---
title: "How long does a African elephant last?"
description: "An African elephant lasts 50–70 yr. How that compares to other things, and where the number comes from."
url: https://atoneplace.net/how-long/african-elephant/
site: "At One Place"
---

# How long does a African elephant last?

**Typical lifespan: 50–70 yr**

The largest living land animal, distinguished from the Asian elephant by larger ears and a dipped back.

## How that compares

*African elephant against things of a similar time.*

- Great white shark: 50–73 yr
- Saltwater crocodile: 65–100 yr
- Whale shark: 60–130 yr
- African elephant: 50–70 yr
- Asian elephant: 48–70 yr
- Sperm whale: 60–70 yr
- Japanese spider crab: 50–100 yr
- Orca: 30–90 yr

## What that means over time

*Assuming the typical lifespan above and immediate replacement.*

| Period | How many you would buy |
| --- | --- |
| Per year | 0.0167 replacements |
| Over 10 years | 1 of them |
| Over a 30-year mortgage | 1 of them |

> Lifespans are medians under ordinary use, not guarantees. Maintenance, how hard it is used, and build quality move individual examples a long way in both directions — which is why the range above is as wide as it is.

## More about an African elephant

- [How much does a African elephant weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/african-elephant/) — 2,200–10,400 kg
- [African elephant vs Asian elephant](https://atoneplace.net/vs/african-elephant-vs-asian-elephant/) — Side by side
- [African elephant vs Orca](https://atoneplace.net/vs/african-elephant-vs-orca/) — Side by side
- [African elephant vs White rhinoceros](https://atoneplace.net/vs/african-elephant-vs-white-rhinoceros/) — Side by side
- [African elephant vs Hippopotamus](https://atoneplace.net/vs/african-elephant-vs-hippopotamus/) — Side by side
- [African elephant vs Giraffe](https://atoneplace.net/vs/african-elephant-vs-giraffe/) — Side by side
- [African elephant vs Blue whale](https://atoneplace.net/vs/african-elephant-vs-blue-whale/) — Side by side

## Common questions

### How long does an African elephant last?

An African elephant lasts 50–70 yr.

## Related pages

- [How much does a African elephant weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/african-elephant/)
- [How long does a lion last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/lion/)
- [How long does a tiger last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/tiger/)
- [How long does a domestic cat last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/domestic-cat/)
- [How long does a blue whale last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/blue-whale/)
- [How long does a cheetah last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/cheetah/)
- [How long does a polar bear last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/polar-bear/)
- [How long does a giraffe last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/giraffe/)
- [How long does a gorilla last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/gorilla/)
- [How long does a grizzly bear last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/grizzly-bear/)
- [How long does a gray wolf last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/gray-wolf/)
- [African elephant vs Asian elephant](https://atoneplace.net/vs/african-elephant-vs-asian-elephant/)
- [African elephant vs Orca](https://atoneplace.net/vs/african-elephant-vs-orca/)
- [African elephant vs White rhinoceros](https://atoneplace.net/vs/african-elephant-vs-white-rhinoceros/)
- [African elephant vs Hippopotamus](https://atoneplace.net/vs/african-elephant-vs-hippopotamus/)
- [African elephant vs Giraffe](https://atoneplace.net/vs/african-elephant-vs-giraffe/)
- [African elephant vs Blue whale](https://atoneplace.net/vs/african-elephant-vs-blue-whale/)

## Sources

- Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History — Smithsonian Institution (https://naturalhistory.si.edu/)