The Life Expectancy in South Africa: A Land of Contrasts
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Based on current trends, life expectancy is the average number of years a person can expect to live. The World Bank’s latest figures show that life expectancy in South Africa is currently 66 years – up from a low of 58 years in 1990. That’s still well below the global average of 73 years. South Africans also do not live as long as their counterparts in developing countries like Kenya and Tanzania, where life expectancy hovers around the mid-70s. To add further context, life expectancy in sub-Saharan Africa remains stubbornly low at just 55 years. This article examines why this disparity exists, what factors influence life expectancy in South Africa, and what steps are being taken to improve it.
What influences life expectancy in South Africa?
Many variations in life expectancy between different countries is attributable to socioeconomic factors, such as the availability of healthcare and the prevalence of infectious diseases. Unfortunately, South Africa has been disproportionately affected by these factors, which negatively impact the life expectancy of its citizens. HIV/AIDs remains a major cause of death in South Africa and is estimated to have taken around 343,000 lives in 2017 alone. The number of deaths attributable to HIV/AIDs is significantly higher than in other sub-Saharan countries, which has significantly impacted life expectancy figures in South Africa. Lack of access to healthcare is also a significant factor. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly half of the South African population reported either a delay in receiving care when sick or not receiving any care at all in 2017. This is a major problem for a country where infectious diseases are prevalent. Most infectious diseases in South Africa are highly preventable if people have access to clean water, adequate sanitation, and vaccinations.
Socioeconomic factors
Socioeconomic factors such as education, income, and the quality of infrastructure in a country can also play a part in dictating life expectancy. Although South Africa has seen rapid GDP growth in recent years, this has not been reflected in improvements to other socioeconomic factors. The country is currently ranked 72nd on the Human Development Index (HDI), which measures average income, literacy rates, and education levels. This is a marked difference from other sub-Saharan countries like Kenya, ranked 40th in the world for HDI. This lack of investment in education can be seen in the country’s literacy rates, which are significantly lower than the global average. According to the World Bank, just 72% of South Africans can read and write, compared with a worldwide average of 86%. Even within sub-Saharan Africa, literacy levels in South Africa rank low, with only Namibia and Guinea Bissau lagging.
Conclusion
Much variation in life expectancy between different countries is attributable to socioeconomic factors, such as the availability of healthcare and the prevalence of infectious diseases. South Africa has, unfortunately, been disproportionately affected by each of these factors, which has negatively impacted the life expectancy of its citizens. However, despite these issues, the World Bank predicts that South African life expectancy will continue to rise in the coming years. This is because the country has made significant investments in improving access to clean water and sanitation and expanding vaccination programs. If these trends continue, it’s likely that South Africans will soon be living longer, healthier lives.
