---
title: "How long does a Galapagos tortoise last?"
description: "A Galapagos tortoise lasts 80–177 yr. How that compares to other things, and where the number comes from."
url: https://atoneplace.net/how-long/galapagos-tortoise/
site: "At One Place"
---

# How long does a Galapagos tortoise last?

**Typical lifespan: 80–177 yr**

The largest living tortoise and one of the longest-lived vertebrates.

> Harriet, a captive Galapagos tortoise, reached at least 175.

## How that compares

*Galapagos tortoise against things of a similar time.*

- Galapagos tortoise: 80–177 yr
- Fin whale: 80–114 yr
- Blue whale: 70–90 yr
- 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

## What that means over time

*Assuming the typical lifespan above and immediate replacement.*

| Period | How many you would buy |
| --- | --- |
| Per year | 0.01 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 a Galapagos tortoise

- [How much does a Galapagos tortoise weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/galapagos-tortoise/) — 60–417 kg

## Common questions

### How long does a Galapagos tortoise last?

A Galapagos tortoise lasts 80–177 yr. Harriet, a captive Galapagos tortoise, reached at least 175.

## Related pages

- [How much does a Galapagos tortoise weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/galapagos-tortoise/)
- [How long does a African elephant last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/african-elephant/)
- [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 hippopotamus last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/hippopotamus/)
- [How long does a saltwater crocodile last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/saltwater-crocodile/)
- [How long does a giant panda last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/giant-panda/)
- [How long does a Asian elephant last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/asian-elephant/)
- [How long does a American alligator last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/american-alligator/)
- [How long does a American bison last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/american-bison/)
- [How long does a Komodo dragon last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/komodo-dragon/)

## Sources

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