Life expectancy in South Africa is among the lowest in the world. Life expectancy varies across provinces, but on average, a person can expect to live 61 years. This is far lower than other countries at similar stages of development and income levels, such as Botswana (68) or Namibia (63). The reasons for this are many, as our new report outlines.
South Africa has the world’s highest TB incidence
TB is a major problem in South Africa, where it has long persisted as the leading cause of death. The country has one of the highest TB incidence rates in the world, with about 50 new cases reported each day.
HIV/Aids is one of the top 25 causes of death in South Africa
In South Africa, HIV/Aids is the leading cause of death in adults aged 15 to 49. It’s also the leading cause of death among children under five years old. As you might expect, these two numbers are closely related—about 1 million people in South Africa are living with HIV and AIDS.
South Africa has some of the highest rates of homicide in the world
South Africa has some of the highest rates of homicide in the world. South Africa is home to over 45,000 murders each year, making it home to 25% of all murders globally. South Africa’s murder rate stands at 34 per 100,000 people. This makes it more dangerous to live in Johannesburg than in New York City or Los Angeles and almost as dangerous as in Chicago. We can attribute the rate at which murders occur here to several factors including poverty, lack of access to healthcare, and availability of firearms among others; however, these are just some factors that contribute to this high rate.
In addition to having a high murder rate, South Africans also face an increase in sexual offences over recent years and although this statistic has decreased slightly since 2015 there were still 60 sexual offences reported every day during 2016 (Daily Maverick). Whilst we’re on the subject we should mention that according to data collected by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), deaths due to assault increased from 56% during 2011/12 until 2014/15 where they then dropped back down again; but even though statistics show us that our country may improve slightly there is still much room for improvement when compared with other countries around us such as Australia (23 homicides per 100 000 people per annum)
What is the life expectancy of a child born in South Africa
A baby born in South Africa today has a life expectancy of 61, according to the World Health Organization. A baby born in the US can expect to live until 78 years old. In Japan, the average life expectancy is 83 years old; in Italy, 81; and in France, 80 (also according to WHO).
