.3 years and United States at 89.2 years in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 73.2 years in 2023.
Every year
years · UN
| Year | South Africa | United States | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 66.1 | 79.3 | 73.2 |
| 2022 | 65.5 | 78 | 72.6 |
| 2021 | 62 | 76.4 | 70.9 |
| 2020 | 65.2 | 77 | 71.9 |
| 2019 | 66.1 | 78.9 | 72.6 |
| 2018 | 65.7 | 78.8 | 72.4 |
| 2017 | 65.4 | 78.7 | 72.1 |
| 2016 | 64.8 | 78.7 | 71.9 |
| 2015 | 64.1 | 78.7 | 71.6 |
| 2014 | 63.2 | 78.9 | 71.4 |
| 2013 | 62.4 | 78.8 | 71.1 |
| 2012 | 61.7 | 78.8 | 70.8 |
| 2011 | 60.6 | 78.7 | 70.4 |
| 2010 | 58.9 | 78.7 | 70.1 |
| 2009 | 57.4 | 78.5 | 69.7 |
| 2008 | 56 | 78.1 | 69.3 |
| 2007 | 55 | 78.1 | 69 |
| 2006 | 54.2 | 77.8 | 68.6 |
| 2005 | 53.9 | 77.5 | 68.1 |
| 2004 | 54 | 77.5 | 67.7 |
| 2003 | 54.3 | 77.1 | 67.4 |
| 2002 | 55.6 | 77 | 67.1 |
| 2001 | 57.2 | 76.9 | 66.8 |
| 2000 | 58.4 | 76.8 | 66.4 |
| 1999 | 59.2 | 76.7 | 66 |
| 1998 | 59.9 | 76.7 | 65.7 |
| 1997 | 60.5 | 76.5 | 65.5 |
| 1996 | 61.1 | 76.2 | 65.2 |
| 1995 | 61.6 | 75.9 | 64.9 |
| 1994 | 62.1 | 75.7 | 64.3 |
| 1993 | 62.6 | 75.6 | 64.4 |
| 1992 | 62.8 | 75.8 | 64.3 |
| 1991 | 63 | 75.5 | 64.1 |
| 1990 | 62.9 | 75.4 | 64 |
| 1989 | 63 | 75.1 | 63.8 |
| 1988 | 62.9 | 74.8 | 63.4 |
| 1987 | 62.7 | 74.9 | 63.2 |
| 1986 | 62.4 | 74.7 | 62.7 |
| 1985 | 62.2 | 74.7 | 62.2 |
| 1984 | 61.8 | 74.7 | 61.9 |
| 1983 | 61.4 | 74.6 | 61.5 |
| 1982 | 60.9 | 74.5 | 61.3 |
| 1981 | 60.5 | 74.1 | 60.9 |
| 1980 | 60 | 73.7 | 60.5 |
| 1979 | 59.5 | 73.8 | 60.2 |
| 1978 | 59 | 73.4 | 59.5 |
| 1977 | 58.5 | 73.2 | 59.2 |
| 1976 | 58 | 72.8 | 58.6 |
| 1975 | 57.6 | 72.5 | 58.3 |
| 1974 | 57.1 | 72 | 58.1 |
| 1973 | 56.7 | 71.4 | 57.7 |
| 1972 | 56.4 | 71.2 | 57.2 |
| 1971 | 56 | 71.1 | 56 |
| 1970 | 55.7 | 70.7 | 56.3 |
| 1969 | 55.4 | 70.5 | 56 |
| 1968 | 55.2 | 70.2 | 55.6 |
| 1967 | 55 | 70.5 | 55.1 |
| 1966 | 54.7 | 70.2 | 54.6 |
| 1965 | 54.4 | 70.3 | 54 |
| 1964 | 54.2 | 70.2 | 54.3 |
| 1963 | 53.9 | 69.9 | 53.7 |
| 1962 | 53.6 | 70.1 | 53.2 |
| 1961 | 53.1 | 70.3 | 50.4 |
| 1960 | 52.6 | 69.8 | 47.8 |
| 1959 | 51.9 | 69.9 | 49.6 |
| 1958 | 51.2 | 69.7 | 51.6 |
| 1957 | 50.2 | 69.4 | 51.1 |
| 1956 | 49.2 | 69.6 | 50.7 |
| 1955 | 48.2 | 69.6 | 50.2 |
| 1954 | 47.1 | 69.5 | 49.7 |
| 1953 | 46.1 | 68.7 | 48.8 |
| 1952 | 45.1 | 68.4 | 48.2 |
| 1951 | 44.1 | 68.2 | 47.1 |
| 1950 | 43.1 | 68.1 | 46.4 |
| 1949 | – | 67.6 | – |
| 1948 | – | 67.2 | – |
| 1947 | – | 66.8 | – |
| 1946 | – | 66.1 | – |
