Lifespan of all Races in TES

[Br3admax]

My new Guesses now that i think about it :

Imperial : 70 - 90
Nord : 60 - 70
Breton : 80 - 100
Redguard : 70 - 90
Altmer : 400 - 700
Dunmer : 250 - 400
Bosmer : 100 - 150
Argonian : 100 - 120
Khajiit : 40 - 60
Orc : 50 - 60
Falmer : 500 - 800

Seems legit, except I think Orcs live 50-57, Nords live to 90, Imperials live to 100, Bretons to 110, and Falmer being really close to Altmer, but otherwise, spot on.

[Hissien]

I'd give the bosmer a little more, the nords a little more and the bretons a little more. The nords are such a strong race i cant imagine them dying below 80 if we are talking about the oldest of them.

[Br3admax]

Yeah Bosmer around, 350, they eat each other and live in trees, but they are still Mer.

[Pilaf The Defiler]

I'm going to revise some of my opinions after nearly a year of playing Skyrim. Evidence is evidence. Altmer definitely live a very long time, as we always knew, but I have changed my mind about the others. Falmer are shown to be very long lived if Gelebor is an indication.


I'd even put Bosmer longer than that. Some dialogue options from Skyrim and even some returning Bosmer characters (the priest guy from the Shivering Isles) give me the impression they don't age much in a couple of hundred years.

In fact, Dunmer seem to be the same way. The only sources we have that really contradict the thousand year lifespans of Elves would be the Interview with a Dunmer, which was one developer's out of game opinion. Most in-game sources and books lump all Elves except Orcs together and imply they have very long natural lifespans, even the non mages.

Orcs are said by more than one source to be cursed by both Malacath and Orkey (if these are two different entities, which is not clear, although Orkey logically has more in common with Arkay) and have quite short lifespans by human standards.

[Hissien]

^That is what i have been wondering as well, Telvanni mages live for thousands of years (with necromancy) but a "mere-child" is 200. Barenziah died when? Or did we ever find out?

Who was the priest guy? The mad wanderer in solitude? I had no idea ._..

We do know of a Dunmer at least 120ish years old in a mine in the rift... Darkwater crossing? He says he should be last a hundred years more at least. I think the biggest killer of elves is accidents, war, and disease. To reach old age would take a really long time.

[Br3admax]

The problem is no one is careful enough in any world, except the Altmer, to figure out how long they live. But I believe that the Mer do have a thousand year life span, but combine that with Tamrielic life, and you got a few centuries shaved off, at least.

[Pilaf The Defiler]

^That is what i have been wondering as well, Telvanni mages live for thousands of years (with necromancy) but a "mere-child" is 200. Barenziah died when? Or did we ever find out?

Barenziah is not stated to have died. Neither is Helseth. Some fans assume they perished but it's assumption only.

Who was the priest guy? The mad wanderer in solitude? I had no idea ._..

Yes. He was one of the high priests at the Flame of Agnon in Shivering Isles, set 200 years earlier.

We do know of a Dunmer at least 120ish years old in a mine in the rift... Darkwater crossing? He says he should be last a hundred years more at least. I think the biggest killer of elves is accidents, war, and disease. To reach old age would take a really long time.

There's a Dunmer Alchemist who asks you to collect Crimson Nirnroot who mentions she used to live in Vivec City, which would make her over 200 years old.

The Arch Mage mentions living "several" normal lifetimes.

Brand-Shei appears to be a young man but was an infant during the Argonian uprising in Morrowind, 200 years ago.

[Riothamus]

To add to the list, Aranea Ienith (Dunmer) at the shrine to Azura mentions being told before hand by Azura that Red Mountain was going to erupt. That would put her at well over 200+.

[Hissien]

The real question now is how long do they live with necromancy? I have noticed that many elven liches don't become one to extend their life, it seems more for power

[Pilaf The Defiler]

The real question now is how long do they live with necromancy? I have noticed that many elven liches don't become one to extend their life, it seems more for power

If you become a Lich you're immortal until you are destroyed through combat or cunning. Depending on what level and variety of Lich you are even this isn't permanent.

