{"version":1,"asset_type":"statistical_series","data_type":"time_series","slug":"za-life-expectancy-at-birth","url":"https://apiardata.com/statistics/za-life-expectancy-at-birth","html_url":"https://apiardata.com/statistics/za-life-expectancy-at-birth/","title":"South Africa Life Expectancy at Birth (2024)","description":"South Africa's Life Expectancy at Birth: 66.3 years in 2024, +0.3% YoY. World Bank (SP.DYN.LE00.IN), 1975–2024.","domain":"health","category":"Health","keywords":["Health & Wellbeing","World Bank","South Africa","2024"],"publisher":"World Bank","frequency":"Annual","geography":"South Africa","temporal_coverage":"1975/2024","unit":"years","last_updated":"2026-07-25","last_updated_text":"25 July 2026","data_as_of":"2024","variable_measured":"South Africa Life Expectancy at Birth","license":"https://apiardata.com/data-license","is_accessible_for_free":true,"sources":[{"name":"World Bank","url":"https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.LE00.IN?locations=ZA"}],"meta":[{"label":"Frequency","value":"Annual"},{"label":"Coverage","value":"1975–2024"},{"label":"Observations","value":"50"},{"label":"Geography","value":"South Africa"},{"label":"Last updated","value":"25 July 2026"}],"kpis":[{"label":"South Africa (2024)","value":"66.3","unit":"years","trend":{"direction":"up","value":"+0.3% YoY"}},{"label":"YoY Change","value":"+0.3%","unit":"years"},{"label":"Trend","value":"up","unit":""},{"label":"Series length","value":"50","unit":"years of data"}],"series":[{"key":"value","label":"South Africa Life Expectancy at Birth"}],"observation_count":50,"observations":[{"period":"1975","value":57.591},{"period":"1976","value":58},{"period":"1977","value":58.48},{"period":"1978","value":58.991},{"period":"1979","value":59.472},{"period":"1980","value":59.961},{"period":"1981","value":60.445},{"period":"1982","value":60.936},{"period":"1983","value":61.393},{"period":"1984","value":61.837},{"period":"1985","value":62.195},{"period":"1986","value":62.421},{"period":"1987","value":62.694},{"period":"1988","value":62.902},{"period":"1989","value":63.017},{"period":"1990","value":62.942},{"period":"1991","value":62.983},{"period":"1992","value":62.839},{"period":"1993","value":62.618},{"period":"1994","value":62.069},{"period":"1995","value":61.603},{"period":"1996","value":61.079},{"period":"1997","value":60.538},{"period":"1998","value":59.912},{"period":"1999","value":59.19},{"period":"2000","value":58.368},{"period":"2001","value":57.161},{"period":"2002","value":55.58},{"period":"2003","value":54.245},{"period":"2004","value":53.963},{"period":"2005","value":53.914},{"period":"2006","value":54.22},{"period":"2007","value":54.948},{"period":"2008","value":55.982},{"period":"2009","value":57.413},{"period":"2010","value":58.886},{"period":"2011","value":60.602},{"period":"2012","value":61.737},{"period":"2013","value":62.388},{"period":"2014","value":63.184},{"period":"2015","value":64.053},{"period":"2016","value":64.749},{"period":"2017","value":65.422},{"period":"2018","value":65.726},{"period":"2019","value":66.071},{"period":"2020","value":65.15},{"period":"2021","value":62.01},{"period":"2022","value":65.454},{"period":"2023","value":66.139},{"period":"2024","value":66.312}],"table":{"columns":[{"key":"year","label":"Year"},{"key":"value","label":"years"},{"key":"yoyChange","label":"YoY Change"}],"rows":[{"year":"2024","value":"66.3","yoyChange":"+0.3%"},{"year":"2023","value":"66.1","yoyChange":"+1.0%"},{"year":"2022","value":"65.5","yoyChange":"+5.6%"},{"year":"2021","value":"62.0","yoyChange":"-4.8%"},{"year":"2020","value":"65.2","yoyChange":"-1.4%"},{"year":"2019","value":"66.1","yoyChange":"+0.5%"},{"year":"2018","value":"65.7","yoyChange":"+0.5%"},{"year":"2017","value":"65.4","yoyChange":"+1.0%"},{"year":"2016","value":"64.7","yoyChange":"+1.1%"},{"year":"2015","value":"64.1","yoyChange":"+1.4%"},{"year":"2014","value":"63.2","yoyChange":"+1.3%"},{"year":"2013","value":"62.4","yoyChange":"+1.1%"},{"year":"2012","value":"61.7","yoyChange":"+1.9%"},{"year":"2011","value":"60.6","yoyChange":"+2.9%"},{"year":"2010","value":"58.9","yoyChange":"+2.6%"},{"year":"2009","value":"57.4","yoyChange":"+2.6%"},{"year":"2008","value":"56.0","yoyChange":"+1.9%"},{"year":"2007","value":"54.9","yoyChange":"+1.3%"},{"year":"2006","value":"54.2","yoyChange":"+0.6%"},{"year":"2005","value":"53.9","yoyChange":"-0.1%"}]},"qa":[{"question":"What does this indicator measure?","answer":"This page tracks total life expectancy at birth in South Africa from 1990 to present. Highlight the COVID-19 dip (2020–2021) and recovery. Compare to the regional average. It is published by World Bank and updated annually."},{"question":"How current is this data?","answer":"The most recent observation covers 2024. World Bank typically publishes this series with a lag of several months after the reference period. The series runs 1975–2024 (50 observations)."},{"question":"What is the long-term trend?","answer":"The series peaked at 66.3 years in 2024 and reached its lowest recorded value of 53.9 in 2005. The latest reading of 66.3 in 2024 represents a change of +0.2."}]}