List of countries by dependency ratio
Dependency ratios are a measure of the age structure of a population. They relate the number of individuals that are likely to be economically "dependent" on the support of others. Dependency ratios contrast the ratio of youths (ages 0-14) and the elderly (ages 65+) to the number of those in the working-age group (ages 15-64). Changes in the dependency ratio provide an indication of potential social support requirements resulting from changes in population age structures. As fertility levels decline, the dependency ratio initially falls because the proportion of youths decreases while the proportion of the population of working age increases. As fertility levels continue to decline, dependency ratios eventually increase because the proportion of the population of working age starts to decline and the proportion of elderly persons continues to increase.[1][2]
total dependency ratio - The total dependency ratio is the ratio of combined youth population (ages 0-14) and elderly population (ages 65+) per 100 people of working age (ages 15-64). A high total dependency ratio indicates that the working-age population and the overall economy face a greater burden to support and provide social services for youth and elderly persons, who are often economically dependent.
youth dependency ratio - The youth dependency ratio is the ratio of the youth population (ages 0-14) per 100 people of working age (ages 15-64). A high youth dependency ratio indicates that a greater investment needs to be made in schooling and other services for children.
elderly dependency ratio - The elderly dependency ratio is the ratio of the elderly population (ages 65+) per 100 people of working age (ages 15-64). Increases in the elderly dependency ratio put added pressure on governments to fund pensions and healthcare.
potential support ratio - The potential support ratio is the number of working-age people (ages 15-64) per one elderly person (ages 65+). As a population ages, the potential support ratio tends to fall, meaning there are fewer potential workers to support the elderly.
List (2020)
All data is for the year 2020. Source is the CIA World Factbook.[3]
Country | total dependency ratio |
youth dependency ratio |
elderly dependency ratio |
potential support ratio |
---|---|---|---|---|
Afghanistan | 80.1 | 75.3 | 4.8 | 21.0 |
Albania | 46.9 | 25.3 | 21.6 | 4.6 |
Algeria | 60.1 | 49.3 | 10.8 | 9.3 |
Angola | 94.5 | 90.2 | 4.3 | 23.5 |
Antigua and Barbuda | 45.4 | 31.8 | 13.6 | 7.4 |
Argentina | 55.8 | 38.1 | 17.7 | 5.6 |
Armenia | 48.4 | 30.9 | 17.5 | 5.7 |
Aruba (Netherlands) | 47.0 | 25.6 | 21.5 | 4.7 |
Australia | 55.1 | 29.9 | 25.1 | 4.0 |
Austria | 50.6 | 21.7 | 28.9 | 3.5 |
Azerbaijan | 43.4 | 33.7 | 9.7 | 10.3 |
Bahamas | 41.5 | 30.6 | 11.0 | 9.1 |
Bahrain | 26.5 | 23.1 | 3.4 | 29.8 |
Bangladesh | 47.0 | 39.3 | 7.7 | 13.0 |
Barbados | 50.3 | 25.2 | 25.1 | 4.0 |
Belarus | 48.9 | 25.7 | 23.2 | 4.3 |
Belgium | 57.0 | 26.7 | 30.2 | 3.3 |
Belize | 52.0 | 44.4 | 7.6 | 13.1 |
