Life Expectancy at Birth in South Sudan
South Sudan: Life Expectancy at Birth was 57.74 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Life Expectancy at Birth in South Sudan, 1960–2024
Source: International Monetary Fund.
Analysis
In 2024, life expectancy at birth in South Sudan stood at 57.74.
The figure is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 26.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, life expectancy at birth in South Sudan peaked at 58.28 in 2013 and was at its lowest, 10.99, in 1988.
That places South Sudan 213th out of 216 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 65 years of available data.
Life Expectancy at Birth in South Sudan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 28.05 | — |
| 1961 | 28.28 | +0.8% |
| 1962 | 28.51 | +0.8% |
| 1963 | 28.25 | -0.9% |
| 1964 | 32.46 | +14.9% |
| 1965 | 28.78 | -11.3% |
| 1966 | 25.63 | -10.9% |
| 1967 | 25.86 | +0.9% |
| 1968 | 26.1 | +0.9% |
| 1969 | 25.4 | -2.7% |
| 1970 | 25.63 | +0.9% |
| 1971 | 30.99 | +20.9% |
| 1972 | 31.29 | +1.0% |
| 1973 | 36.28 | +15.9% |
| 1974 | 36.59 | +0.9% |
| 1975 | 36.87 | +0.8% |
| 1976 | 37.09 | +0.6% |
| 1977 | 37.4 | +0.8% |
| 1978 | 37.59 | +0.5% |
| 1979 | 37.8 | +0.6% |
| 1980 | 38.03 | +0.6% |
| 1981 | 38.31 | +0.7% |
| 1982 | 38.68 | +1.0% |
| 1983 | 34.73 | -10.2% |
| 1984 | 31.79 | -8.5% |
| 1985 | 32.36 | +1.8% |
| 1986 | 32.82 | +1.4% |
| 1987 | 20.72 | -36.9% |
| 1988 | 10.99 | -47.0% |
| 1989 | 28.22 | +156.8% |
| 1990 | 28.63 | +1.5% |
| 1991 | 29.18 | +1.9% |
| 1992 | 21.94 | -24.8% |
| 1993 | 22.26 | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 44.86 | +101.5% |
| 1995 | 31.51 | -29.8% |
| 1996 | 32.12 | +1.9% |
| 1997 | 33.07 | +2.9% |
| 1998 | 19.05 | -42.4% |
| 1999 | 44.54 | +133.8% |
| 2000 | 47.59 | +6.9% |
| 2001 | 48.55 | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 49.39 | +1.7% |
| 2003 | 52.32 | +5.9% |
| 2004 | 53.05 | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 53.97 | +1.7% |
| 2006 | 54.65 | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 55.42 | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 56.28 | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 56.85 | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 57.48 | +1.1% |
| 2011 | 57.67 | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 58.24 | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 58.28 | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 45.62 | -21.7% |
| 2015 | 39.76 | -12.9% |
| 2016 | 36.72 | -7.6% |
| 2017 | 35.35 | -3.7% |
| 2018 | 51.91 | +46.8% |
| 2019 | 58.13 | +12.0% |
| 2020 | 57.65 | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 57.05 | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 57.2 | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 57.62 | +0.7% |
| 2024 | 57.74 | +0.2% |
South Sudan compared with similar countries
- South Sudan's 57.74 is below the median for low income countries, which is 63.84, 90% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- South Sudan's 57.74 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 64.26, 90% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Life Expectancy at Birth in South Sudan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | +156.8% | 10.99 | 28.22 |
| 1999 | +133.8% | 19.05 | 44.54 |
| 1994 | +101.5% | 22.26 | 44.86 |
| 1988 | -47.0% | 20.72 | 10.99 |
| 2018 | +46.8% | 35.35 | 51.91 |
| 1998 | -42.4% | 33.07 | 19.05 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 27.73 | 25.4 | 32.46 | 10 |
| 1970s | 34.75 | 25.63 | 37.8 | 10 |
| 1980s | 30.66 | 10.99 | 38.68 | 10 |
| 1990s | 30.72 | 19.05 | 44.86 | 10 |
| 2000s | 52.81 | 47.59 | 56.85 | 10 |
| 2010s | 49.92 | 35.35 | 58.28 | 10 |
| 2020s | 57.45 | 57.05 | 57.74 | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Sudan
More gender data for South Sudan
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 4,664 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 1 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 8,793 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 8,793 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 2.48 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 165,929 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 170,597 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 158,909 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 162,998 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 153,651 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is life expectancy at birth in South Sudan?
- Life expectancy at birth in South Sudan was 57.74 in 2024, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest life expectancy at birth recorded in South Sudan?
- The highest recorded value was 58.28 in 2013.
- What is the lowest life expectancy at birth recorded in South Sudan?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.99 in 1988.
- How does South Sudan rank for life expectancy at birth?
- South Sudan ranks 213th out of 216 countries with data for 2024.
- Is life expectancy at birth rising or falling in South Sudan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Sudan data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of Life Expectancy at Birth. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Gender-disaggregated data on health outcomes.