| 1945 | – | 65.6 | – |
| 1944 | – | 65.1 | – |
| 1943 | – | 64.4 | – |
| 1942 | – | 64.5 | – |
| 1941 | – | 63.8 | – |
| 1940 | – | 63.2 | – |
| 1939 | – | 63.1 | – |
| 1938 | – | 62.4 | – |
| 1937 | – | 61 | – |
| 1936 | – | 60.4 | – |
| 1935 | – | 60.9 | – |
| 1934 | – | 60.2 | – |
| 1933 | – | 60.9 | – |
| 1932 | – | 61 | – |
| 1931 | – | 60.3 | – |
| 1930 | – | 59.6 | – |
| 1929 | – | 58.5 | – |
| 1928 | – | 58.3 | – |
| 1927 | – | 59.4 | – |
| 1926 | – | 57.9 | – |
| 1925 | – | 58.5 | – |
| 1924 | – | 58.5 | – |
| 1923 | – | 57.5 | – |
| 1922 | – | 58.1 | – |
| 1921 | – | 58.2 | – |
| 1920 | – | 55.4 | – |
| 1919 | – | 55.3 | – |
| 1918 | – | 47.2 | – |
| 1917 | – | 54 | – |
| 1916 | – | 54.2 | – |
| 1915 | – | 55.1 | – |
| 1914 | – | 54.6 | – |
| 1913 | – | 53.5 | – |
| 1912 | – | 54.1 | – |
| 1911 | – | 53.4 | – |
| 1910 | – | 51.8 | – |
| 1909 | – | 52.8 | – |
| 1908 | – | 51.9 | – |
| 1907 | – | 50.2 | – |
| 1906 | – | 50.1 | – |
| 1905 | – | 50.3 | – |
| 1904 | – | 49.6 | – |
| 1903 | – | 50.6 | – |
| 1902 | – | 50.5 | – |
| 1901 | – | 49.3 | – |
| 1890 | – | 45.2 | – |
| 1880 | – | 39.4 | – |
- 12.3Estimates, Our World in Data
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | South Africa | United States | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 66.365–67.7 | 79.578.5–80.5 | 73.3 |
| 2025 | 66.564.5–68.5 | 79.678.2–80.9 | 73.5 |
| 2026 | 66.764.3–69 | 79.878.1–81.4 | 73.8 |
| 2027 | 66.864–69.6 | 79.978–81.7 | 73.9 |
| 2028 | 6763.8–70.1 | 80.177.8–82.1 | 74.1 |
| 2029 | 67.263.7–70.5 | 80.277.7–82.4 | 74.2 |
| 2030 | 67.363.6–71 | 80.477.7–82.8 | 74.4 |
| 2031 | 67.563.6–71.2 | 80.577.7–83.1 | 74.5 |
| 2032 | 67.663.5–71.7 | 80.777.6–83.4 | 74.7 |
| 2033 | 67.863.5–71.9 | 80.877.5–83.7 | 74.8 |
| 2034 | 6863.4–72.3 | 8177.5–84 | 75 |
| 2035 | 68.163.4–72.8 | 81.177.5–84.3 | 75.1 |
| 2036 | 68.363.2–73 | 81.377.5–84.6 | 75.3 |
| 2037 | 68.463.2–73.2 | 81.477.4–84.8 | 75.4 |
| 2038 | 68.663.1–73.3 | 81.677.4–85 | 75.5 |
| 2039 | 68.763.3–73.9 | 81.777.5–85.3 | 75.7 |
| 2040 | 68.963.3–74 | 81.877.5–85.4 | 75.8 |
| 2041 | 6963.1–74.5 | 8277.5–85.7 | 75.9 |
| 2042 | 69.263.1–74.7 | 82.177.5–85.9 | 76.1 |
| 2043 | 69.363.2–74.9 | 82.377.6–86.1 | 76.2 |
| 2044 | 69.563.3–75.2 | 82.477.5–86.4 | 76.3 |
| 2045 | 69.663.4–75.4 | 82.577.8–86.6 | 76.5 |
| 2046 | 69.863.4–75.8 | 82.777.7–86.8 | 76.6 |
| 2047 | 69.963.3–76 | 82.877.7–87 | 76.7 |
| 2048 | 70.163.1–76.2 | 8377.9–87.2 | 76.8 |
| 2049 | 70.263.1–76.5 | 83.177.8–87.2 | 76.9 |
