Lifespan of Human Cells by Type

About This Dataset

How long different types of human cell typically survive before being replaced, in days. Some cells turn over in a matter of days while others last more than a year, reflecting how much wear each type endures. Figures are typical approximate values.

✨ AI Insight

Cell longevity varies more than a hundredfold across the body. White blood cells such as neutrophils are the most disposable, living only about a day as front-line defenders, while the cells lining the intestine survive just 4 days under the constant abrasion of digestion. Skin (epidermal) cells last around 45 days, red blood cells about 120, and liver cells roughly 400 - over a year. The clear pattern is that exposure drives replacement rate: tissues facing chemical or mechanical assault (gut lining, immune cells) are renewed fastest, while more sheltered cells persist far longer. This constant turnover means much of the body is physically younger than the person it belongs to, with billions of cells replaced every single day.

Source: Cell turnover references

Key Findings

Auto-computed highlights from this dataset

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Liver cells leads with 400 in All Time.

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Average value in All Time: 114 · median: 45.

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Gap in All Time: Liver cells is 400× larger than White blood cells (neutrophils).