Share of men expected to survive to the age of 65 in South Africa
South Africa: Share of men expected to survive to the age of 65 was 52.8% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Latest (2024)
52.8%
Change on year
down 3.9%
World rank
205th
of 215 countries
All-time high
55.0%
in 2023
All-time low
34.3%
in 2005
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Share of men expected to survive to the age of 65 in South Africa, 1960–2024
Source: United Nations Population Division (World Population Prospects), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of cohort.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of men expected to survive to the age of 65 in South Africa is 52.8%, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 3.9% on the previous year and up 11.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of men expected to survive to the age of 65 in South Africa peaked at 55.0% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 34.3%, in 2005.
That places South Africa 205th out of 215 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Share of men expected to survive to the age of 65 in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of cohort | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 40.6% | — |
| 1961 | 41.0% | +1.1% |
| 1962 | 41.9% | +2.0% |
| 1963 | 42.3% | +0.9% |
| 1964 | 42.7% | +1.1% |
| 1965 | 42.9% | +0.5% |
| 1966 | 43.3% | +0.9% |
| 1967 | 43.5% | +0.4% |
| 1968 | 43.6% | +0.4% |
| 1969 | 43.8% | +0.5% |
| 1970 | 44.0% | +0.3% |
| 1971 | 44.5% | +1.1% |
| 1972 | 45.1% | +1.4% |
| 1973 | 45.6% | +1.2% |
| 1974 | 46.2% | +1.3% |
| 1975 | 47.0% | +1.7% |
| 1976 | 47.4% | +0.9% |
| 1977 | 47.9% | +1.0% |
| 1978 | 48.5% | +1.4% |
| 1979 | 49.1% | +1.1% |
| 1980 | 49.5% | +0.9% |
| 1981 | 50.1% | +1.1% |
| 1982 | 50.6% | +1.0% |
| 1983 | 51.0% | +0.9% |
| 1984 | 51.4% | +0.7% |
| 1985 | 51.4% | +0.1% |
| 1986 | 51.3% | -0.4% |
| 1987 | 51.3% | +0.1% |
| 1988 | 51.0% | -0.6% |
| 1989 | 50.8% | -0.4% |
| 1990 | 50.2% | -1.2% |
| 1991 | 50.0% | -0.4% |
| 1992 | 49.5% | -0.9% |
| 1993 | 48.8% | -1.4% |
| 1994 | 48.0% | -1.7% |
| 1995 | 46.8% | -2.5% |
| 1996 | 45.7% | -2.4% |
| 1997 | 44.5% | -2.5% |
| 1998 | 43.6% | -2.2% |
| 1999 | 42.4% | -2.6% |
| 2000 | 40.9% | -3.5% |
| 2001 | 39.4% | -3.8% |
| 2002 | 36.9% | -6.2% |
| 2003 | 34.6% | -6.5% |
| 2004 | 34.4% | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 34.3% | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 34.3% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 34.8% | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 36.3% | +4.2% |
| 2009 | 38.1% | +5.0% |
| 2010 | 40.5% | +6.3% |
| 2011 | 42.6% | +5.4% |
| 2012 | 45.0% | +5.5% |
| 2013 | 46.0% | +2.1% |
| 2014 | 47.4% | +3.1% |
| 2015 | 48.8% | +3.0% |
| 2016 | 50.0% | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 51.2% | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 52.0% | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 53.6% | +3.0% |
| 2020 | 51.8% | -3.4% |
| 2021 | 45.6% | -12.0% |
| 2022 | 52.9% | +16.1% |
| 2023 | 55.0% | +3.9% |
| 2024 | 52.8% | -3.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 52.8% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 72.4%, 73% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 52.8% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 59.0%, 89% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 42.6% | 40.6% | 43.8% | 10 |
| 1970s | 46.5% | 44.0% | 49.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 50.9% | 49.5% | 51.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 46.9% | 42.4% | 50.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 36.4% | 34.3% | 40.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 47.7% | 40.5% | 53.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 51.6% | 45.6% | 55.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 202 Burkina Faso 55.6% compare
- 203 Mozambique 54.3% compare
- 204 Cote d'Ivoire 53.2% compare
- 206 Kenya 52.0% compare
- 207 Eswatini 51.9% compare
- 208 Somalia 51.7% compare
More reference data data for South Africa
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5111 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7468 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 41.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 63.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.07 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of men expected to survive to the age of 65 in South Africa?
- Share of men expected to survive to the age of 65 in South Africa was 52.8% in 2024, according to United Nations Population Division (World Population Prospects), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of men expected to survive to the age of 65 recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 55.0% in 2023.
- What is the lowest share of men expected to survive to the age of 65 recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.3% in 2005.
- How does South Africa rank for share of men expected to survive to the age of 65?
- South Africa ranks 205th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of men expected to survive to the age of 65 rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Population Division (World Population Prospects), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of men expected to survive to the age of 65. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
This measure shows the share newborns that would survive to the age of 65, if subject to age-specific death rates in a given year.