| 2050 | 70.363.3–76.7 | 83.277.9–87.5 | 77 |
| 2051 | 70.563.6–77.1 | 83.478.1–87.8 | 77.1 |
| 2052 | 70.663.5–77.3 | 83.578–88.1 | 77.2 |
| 2053 | 70.863.3–77.8 | 83.778–88.3 | 77.3 |
| 2054 | 70.963.5–78 | 83.878.1–88.6 | 77.4 |
| 2055 | 7163.5–78.2 | 83.978.4–88.7 | 77.6 |
| 2056 | 71.263.5–78.7 | 84.178.2–88.9 | 77.7 |
| 2057 | 71.363.7–78.9 | 84.278.4–89.4 | 77.8 |
| 2058 | 71.563.6–79.1 | 84.378.6–89.5 | 77.9 |
| 2059 | 71.663.7–79.5 | 84.478.5–89.7 | 78 |
| 2060 | 71.763.6–79.6 | 84.678.7–90 | 78.1 |
| 2061 | 71.963.7–79.8 | 84.778.6–90.1 | 78.2 |
| 2062 | 7263.7–79.9 | 84.878.7–90.4 | 78.3 |
| 2063 | 72.263.9–80.1 | 8578.8–90.5 | 78.4 |
| 2064 | 72.364–80.4 | 85.178.9–90.7 | 78.5 |
| 2065 | 72.464.1–80.6 | 85.278.8–90.7 | 78.6 |
| 2066 | 72.664.2–80.7 | 85.379.1–90.8 | 78.7 |
| 2067 | 72.764.1–81.3 | 85.579.4–90.8 | 78.8 |
| 2068 | 72.964.1–81.4 | 85.679.3–91 | 78.9 |
| 2069 | 7364.2–81.6 | 85.779.3–91.4 | 79 |
| 2070 | 73.164.2–82 | 85.879.6–91.8 | 79.1 |
| 2071 | 73.364.1–82.3 | 85.979.4–91.9 | 79.2 |
| 2072 | 73.464.4–82.5 | 8679.5–92.1 | 79.3 |
| 2073 | 73.664.2–82.8 | 86.279.6–92.1 | 79.4 |
| 2074 | 73.764.3–82.7 | 86.379.6–92.3 | 79.4 |
| 2075 | 73.864.5–82.9 | 86.479.9–92.4 | 79.5 |
| 2076 | 7464.5–83.2 | 86.579.7–92.6 | 79.6 |
| 2077 | 74.164.6–83.3 | 86.679.7–92.7 | 79.7 |
| 2078 | 74.364.5–83.7 | 86.779.9–93 | 79.8 |
| 2079 | 74.464.8–83.8 | 86.879.8–93.3 | 79.9 |
| 2080 | 74.564.6–84 | 8780.2–93.5 | 80 |
| 2081 | 74.764.7–84.1 | 87.180–93.7 | 80.1 |
| 2082 | 74.864.7–84.2 | 87.280.1–93.7 | 80.2 |
| 2083 | 7564.7–84.4 | 87.380.3–93.9 | 80.3 |
| 2084 | 75.164.7–84.6 | 87.480.3–94 | 80.3 |
| 2085 | 75.264.8–84.7 | 87.580.3–94.2 | 80.4 |
| 2086 | 75.464.8–84.8 | 87.680.6–94.5 | 80.5 |
| 2087 | 75.565–85.2 | 87.880.6–94.7 | 80.6 |
| 2088 | 75.765–85.2 | 87.980.2–94.7 | 80.7 |
| 2089 | 75.865.2–85.5 | 8880.7–95 | 80.8 |
| 2090 | 75.965.3–85.5 | 88.180.9–95.1 | 80.9 |
| 2091 | 76.165.3–85.6 | 88.280.7–95.4 | 81 |
| 2092 | 76.265.2–85.8 | 88.381–95.6 | 81 |
| 2093 | 76.365.6–86.1 | 88.481–95.8 | 81.1 |
| 2094 | 76.565.5–86.2 | 88.581.3–95.9 | 81.2 |
| 2095 | 76.665.4–86.3 | 88.681.5–96 | 81.3 |
| 2096 | 76.865.3–86.5 | 88.781.4–96.2 | 81.4 |
| 2097 | 76.965.3–86.8 | 88.981.1–96.3 | 81.5 |
| 2098 | 77.165.3–86.9 | 8981.5–96.6 | 81.6 |
| 2099 | 77.265.1–87.1 | 89.181.5–96.5 | 81.7 |
| 2100 | 77.365.5–87.1 | 89.281.5–96.7 | 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.
- 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 States
