How Long Do Crocodiles Live?

By Staff WriterLast Updated March 31, 2020

The life span of crocodiles varies depending on the species. In the wild, large crocodile species tend to live between 60 and 70 years, while smaller species live for 30 to 40 years on average.

The oldest-recorded crocodile was a freshwater crocodile named “Mr. Freshie.” He was rescued in 1970 from poachers and placed in the Australia Zoo, where he died in 2010 at the presumed age of 120-140. The species known to live the longest in the wild, though, is the saltwater crocodile, the largest-living reptile. Saltwater crocodiles usually live for 70 years, while some have been found to live for 100.