Quick answer
Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) typically live around 13–18 years in the wild. Wild averages fall when predation, disease, or habitat loss rise; managed populations can live longer with stable food and veterinary care.
Key takeaway
Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) typically live around 13–18 years in the wild. Wild averages fall when predation, disease, or habitat loss rise; managed populations can live longer with stable food and veterinary care.
Koala lifespan in the wild
Field and museum records place most koalas near 13–18 years in the wild. That figure blends ages at death across regions, so treat it as a planning range. Body size (4–14 kg (9–31 lb)) and risk lifestyle both shape the average.
What shortens koala lives
Predation, infectious disease, injury, food shortages, and habitat fragmentation cut survival. Roadkill and human conflict matter wherever koalas share landscapes with people.
What helps koalas live longer
Connected habitat, low chronic stress, and reliable food support longevity. For captive or domestic relatives, species-correct diet and veterinary screening matter more than generic “pet” advice.
Koala life stages
Juveniles usually face higher mortality than prime adults. Older animals may move less, show dental wear, or lose body condition — useful signs when ageing koalas in the field.
Raising a joey
Like other marsupials, koalas give birth to a tiny, undeveloped joey that crawls into the mother's pouch to keep growing. After about six months it begins riding on her back. Young koalas eat a special form of their mother's droppings to gain the gut microbes needed to digest eucalyptus.
Conservation
Koalas are listed as Vulnerable, and populations in parts of eastern Australia are declining sharply. Habitat loss, bushfires, disease, vehicle strikes, and dog attacks are the main threats, and protecting and replanting eucalyptus forest is central to their recovery.
Sources
Koala FAQs
How long do koalas live?
Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) typically live around 13–18 years in the wild. Wild averages fall when predation, disease, or habitat loss rise; managed populations can live longer with stable food and veterinary care.
What is the scientific name of the koala?
Phascolarctos cinereus — used in research and conservation listings for koalas.
What do koalas eat?
Koalas eat eucalyptus specialist, with seasonal and regional variation in Eucalyptus forest and woodland.
Where do koalas live?
They are associated with Eucalyptus forest and woodland. Local presence depends on food, cover, and human land use.
What is the conservation status of koalas?
Listed in our guides as Vulnerable. Check the IUCN Red List and national assessments for the latest formal category.