For those born in 2023, the average life expectancy at birth across Africa was 61 years for men and 65 years for women. The average life expectancy globally was 70 years for men and 75 years for women in mid-2023.

Additional information on life expectancy in Africa

With the exception of North Africa where life expectancy is around the worldwide average for men and women, life expectancy across all African regions paints a bleak picture. Comparison of life expectancy by continent shows the gap in average life expectancy between Africa and other continent regions. Africa trails Latin America and the Caribbean, the continent with the second lowest average life expectancy, by 10 years for men and 12 years for women.

Life expectancy in Africa is the lowest globally Moreover, countries from across the African regions dominate the list of countries with the lowest life expectancy worldwide. Nigeria and Lesotho had the lowest life expectancy for those born in 2023 for men and women, respectively. However there is reason for hope despite the low life expectancy rates in many African countries. The Human Development index rating in Sub-Saharan Africa has increased dramatically from 0.43 to 0.55 between 2000 and 2021, demonstrating an improvement in quality of life and as a result greater access to vital services that allow people to live longer lives. One such improvement has been successful efforts to reduce the rate of aids infection and research into combating its effects. The number of new HIV infections across Africa has decreased from around 1.3 million in 2015 to 760,000 in 2022.

This statistic shows average life expectancy at birth in Sub-Saharan Africa from 2012 to 2022. Sub-Saharan Africa includes almost all countries south of the Sahara desert. In 2022, the average life expectancy at birth in Sub-Saharan Africa was 60.74 years.

Graph and download economic data for Life Expectancy at Birth, Total for Developing Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SPDYNLE00INSSA) from 1960 to 2023 about Sub-Saharan Africa, life expectancy, life, and birth.

Africa life expectancy for 2025 is 64.64, a 0.41% increase from 2024.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>Africa life expectancy for 2024 was <strong>64.38</strong>, a <strong>0.41% increase</strong> from 2023.</li>
<li>Africa life expectancy for 2023 was <strong>64.11</strong>, a <strong>0.45% increase</strong> from 2022.</li>
<li>Africa life expectancy for 2022 was <strong>63.82</strong>, a <strong>0.46% increase</strong> from 2021.</li>
</ul>Life expectancy at birth indicates the number of years a newborn infant would live if prevailing patterns of mortality at the time of its birth were to stay the same throughout its life.

Life expectancy at birth in Africa is forecast to exceed 77 years between 2056 and 2065. Estimates show that the average years of life on the continent would grow significantly in the coming years. For comparison, in the ten years from 1996 to 2005, life expectancy was below 60 years of age.

As of 2019, the population of North Africa lived longer than the other African regions. Indeed, Algeria, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia were the African countries with the highest life expectancy. There, a newborn infant was expected to live between 76 and 78 years.

Life expectancy at birth, female (years) in Central African Republic was reported at 59.29 years in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Central African Republic - Life expectancy at birth, female (years) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Graph and download economic data for Life Expectancy at Birth, Total for Developing Countries in Middle East and North Africa (SPDYNLE00INMNA) from 1960 to 2023 about North Africa, Middle East, life expectancy, life, and birth.

Central African Republic CF: Life Expectancy at Birth: Male data was reported at 55.260 Year in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 15.387 Year for 2022. Central African Republic CF: Life Expectancy at Birth: Male data is updated yearly, averaging 46.805 Year from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2023, with 64 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 55.260 Year in 2023 and a record low of 12.383 Year in 2009. Central African Republic CF: Life Expectancy at Birth: Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Central African Republic – Table CF.World Bank.WDI: Social: Health Statistics. Life expectancy at birth indicates the number of years a newborn infant would live if prevailing patterns of mortality at the time of its birth were to stay the same throughout its life.;(1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2024 Revision; (2) Statistical databases and publications from national statistical offices; (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics.;Weighted average;

Graph and download economic data for Life Expectancy at Birth, Total: All Income Levels for Sub-Saharan Africa (SPDYNLE00INSSF) from 1960 to 2023 about Sub-Saharan Africa, life expectancy, life, birth, and income.

