---
title: "How long does a saltwater crocodile last?"
description: "A saltwater crocodile lasts 65–100 yr. How that compares to other things, and where the number comes from."
url: https://atoneplace.net/how-long/saltwater-crocodile/
site: "At One Place"
---

# How long does a saltwater crocodile last?

**Typical lifespan: 65–100 yr**

The largest living reptile and the animal with the hardest bite ever measured.

## How that compares

*Saltwater crocodile against things of a similar time.*

- Blue whale: 70–90 yr
- Saltwater crocodile: 65–100 yr
- Great white shark: 50–73 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

## What that means over time

*Assuming the typical lifespan above and immediate replacement.*

| Period | How many you would buy |
| --- | --- |
| Per year | 0.0143 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 saltwater crocodile

- [How much does a saltwater crocodile weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/saltwater-crocodile/) — 76–1,300 kg
- [Saltwater crocodile vs Polar bear](https://atoneplace.net/vs/polar-bear-vs-saltwater-crocodile/) — Side by side
- [Saltwater crocodile vs American alligator](https://atoneplace.net/vs/american-alligator-vs-saltwater-crocodile/) — Side by side
- [Saltwater crocodile vs Great white shark](https://atoneplace.net/vs/great-white-shark-vs-saltwater-crocodile/) — Side by side
- [Saltwater crocodile vs Nile crocodile](https://atoneplace.net/vs/nile-crocodile-vs-saltwater-crocodile/) — Side by side

## Common questions

### How long does a saltwater crocodile last?

A saltwater crocodile lasts 65–100 yr.

## Related pages

- [How much does a saltwater crocodile weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/saltwater-crocodile/)
- [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 great white shark last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/great-white-shark/)
- [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 grizzly bear last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/grizzly-bear/)
- [How long does a gray wolf last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/gray-wolf/)
- [How long does a orca last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/orca/)
- [How long does a leopard last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/leopard/)
- [How long does a jaguar last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/jaguar/)
- [Saltwater crocodile vs Polar bear](https://atoneplace.net/vs/polar-bear-vs-saltwater-crocodile/)
- [Saltwater crocodile vs American alligator](https://atoneplace.net/vs/american-alligator-vs-saltwater-crocodile/)
- [Saltwater crocodile vs Great white shark](https://atoneplace.net/vs/great-white-shark-vs-saltwater-crocodile/)
- [Saltwater crocodile vs Nile crocodile](https://atoneplace.net/vs/nile-crocodile-vs-saltwater-crocodile/)

## Sources

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