Countries in Africa Ranked by Life expectancy (2024)
Life expectancy: each country's latest value (2019–2024), ranked from highest to lowest. Source: The World Bank (CC BY 4.0).
Summary
Tunisia ranks #1 with 76.7 years. Algeria is second with 76.5 years, 0.31% behind. The top five are Tunisia, Algeria, Seychelles, Cabo Verde and Morocco. The median across all 54 is 65.8 years; Nigeria is last at 54.6 years. Tunisia's figure has risen 6% since 2000 (72.6 years to 76.7 years in 2024).
- #1
- Tunisia · 76.7 years
- Median
- 65.8 years
- Coverage
- 54 countries in Africa
- Data year
- 2024
- Last updated
- 2026-11-14
Full ranking
| Rank | Country | Life expectancy (years) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tunisia | 76.7 |
| 2 | Algeria | 76.5 |
| 3 | Seychelles | 76.3 |
| 4 | Cabo Verde | 76.2 |
| 5 | Morocco | 75.5 |
| 6 | Mauritius | 73.8 |
| 7 | Egypt, Arab Rep. | 71.8 |
| 8 | Libya | 71.1 |
| 9 | São Tomé and Principe | 69.9 |
| 10 | Botswana | 69.3 |
| 11 | Senegal | 68.9 |
| 12 | Eritrea | 68.9 |
| 13 | Mauritania | 68.7 |
| 14 | Gabon | 68.5 |
| 15 | Uganda | 68.5 |
| 16 | Rwanda | 68 |
| 17 | Ethiopia | 67.6 |
| 18 | Malawi | 67.6 |
| 19 | Namibia | 67.5 |
| 20 | Tanzania | 67.2 |
| 21 | Comoros | 67 |
| 22 | Zambia | 66.5 |
| 23 | Sudan | 66.5 |
| 24 | South Africa | 66.3 |
| 25 | Djibouti | 66.2 |
| 26 | Gambia, The | 66.1 |
| 27 | Congo, Rep. | 66 |
| 28 | Ghana | 65.7 |
| 29 | Angola | 64.8 |
| 30 | Eswatini | 64.3 |
| 31 | Guinea-Bissau | 64.3 |
| 32 | Cameroon | 64 |
| 33 | Equatorial Guinea | 63.9 |
| 34 | Madagascar | 63.8 |
| 35 | Kenya | 63.8 |
| 36 | Burundi | 63.8 |
| 37 | Mozambique | 63.8 |
| 38 | Zimbabwe | 63.1 |
| 39 | Togo | 62.9 |
| 40 | Liberia | 62.3 |
| 41 | Côte d'Ivoire | 62.1 |
| 42 | Congo, Dem. Rep. | 62.1 |
| 43 | Sierra Leone | 62 |
| 44 | Niger | 61.4 |
| 45 | Burkina Faso | 61.3 |
| 46 | Benin | 61 |
| 47 | Guinea | 60.9 |
| 48 | Mali | 60.7 |
| 49 | Somalia, Fed. Rep. | 59 |
| 50 | Lesotho | 57.8 |
| 51 | South Sudan | 57.7 |
| 52 | Central African Republic | 57.7 |
| 53 | Chad | 55.2 |
| 54 | Nigeria | 54.6 |
About the top 10
#1 Tunisia
Tunisia ranks #1 on this list with 76.7 years.
- Capital
- Tunis
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 12.35 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$57.5 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$4,657 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 76.7 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 70.7% of population (2025)
Also ranks #9 in youth unemployment rate · #9 in gender parity index (school enrolment) · #16 in unemployment rate.
#2 Algeria
Algeria ranks #2 on this list with 76.5 years.
- Capital
- Algiers
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 47.44 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$287.03 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$6,051 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 76.5 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 75.8% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Algiers.
Also ranks #1 in gross capital formation rate · #5 in education expenditure share of gdp · #10 in land area.
#3 Seychelles
Seychelles ranks #3 on this list with 76.3 years.
- Capital
- Victoria
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 122,730 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$2.39 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$19,449 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 76.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 45.5% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in protected terrestrial area share · #3 in physicians per 1,000 · #8 in male population share.
#4 Cabo Verde
Cabo Verde ranks #4 on this list with 76.2 years.
- Capital
- Praia
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 527,330 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$3.06 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$5,797 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 76.2 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 77.6% of population (2025)
Also ranks #10 in bank branches per 100,000 adults · #17 in women in parliament share · #23 in youth unemployment rate.
#5 Morocco
Morocco ranks #5 on this list with 75.5 years.
- Capital
- Rabat
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 38.43 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$182.37 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$4,673 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 75.5 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 63.1% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Casablanca, Tangier, Fez.
Also ranks #15 in firms using banks to finance investment share · #16 in school enrolment (primary) · #16 in remittances received.
#6 Mauritius
Mauritius ranks #6 on this list with 73.8 years.
- Capital
- Port Louis
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 1.24 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$16.16 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$12,991 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 73.8 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 39% of population (2025)
Also ranks #6 in cereal yield · #11 in low-birthweight babies share · #15 in population density.
#7 Egypt, Arab Rep.
Egypt, Arab Rep. ranks #7 on this list with 71.8 years.
- Capital
- Cairo
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 118.37 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$365.25 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$3,086 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 71.8 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 42.9% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Cairo, Alexandria, Giza.
Also ranks #1 in irrigated land share · #3 in deposit interest rate · #5 in remittances received.
#8 Libya
Libya ranks #8 on this list with 71.1 years.
- Capital
- Tripoli
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 7.46 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$48.1 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$6,449 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 71.1 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 87.9% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Tripoli.
Also ranks #1 in natural resource rents share of gdp · #1 in oil rents share of gdp · #2 in industry value added share of gdp.
#9 São Tomé and Principe
São Tomé and Principe ranks #9 on this list with 69.9 years.
- Capital
- São Tomé
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 240,250 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$981.29 million (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$4,084 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 69.9 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 69.2% of population (2025)
Also ranks #10 in services value added share of gdp · #16 in lending interest rate · #18 in prevalence of undernourishment.
#10 Botswana
Botswana ranks #10 on this list with 69.3 years.
- Capital
- Gaborone
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 2.56 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$19.93 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$7,778 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 69.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 68% of population (2025)
Also ranks #4 in unemployment rate · #4 in hiv prevalence · #5 in youth unemployment rate.
Profile facts: World Bank (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0); weather links go to Purr Weather, another ChowChow Labs site.
Source and method
Life expectancy: each country's latest value (2019–2024), ranked from highest to lowest.
Source: The World Bank, indicator SP.DYN.LE00.IN. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Retrieved: 2026-11-14.
The World Bank: Life expectancy at birth, total (years): World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN) (via World Development Indicators)
Original data provider, as recorded by the World Bank: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN); Statistical databases and publications from national statistical offices, National Statistical Offices (NSOs), note: Derived from male and female life expectancy at birth from sources such as statistical databases and publications from national statistical offices.; Demographic Statistics, Eurostat (ESTAT), note: Derived.
Values are shown as published. Provider terms: The World Bank. All licences: Sources & licences.