Tiger is the largest cat specie and a fascinating animal for kids. It is well known for its strength and beautiful coat pattern. Kids love to read about them and in this page they are going to learn “How Long Do Tigers Live“. We have gathered interesting information about the Tiger Lifespan which will give you and your kids a complete idea about the number of years for which they can stay alive. We have listed down the average lifespan, lifespan in wild and captivity. You are also going to learn about the oldest tigers ever recorded and lifespan of the specific tiger species.
How Long Do Tigers Live
- The lifespan of tigers depend on whether they live in captivity or in the wild.
- They live for 20-25 years in captivity because of regular food supply, medical care and safety from most of the natural threats.
- In the wild they can’t survive more than 15 years.
1. Average Lifespan of a Tiger
- The average lifespan of a tiger is up to 22 years in captivity.
- This period in the wild is 10 to 15 years.
2. Oldest Tiger Ever
- Guddu was the world’s oldest surviving male bengal tiger died at the age of 26 at Kanpur zoo, India.
- Before Guddu, the record was held by Flavio and Ramu tigers, both died in the age of 24.
- Machali tigress was considered the world’s oldest female tiger, died in the age of 20.
- Shasta the Liger was believed the world’s oldest Liger (an offspring of female tiger and male lion) died at the age of 24.
3. How Long Do Bengal Tigers Live
- The average lifespan of Bengal tigers in the wild is 8 to 10 years.
- The maximum age of a wild Bengal tiger is 15 years.
- But very few of them reach to this limit in the wild as finally they become too weak and lost the ability to hunt large animals.
How Long Do Bengal Tigers Live In Captivity
- The maximum age of Bengal tigers in captivity is 18 to 20 years.
- Very few of them reach beyond the age of 25.
- Bengal tigers are one of the few wild animals species that flourish and thrive well in captivity.
4. How Long Do White Tigers Live
- As White Tigers are extinct in the wild, there is uncertainty about their lifespan in the wild.
- White tigers are the descendants of bengal tigers, so there is high possibility that they have lifespan like Bengal tigers.
- In spite of that, some of the scientists believe that White tigers could have long age in the wild than Bengal tigers.
- However, the average lifespan of white tigers is considered to be 10 to 12 years in the wild.
How Long Do White Tigers Live In Captivity
- White tigers live up to 20 years in captivity.
Learn more: White Tiger Facts
5. How Long Do Siberian Tigers Live
- The average lifespan of Siberian tigers is 15 to 17 years in the wild.
- There lifespan in the wild mainly depend on the density of prey.
- They live long, if the animals they hunt exist in greater number in their living territories.
How Long Do Siberian Tigers Live In Captivity
- The Siberian tiger live for 20 to 25 years in captivity.
6. How Long Do Sumatran Tigers Live
- The Sumatran tigers live for about 15 to 20 years in the wild.
- This tiger subspecies was listed on the IUCN Red List in 2008 as Critically Endangered.
- Due to the threats, most members of the Sumatran tiger subspecies do not cross their normal age limits in the wild.
How Long Do Sumatran Tigers Live in Captivity
- The lifespan of Sumatran tigers is 20 to 25 years in captivity.
7. How Long Do Indochinese Tigers Live
- The lifespan of Indochinese tigers also depends on whether they live in the wild or in captivity.
- This tiger subspecies has also been listed on the IUCN Red List since 2008 as Critically Endangered, and is going to be extinct in the wild.
- It is believed that they live for up to 15 years in the wild.
How Long Do Indochinese Tigers Live in Captivity
- The age limit of Indochinese tigers in captivity is between 20 and 26 years.
8. How Long Do Malayan Tigers Live
- In the wild, Malayan tiger live for 15 to 20 years.
How Long Do Malayan Tigers Live in Captivity
- Malayan tigers live for 20 to 26 years in captivity.
- Like Bengal tigers, the Malayan tigers are also seem to do well in captivity.
9. How Long Do South China Tigers Live
- Of all the tigers subspecies, the South China tigers is the most endangered one.
- Their lifespan in the wild is up to 15 years, however they are possibly extinct in the wild and no South China tiger has been recorded since 1970.
How Long Do South China Tigers Live in Captivity
- South China tigers live for up to 20 years in captivity.
10. How Long Do Javan Tigers Live
- Javan tiger is a tiger population that lived in the Java island of Indonesia.
- Since 1970s they are extinct and nothing is known about their lifespan in captivity or in the wild.
- However, it is believed that their lifespan was similar to that of the other tigers.
11. How Long Do Bali Tigers Live
- Bali tiger is also an extinct population of tigers that lived in the Bali island of Indonesia.
- It is believed that Bali tigers have had up to 10 years lifespan in the wild.
