What is the life expectancy at birth in South Africa?

What is the life expectancy at birth in South Africa?

• A. 55.3 years
• B. 75.2 years
• C. 62.8 years
• D. 68.4 years

Answer: (C)

Life expectancy at birth is the average number of years a newborn would live if current mortality rates stayed the same throughout their life. In South Africa, mortality has been heavily influenced by HIV/AIDS and other health challenges, but gains in antiretroviral treatment have helped lift life expectancy in recent years into the low-to-mid 60s. Among the options, 62.8 years best matches contemporary estimates for South Africa. The other numbers are either too low for the current era (55.3) or too high for SA (75.2) or slightly higher than recent figures (68.4).

Life expectancy at birth is the average number of years a newborn would live if current mortality rates stayed the same throughout their life. In South Africa, mortality has been heavily influenced by HIV/AIDS and other health challenges, but gains in antiretroviral treatment have helped lift life expectancy in recent years into the low-to-mid 60s. Among the options, 62.8 years best matches contemporary estimates for South Africa. The other numbers are either too low for the current era (55.3) or too high for SA (75.2) or slightly higher than recent figures (68.4).