# How Long Do Spotted Hyenas Live?

> Spotted Hyena lifespan is typically About 12 years in the wild. What shortens or extends life, life stages, and status (Least Concern).

- **Species:** Spotted Hyena (*Crocuta crocuta*)
- **Conservation status:** Least Concern
- **Diet:** Carnivore
- **Habitat:** Savanna, grassland, and semi-desert
- **Lifespan:** About 12 years in the wild
- **Top speed:** Up to 60 km/h (37 mph)
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/hyena/how-long-do-hyena-live/
- **Parent profile:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/hyena/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Quick answer

The spotted hyena is a powerful, highly social carnivore of sub-Saharan Africa, known for its bone-crushing jaws and eerie, laugh-like calls. It lives in large matriarchal groups called clans, led by dominant females, and is both a skilled cooperative hunter and an opportunistic scavenger. Despite its dog-like look, the hyena is more closely related to cats and mongooses. Wild spotted hyenas typically live around 12 years.

## Who should skip this page

Skip this if you need a prognosis for one named animal. This page is a species lifespan range.

## Behavior and social structure

Spotted hyenas live in clans that can number up to 80 individuals, the largest social groups of any carnivore. Clans are matriarchal, with females larger and dominant over males, and rank passes down through female family lines. They communicate with a rich range of sounds, including the famous "laugh," which signals excitement or stress rather than amusement. Far from being merely scavengers, hyenas are intelligent and cooperative, with social bonds rivaling those of some primates.

## Help protect the Spotted Hyena

Even familiar animals lose ground as wild habitat keeps shrinking worldwide.

[Donate to wildlife protection](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/donate/)

---
Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/hyena/how-long-do-hyena-live/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.