12. Lifespan Comparison Chart of Different Tiger Species
| Tiger | Average Lifespan | Lifespan in the Wild | Lifespan in Captivity |
| Bengal Tiger | 12 to 18 years | 8 to 10 years | 18 to 20 years |
| White Tiger | 10 to 16 years | 10 to 12 years | Upto 20 years |
| Siberian Tiger | 15 to 17 years | 15 to 17 years | 20 to 25 years |
| Sumatran Tiger | 15 to 20 years | 15 to 20 years | 20 to 25 years |
| Indochinese Tiger | 15 to 20 years | Upto 15 years | 20 to 26 years |
| Malayan Tiger | 15 to 22 years | 15 to 20 years | 20 to 26 years |
| South China Tiger | 15 to 20 years | 12 to15 years | Upto 20 years |
| Javan Tiger | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Bali Tiger | Unknown | Upto 10 years | Unknown |
Tiger Lifespan Comparison Chart With Other Wild Cats
| S.No | Species | Average Lifespan in The Wild | Average Lifespan in Captivity | Recorded Lifespan |
| 1 | Tiger
(Panthera Tigris) |
8 to 10 years | 15 to 20 years | 15 years (in wild)
26 years (in captivity) |
| 2 | Lion
(Panthera Leo) |
10 to 16 years | 20 to 25 years | 29 years
(in captivity) |
| 3 | Lynx
(Lynx Lynx) |
15 years | Upto 20 years | 24 years
(in captivity) |
| 4 | Jaguar
(Panthera Onca) |
12 to 15 years | Upto 23 years | 23 years
(in captivity) |
| 5 | Snow Leopard
(Panthera uncia) |
15 to 18 years | 15 to 21 years | 22 years
(in captivity) |
| 6 | Leopard
(Panthera Pardus) |
12 to 17 years | Upto 23 years | 28 years
(in captivity) |
| 7 | Clouded Leopard
(Neofelis Nebulosa) |
11 years | Upto 15 years | 17 years
(in captivity) |
| 8 | Canada Lynx
(Lynx Canadensis) |
10 to 12 years | Upto 14 years | 15 years (in wild)
21 years (in captivity) |
| 9 | Iberian Lynx
(Lynx Pardinus) |
13 years | Unknown | Unknown |
| 10 | Chilean Cat or Kodkod
(Oncifelis Guigna) |
11 years | Upto 12 years | Unknown |
| 11 | Chinese Mountain Cat
(Felis Bieti) |
14 years | Unknown | Unknown |
| 12 | European Wild Cat
(Felis Silvestris) |
12 years | Upto 15 years | 16 years
(in captivity) |
| 13 | Fishing Cat
(Prionailurus Viverrinus) |
10 to 12 years | Upto 17 years | Unknown |
| 14 | Geoffroy Cat
(Oncifelis Geoffroyi) |
12 years | 12 to 14 years | 19 years (in captivity; still living) |
| 15 | Flat-Headed Cat
(Prionailurus Planiceps) |
Unknown | Unknown | 14 years
(in captivity) |
| 16 | Iriomote Cat
(Prionailurus Bengalensis Iriomotensis) |
7 to 8 years | 8 to 9 years | 15 years one month (in captivity) |
| 17 | Puma
(Puma Concolor) |
8 to 13 years | Upto 20 years | 18 years (in the wild)
30 years (in captivity) |
| 18 | Red Lynx
(Lynx Rufus) |
6 to 8 years | Upto 25 years | 16 years (in the wild)
34 years (in captivity) |
| 19 | Rusty-Spotted Cat
(Prionailurus Rubiginosus) |
Unknown | Upto 12 years | Unknown |
| 20 | Sand Cat
(Felis Margarita) |
8 to 10 years | Upto 13 years | 14 years
(in captivity) |
| 21 | Serval
(Leptailurus Serval) |
10 years | Upto 20 years | Unknown |
| 22 | Tiger Cat
(Leopardus Tigrinus) |
11 years | Unknown | 17 years (in the wild) |
| 23 | Pampas Cat or Colo Colo
(Oncifelis Colocolo) |
9 years | 10 to 12 years | 16 years
(in captivity) |
| 24 | Ocelot
(Leopardus Pardalis) |
7 to 10 years | Upto 20 years | 21 years
(in captivity) |
| 25 | Marbled Cat
(Pardofelis Marmorata) |
Unknown | Upto 12 years | Unknown |
| 26 | Manul or Pallas’ Cat
(Otocolobus Manul) |
8 to 10 years | Upto to 11 years | Unknown |
| 27 | Jungle Cat
(Felis Chaus) |
12 to 14 years | 10 to 12 years | 14 years (in captivity)
20 years (in the wild) |
| 28 | Jaguarundi
(Herpailurus Yagouaroundi) |
10 to 12 years | 10 to 12 years | 16 years
(in captivity) |
| 29 | Cheetah
(Acinonyx Jubatus) |
10 to 12 years | Upto 17 years | 14 years (in the wild)
18 years (in captivity) |
| 30 | Caracal
(Caracal Caracal) |
12 years | Upto 17 years | 20 years
(in captivity) |
| 31 | Borneo Clouded Leopard
(Neofelis Diardi) |
Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| 32 | Asian Leopard Cat
(Prionailurus Bengalensis) |
Unknown | Upto 13 years | Unknown |
| 33 | Black -footed Cat
(Felis Nigripes) |
4 to 6 years | 10 to 13 years | 16 years
(in captivity) |
| 34 | Asian Golden Cat
(Catopuma Temminckii) |
Unknown | Upto 20 years | Unknown |
| 35 | African Golden Cat
(Profelis Aurata) |
Unknown | Upto 12 years | Unknown |
| 36 | Domestic Cat
(Felis Silvestris Catus) |
Unknown
|
12 to 18 years | 38 years |
| 37 | Andean Mountain Cat
(Leopardus Jacobita) |
Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
