African elephants live for 56-70 years in the wild but only live for an average of 17 years while in captivity. Asian elephants live for 40-70 years in the wild but only live for an average of 19 years while in captivity. Some elephants die within a few years of being in captivity., Elephants may be the biggest land animals in the world, but just how long can these giant mammals live for? In theory, elephants are amongst the longest living animals, and live longer than any other land mammal aside from humans. In the wild: African elephants can live up to 70 years; Asian elephants can live up to 48 years, Elephants are the largest land mammals on earth, but how long do they live for? And what is the oldest animal in the world? BBC Bitesize has the answers., What Is the Average Lifespan of an Elephant? The average lifespan for Asian elephants is 48 years. African elephants typically make it to 60 or 70. Sadly, zoo-dwelling elephants have the shortest lifespans., So, how long do elephants live? When it comes to longevity in the wild, the African species have a longer estimated lifespan than the Asian species. Both the African bush elephant and the African forest elephant are estimated to live between 60 and 70-years in the wild., If you’re looking for the simple answer, here it is: African elephants live for around 56 years in the wild. And aside from humans, they are the longest-living land mammals on the planet. But in many ways, asking about the lifespan of elephants is like asking; ‘how long is a piece of string?’..