I'd say Altmer do partially become Liches for longevity. They have a very long lifespan but it's finite. They still age and die of old age.

[philfredobob]

There is book called something like ''Dirrerum dirrenis'' , not sure of its exact name ... but anyways, in it the writer (who is Dunmer) claims to be 400 years old

Sinderion (altmer) and the Nirnroot growing lady (dunmer) are both hundreds of years old (sinderions dead now, obviously, but he did live for 150 or so years at least)

so i think we can be sure that elves have the ability to naturally live at least 500 years

i havent found many examples of Old Bosmer and i assume they dont live as long as the others, but i have no evidence to back this theory

Orcs are a cursed people , and if you throw in their lifestyle , they barely ever make it to 50 , but not counting lifestyle, they may live a reasonably long time(though i am unsure)

Redguards remind me of Arabs , i have a lot of very very old relatives, in the 80s and 90s .. so i assume they live long human lives

Bretons must live a little longer than regular humans (just a little bit) due to ther Elven ancestry

Imperials = Regular human guys


Nords if you take their harsh lifesyle , live short lives , otherwise, they probably live as long as imperials

Argonians have some sort of relationship with the Hist, which is a very very old race of Trees, so i assume they must live a reasonably long time

Khajiit .... well they just give me the feeling that they live short lives

[Bassist10288]

My character's a 700+ year old wood elf druid, the last of an extinct clan. To try and prove lore in a video game is ridiculous. It's all made up for fun.

[Hissien]

I don't expectthat you will liike this forum then. Its kinda all that we do.

[Pilaf The Defiler]

My character's a 700+ year old wood elf druid, the last of an extinct clan. To try and prove lore in a video game is ridiculous. It's all made up for fun.

Then enjoy posting in the non-lore sections of the forum, and don't waste your time here.

[Br3admax]

My character's a 700+ year old wood elf druid, the last of an extinct clan. To try and prove lore in a video game is ridiculous. It's all made up for fun.

That sort of defeats the purpose of being here, in the lore thread, and age is not so lose, otherwise I could say Batman lives forever, and don't say it, you know what I mean. And I believe that the amount of "evidence that we have gathered is acceptable."

[LoneSpektre]

Since there really is no concrete evidence of lifespans for Mers. My idea is that Altmer live up to nearly 1000 years (with magic involved), Dunmer around 400-500 and Bosmer 250-300. But really I just grabbed these numbers outta thin air lol. My Bosmer character is 100 years old and still looking fresh.

[Pilaf The Defiler]

Like I said, there's a relatively young looking Bosmer in Skyrim who also appeared in Shivering Isles. That's a 200 year plus difference.

[Hissien]

Though do people die of old age in daedric realms? It doesnt seem very likely since most of the people in their would most likely be reclaimed souls of the daedric lord's followers. But i dont know very much about that kind of thing.

[Br3admax]

No, he opens a door, like in Oblivion, to claim people.

[Pilaf The Defiler]

Though do people die of old age in daedric realms? It doesnt seem very likely since most of the people in their would most likely be reclaimed souls of the daedric lord's followers. But i dont know very much about that kind of thing.

The mortal people in SI are still alive. They have a graveyard, and there's a Hill of Suicides.

[Hissien]

The hill is only for those who commit suicide, then one has to wonder how all of the other people got there. Unless he has opened many of such gates over the course of history.

[Br3admax]

No, he opens a door, like in Oblivion, to claim people.

Everyone ignore the french toast.

[Pilaf The Defiler]

Nobody here is talking about Haskill to my knowledge. If that's what you were referring to. He is definitely a Daedra, possibly even an aspect of Sheogorath.

[philfredobob]

well , didnt Jyggalas state that the Champion of Cyrodiil could never be a ''true'' daedric prince ?

so maybe he survived because he lived in the shivering isles , but this is another crazy theory of mine about how people are given immortality in the shivering isles , but must trade their sanity to get it ... no facts on this one

[Pilaf The Defiler]

Nobody ever said the word "never" during SI's main quest.

Sheogorath said "You'll be me. A new me to fight the old." and also something about how you won't be a Prince YET. Also, Jyggalag said "perhaps you will grow to fit your station."