Health
- Child mortalitySouth Africa: 3.5 per 100 live births in 2024United States: 0.7 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalitySouth Africa: 27.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023United States: 5.3 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionSouth Africa: 3.75% in 2017United States: 4.84% in 2017
- Suicide rateSouth Africa: 11.2 per 100,000 people in 2017United States: 12.8 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationSouth Africa: 63.2 million people in 2023United States: 344 million people in 2023
- Population growthSouth Africa: 1.32% a year in 2023United States: 0.58% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateSouth Africa: 2.22 births per woman in 2023United States: 1.62 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationSouth Africa: 63.8% in 2025United States: 80.2% in 2025
- Median ageSouth Africa: 28.2 years in 2023United States: 38 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overSouth Africa: 6.5% in 2023United States: 17.4% in 2023
- Net migration rateSouth Africa: 3.6 per 1,000 people in 2023United States: 3.9 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
- GDP per personSouth Africa: $5,713 in 2025United States: $67,950 in 2025
- GDP growthSouth Africa: 1.1% a year in 2025United States: 2.3% a year in 2025
- InflationSouth Africa: 3.2% a year in 2025United States: 2.7% a year in 2025
- Government debtSouth Africa: 76% of GDP in 2024United States: 124.4% of GDP in 2025
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingSouth Africa: 0.74% of GDP in 2025United States: 3.12% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsSouth Africa: $3B in 2025United States: $929B in 2025
- Military spending per personSouth Africa: $49 in 2025United States: $2,755 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingSouth Africa: 2.2% of government spending in 2025United States: 8.3% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelSouth Africa: 89,000 people in 2020United States: 1.4 million people in 2020
- National powerSouth Africa: 0.55% of world capability in 2022United States: 12.36% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersSouth Africa: 0.4% of the labour force in 2020United States: 0.84% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsSouth Africa: 30 million TIV in 2025United States: 745 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsSouth Africa: 115 million TIV in 2025United States: 14 billion TIV in 2025