In South Africa, the life expectancy of people varies between gender, race, and province.
Understanding life expectancy
Life expectancy refers to the number of years that a person can expect to live. It can be looked at in two perspectives namely; life expectancy at birth and healthy life expectancy at birth.
Life expectancy at birth is the average number of years that a newborn could expect to live, (the average age of death).
Healthy life expectancy at birth is the average number of years that a person could expect to live in “full health” from birth. This measurement takes into consideration the years lived in less than full health due to disease and/or injury.
South Africa’s life expectancy
According to the 2024 Mid-Year estimates by Statistics South Africa, life expectancy at birth is estimated at 69.2 years for females and 63.6 years for males. The overall life expectancy for South Africa is estimated at 66.5 years.
The life expectancy in South Africa is so low because of the South African HIV/AIDS pandemic which saw South African life expectancy fall from a high point of 63 years in 1992 to a low of 54 in 2005, and the failure of the government to take steps to address the pandemic in its early years.
Recently as of 2024, South Africa still has the biggest HIV epidemic in the world with 8 million people living with HIV and the HIV prevalence in the general population being a high 12.7%.
South Africa also has a TB problem and is one of the countries with the highest incidences of Tuberculosis in the world.
Together, HIV/AIDS and TB are the biggest health risks in South Africa and thus the leading cause of death in the country.
The low life expectancy in the country is made worse by South Africa’s infant mortality rate which is estimated at 22.9 per 1,000 live births according to the 2024 Mid-Year estimate by Statistics South Africa.
The table below shows the life expectancy at birth in South Africa from the year 1990 to 2022 according to the World Bank Group.
Year | Life Expectancy (years) |
---|---|
2024 | 66.5 |
2022 | 61 |
2021 | 62 |
2020 | 65 |
2019 | 66 |
2018 | 66 |
2017 | 65 |
2016 | 65 |
2015 | 64 |
2014 | 63 |
2013 | 63 |
2012 | 62 |
2011 | 61 |
2010 | 59 |
2009 | 57 |
2008 | 56 |
2007 | 55 |
2006 | 54 |
2005 | 54 |
2004 | 54 |
2003 | 54 |
2002 | 56 |
2001 | 57 |
2000 | 58 |
1999 | 59 |
1998 | 60 |
1997 | 61 |
1996 | 61 |
1995 | 62 |
1994 | 63 |
1993 | 63 |
1992 | 63 |
1991 | 63 |
1990 | 63 |
South Africa’s life expectancy by gender
With approximately 50.99% (32,129,704) of the South African population being female and approximately 49.01% (30,886,200) being male, South Africa’s life expectancy at birth for 2024 was estimated at 63.6 years for males and 69.2 years for females.
The table shows the life expectancy at birth in South Africa for males and females.
Gender | Life Expectancy |
---|---|
Male | 63.6 |
Female | 69.2 |
According to the above table, there is a sex gap of 5.58.
South Africa’s life expectancy by race
According to the 2024 Mid-Year estimates by Statistics South Africa, the life expectancy for a black South African was 48 years, and 71 years for a white South African.
Race | Life Expectancy |
---|---|
Black South African | 48 |
White South African | 71 |
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