Graph and download economic data for Life Expectancy at Birth, Total for the Central African Republic (SPDYNLE00INCAF) from 1960 to 2023 about Central African Republic, life expectancy, life, and birth.

South Africa ZA: Life Expectancy at Birth: Total data was reported at 62.774 Year in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 61.981 Year for 2015. South Africa ZA: Life Expectancy at Birth: Total data is updated yearly, averaging 57.201 Year from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2016, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 62.774 Year in 2016 and a record low of 52.215 Year in 1960. South Africa ZA: Life Expectancy at Birth: Total data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.World Bank: Health Statistics. Life expectancy at birth indicates the number of years a newborn infant would live if prevailing patterns of mortality at the time of its birth were to stay the same throughout its life.; ; (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision, or derived from male and female life expectancy at birth from sources such as: (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.; Weighted average;

This horizontal bar chart displays life expectancy at birth (year) by countries using the aggregation average, weighted by population in Africa. The data is about countries.

Graph and download economic data for Life Expectancy at Birth, Total for South Africa (SPDYNLE00INZAF) from 1960 to 2023 about life expectancy, life, birth, and South Africa.

This horizontal bar chart displays life expectancy at birth (year) by country full name using the aggregation average, weighted by population in Africa. The data is filtered where the date is 2021. The data is about countries per year.

Algeria had the highest life expectancy at birth in Africa as of 2023. A newborn infant was expected to live over 77 years in the country. Cabo Verde, Tunisia, and Mauritius followed, with a life expectancy between 77 and 75 years. On the other hand, Chad registered the lowest average, at nearly 54 years. Overall, the life expectancy in Africa was almost 63 years in the same year.

Life expectancy at birth, male (years) in Central African Republic was reported at 55.26 years in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Central African Republic - Life expectancy at birth, male (years) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on May of 2025.

Central African Republic CF: Life Expectancy at Birth: Total data was reported at 57.408 Year in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 18.818 Year for 2022. Central African Republic CF: Life Expectancy at Birth: Total data is updated yearly, averaging 48.001 Year from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2023, with 64 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 57.408 Year in 2023 and a record low of 14.665 Year in 2009. Central African Republic CF: Life Expectancy at Birth: Total data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Central African Republic – Table CF.World Bank.WDI: Social: Health Statistics. Life expectancy at birth indicates the number of years a newborn infant would live if prevailing patterns of mortality at the time of its birth were to stay the same throughout its life.;(1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2024 Revision; or derived from male and female life expectancy at birth from sources such as: (2) Statistical databases and publications from national statistical offices; (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics.;Weighted average;

South Africa ZA: Life Expectancy at Birth: Male data was reported at 59.231 Year in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 58.458 Year for 2015. South Africa ZA: Life Expectancy at Birth: Male data is updated yearly, averaging 54.080 Year from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2016, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 59.231 Year in 2016 and a record low of 50.096 Year in 1960. South Africa ZA: Life Expectancy at Birth: Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Life expectancy at birth indicates the number of years a newborn infant would live if prevailing patterns of mortality at the time of its birth were to stay the same throughout its life.; ; (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision. (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.; Weighted average;

Healthy life expectancy at birth (years) for African Countries

  Dataset Description

This dataset contains 'Healthy life expectancy at birth (years)' data for all 54 African countries, sourced from the World Health Organization (WHO). The data is structured with years as rows and countries as columns, facilitating time-series analysis. The data is measured in: years. Missing values have been handled using linear interpolation followed by forward and backward filling to… See the full description on the dataset page: https://huggingface.co/datasets/electricsheepafrica/Healthy-Life-Expectancy-At-Birth-Years-for-African-Countries.

This horizontal bar chart displays life expectancy at birth (year) by region using the aggregation average, weighted by population in Africa. The data is about countries.