How Long Do Lions Live? Lion Lifespan in the Wild and Zoos

Lion lifespan at a glance

The age a lion reaches depends heavily on its sex, where it lives and whether it survives the dangerous first two years. The figures below are typical ranges, not limits.

A healthy lion is in its prime between about 4 and 10 years old. After that, worn teeth, old injuries and loss of strength make hunting and fighting harder. Researchers note that lions begin to age and weaken by around 10–15 years old.

Why do male lions die younger?

Male lions live more dangerous lives than females. Lionesses usually stay in the pride they were born into, sharing food, hunting with relatives and defending a familiar territory. Males leave, or are driven out, when they are about two to three years old.

The young males then live as nomads, often with brothers or cousins in a group called a coalition. They must hunt in unfamiliar areas, avoid resident males and slowly grow strong enough to challenge for a pride, usually at four to five years old. Fights between coalitions can cause deep wounds, broken teeth and death.

Even a successful male holds a pride for only a few years before younger rivals take over, often after just two to four years. Larger coalitions tend to keep a pride longer than single males. An ousted male loses access to the pride’s kills and may starve or be killed. The same mane that helps a male win mates may add to heat stress in hot climates, as explained in why male lions have manes.

How many lion cubs survive?

The most dangerous time in a lion’s life is the beginning. Lionesses usually give birth to two or three cubs, but in many studied populations more than half of all cubs die before their second birthday, and in bad years the share is much higher.

The main causes of cub deaths are:

• Starvation, when prey is scarce and adults eat first at a kill.
• Infanticide, when a new coalition of males takes over a pride and kills young cubs fathered by the previous males. This brings the mothers back into breeding condition sooner.
• Predators, including spotted hyenas, leopards and other lions, especially when cubs are left hidden while their mother hunts.
• Abandonment, which happens more often when a lioness has only one cub or cannot find enough food.

Cubs that reach two years old have survived the riskiest stage, and their chances of reaching adulthood rise sharply.

What kills adult lions?

Adult lions have no regular natural predators, but very few die of old age. Most die violently. Fights with lions from other prides, or with members of their own pride at a kill, cause serious injuries. Prey animals fight back: buffalo, giraffes and zebras can kick, gore or trample hunting lions. A lion with a broken jaw or a badly injured leg may starve, and weakened or crippled lions can be killed by hyenas.

People are now a major cause of death. Lions are killed in retaliation for attacks on cattle, caught in wire snares set for other animals, and lose their prey to the bushmeat trade. Diseases such as canine distemper, which killed many lions in the Serengeti in 1994, can also cause sudden die-offs. These pressures are why the species is listed as Vulnerable; see Are lions endangered?.

How long do lions live in zoos?

In zoos and well-run sanctuaries, lions often live 15–20 years and sometimes longer. A well-documented example is three sibling lions at the Honolulu Zoo that reached 22 years old in 2007. Captive lions have regular meals, veterinary care and no fights over territory or injuries from prey, so many live well past the age at which wild lions decline.

Long life in captivity does not mean an easy old age. Older zoo lions often develop arthritis, kidney problems and dental disease, and their care is adjusted as they age.

Lions compared with other big cats

Lions have broadly similar lifespans to other large cats, although social life changes the risks. The table compares typical wild figures.

For lions, living in a pride is a mixed blessing. It helps females raise cubs and defend food, but competition between males makes male life short and violent. Our lion vs tiger guide compares the two largest cats in more detail.