Human races, on average, have the lifespan of an actual human being. So, 100 years naturally. Tharn is a powerful mage who has extended his life.
Elven races (barring orcs) are two to three times that. So, 200-300 years.
Khajiit and argonians apparently have a similar lifespan to humans.
Orcs are most likely similar to humans as well, but many aging orcs choose to die in combat before they're too old to hold a sword. That probably only applies to traditionalist/stronghold orcs. There's a Nord tale of how the orcs were cursed with a short life, but that's still only a fable.
VaranisArano wrote: »Dunmer ages are weird.
We've got Telvanni wizards like Divayth Fyr (at least 4000 years old) and Neloth, who's a old man in Morrowind and reappears in Skyrim.
We've got Barenziah, who had an affair with Talos at the start of the 3rd era and is an old woman by the time of Tribunal at the end of the 3rd era.
We've got this official interview. https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Morrowind:Interview_with_a_Dark_Elf
"We've always been curious about the lifespan of elves. We all know they live much longer than all other races, is this true for the Dunmer as well? How many years would it take for you to be considered 'old'?
Alvur Relds: Well, I'm fifty, done my twenty years in the Service, and I'm in the prime of life. I expect another fifty good years, and then I'll be old, and slow, chatting with gaffers around the hearth for another twenty, thirty years. I've known mer still mind-sharp in their late hundreds, and heard of folk 200 and older. My family usually makes it to 120-130, providing we don't get sick or poked in the eye."
So the general thought seems to be that Dunmer live around 200 to 300 years, with certain individuals living longer.
So pretty much going a bit like lotr with lifespan, anyone with magic lives longer?
VaranisArano wrote: »So pretty much going a bit like lotr with lifespan, anyone with magic lives longer?
Kind of, except it's nowhere near as long as LotR. Elrond was around 8,000 years old by that point. LotR also has the whole "could live forever if they aren't killed" thing for the elves, which isn't the case in TES.
As far as I know, Elves live around 200-300 years, some lucky ones can live up to 500 without magic.
Mages however, men, mer or beast can expand their lives for thousands of years or even become immortal.
Humans live the normal lifespan, usually around 80 and lucky ones until their 100, however, there is a theory that bretons live less than other Men races, I disagree with it, I actually think it's the opposite, they live more, mostly due to Delphine in TESV: Skyrim. She is a 50 years old breton and she is far healthier than other men races of her age.
Orcs, due to them being cursed elves, they live probably to an max of 80 years, but most choose to die honorably during their 40s.
Argonians and Khajiits I've no idea, there aren't a lot of information on them, I would argue they live less due to their animal genetics, but who knows.
As far as I know, Elves live around 200-300 years, some lucky ones can live up to 500 without magic.
Mages however, men, mer or beast can expand their lives for thousands of years or even become immortal.
Humans live the normal lifespan, usually around 80 and lucky ones until their 100, however, there is a theory that bretons live less than other Men races, I disagree with it, I actually think it's the opposite, they live more, mostly due to Delphine in TESV: Skyrim. She is a 50 years old breton and she is far healthier than other men races of her age.
Orcs, due to them being cursed elves, they live probably to an max of 80 years, but most choose to die honorably during their 40s.
Argonians and Khajiits I've no idea, there aren't a lot of information on them, I would argue they live less due to their animal genetics, but who knows.
The Elder Scrolls has never been genetically accurate, so I'll have to disagree on that statement. If anything, Argonians should live relatively long due to the arcane manipulation of their genetic structure because of the Hist. Khajiit stem from Bosmer, so it's very much possible they retain the three century lifespan of the Bosmer.
There simply isn't no lore surrounding it, Argonians vary too much from each other biologically for it to even remain consistent among their race and we'll have to see if they touch base on Khajiiti lifespans in Elsweyr...Given the information so far regarding Betmeri lifespans has been rather vague or outdated, I don't think we'll ever actually know.
VaranisArano wrote: »
Thanks for posting this, because I'd vaguely remembered the Devs saying something about life expectancy and that thread pointed me in the right place.
Souce: ZOS' Ask Us Anything: Variety Pack 4, from May 2013
https://www.elderscrollsonline.com/en-us/news/post/481
"Something that is in big debate on every single forum I've seen as of late is the life expectancy of the different races of Tamriel for roleplaying purposes. Can you please elaborate and give us some numbers to work with for each race or at least the Elven races (Altmer, Bosmer, and Dunmer)? – By Nathan Payne / Andrew Hudson
Elves live two to three times as long as humans and the “beast-races” (Orcs, Khajiiti, Argonians). A 200-year-old Elf is old; a 300-year-old Elf is very, very old indeed. Anyone older than that has prolonged his or her lifespan through powerful magic.