Benin | 82.6 | 76.6 | 6.0 | 16.7 |
Bhutan | 45.1 | 36.1 | 9.0 | 11.1 |
Bolivia | 60.5 | 48.5 | 12.0 | 8.3 |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | 48.0 | 21.5 | 26.5 | 3.8 |
Botswana | 61.1 | 53.8 | 7.3 | 13.8 |
Brazil | 43.5 | 29.7 | 13.8 | 7.3 |
Brunei | 38.7 | 31.0 | 7.7 | 12.9 |
Bulgaria | 56.6 | 23.0 | 33.6 | 3.0 |
Burkina Faso | 87.9 | 83.4 | 4.5 | 22.1 |
Burundi | 91.0 | 86.4 | 4.5 | 22.0 |
Cape Verde | 49.0 | 41.8 | 7.1 | 14.0 |
Cambodia | 55.7 | 48.2 | 7.6 | 13.2 |
Cameroon | 81.1 | 76.2 | 4.9 | 20.3 |
Canada | 51.2 | 23.9 | 27.4 | 3.7 |
Central African Republic | 86.4 | 81.1 | 5.2 | 19.2 |
Chad | 96.0 | 91.1 | 4.9 | 20.4 |
Chile | 45.9 | 28.1 | 17.9 | 5.6 |
China | 42.2 | 25.2 | 17.0 | 5.9 |
Colombia | 45.4 | 32.3 | 13.2 | 7.6 |
Comoros | 75.5 | 67.4 | 5.4 | 18.6 |
Democratic Republic of the Congo | 95.4 | 89.5 | 5.9 | 17.0 |
Republic of the Congo | 78.7 | 73.7 | 4.9 | 20.3 |
Costa Rica | 45.1 | 30.2 | 14.9 | 6.7 |
Croatia | 55.7 | 22.6 | 33.1 | 3.0 |
Cuba | 46.7 | 23.3 | 23.3 | 4.3 |
Curaçao | 55.9 | 28.3 | 27.5 | 3.6 |
Cyprus | 44.9 | 24.0 | 20.9 | 4.8 |
Czech Republic | 56.0 | 24.6 | 31.4 | 3.2 |
Denmark | 57.3 | 25.6 | 31.7 | 3.2 |
Djibouti | 50.6 | 43.6 | 7.1 | 14.1 |
Dominican Republic | 53.8 | 42.2 | 11.6 | 8.6 |
Ecuador | 53.8 | 42.1 | 11.7 | 8.6 |
Egypt | 64.6 | 55.8 | 8.8 | 11.4 |
El Salvador | 54.4 | 41.1 | 13.4 | 7.5 |
Equatorial Guinea | 64.4 | 60.5 | 3.9 | 25.5 |
Eritrea | 83.9 | 75.6 | 8.3 | 12.1 |
Estonia | 58.4 | 26.1 | 32.3 | 3.1 |
Eswatini (Swaziland) | 70.8 | 64.0 | 6.9 | 14.6 |
Ethiopia | 76.8 | 70.6 | 6.3 | 16.0 |
Fiji | 53.4 | 44.5 | 8.9 | 11.2 |
Finland | 62.4 | 25.8 | 36.6 | 2.7 |
France | 62.4 | 28.7 | 33.7 | 3.0 |
French Polynesia (France) | 45.5 | 32.3 | 13.2 | 7.6 |
Gabon | 68.9 | 62.9 | 6.0 | 16.8 |
Gambia | 86.9 | 82.1 | 4.7 | 21.1 |
Georgia | 55.0 | 31.3 | 23.6 | 4.2 |
Germany | 55.4 | 21.7 | 33.7 | 3.0 |
Ghana | 67.4 | 62.2 | 5.3 | 17.1 |
Greece | 56.1 | 21.3 | 34.8 | 2.9 |
Grenada | 50.5 | 35.8 | 14.7 | 6.8 |
Guam (US) | 52.4 | 36.4 | 16.1 | 6.2 |
Guatemala | 62.3 | 54.1 | 8.2 | 12.2 |
Guernsey (UK) | 49.0 | 22.3 | 26.7 | 3.7 |
Guinea | 85.2 | 79.7 | 5.5 | 18.3 |
Guinea-Bissau | 81.2 | 76.0 | 5.2 | 19.1 |
Guyana | 53.2 | 42.5 | 10.7 | 9.3 |
Haiti | 60.4 | 52.1 | 8.3 | 13.3 |
Honduras | 55.2 | 47.5 | 7.7 | 13.0 |
Hong Kong | 44.7 | 18.3 | 26.3 | 3.8 |
Hungary | 46.9 | 22.0 | 30.8 | 3.2 |
Iceland | 54.0 | 29.9 | 24.1 | 4.2 |
India | 48.7 | 38.9 | 9.8 | 10.2 |
Indonesia | 47.5 | 38.3 | 9.2 | 10.8 |
Iran | 45.6 | 36.0 | 9.6 | 14.2 |
Iraq | 69.9 | 64.1 | 5.9 | 17.1 |
Ireland | 54.8 | 32.3 | 22.6 | 4.4 |
Israel | 67.3 | 46.6 | 20.8 | 4.8 |
Italy | 57.0 | 20.4 | 36.6 | 2.7 |
Ivory Coast | 79.8 | 74.6 | 5.2 | 19.3 |
Jamaica | 48.0 | 34.6 | 13.4 | 7.4 |
Japan | 69.0 | 21.0 | 48.0 | 2.1 |
Jordan | 58.2 | 52.0 | 6.3 | 16.0 |
Kazakhstan | 58.8 | 46.3 | 12.6 | 8.0 |
Kenya | 69.8 | 65.5 | 4.3 | 23.5 |
Kiribati | 67.0 | 60.0 | 7.0 | 14.2 |
North Korea | 41.2 | 28.0 | 13.2 | 7.6 |
South Korea | 39.5 | 17.5 | 22.0 | 4.5 |
Kuwait | 32.4 | 28.4 | 4.0 | 24.9 |
Kyrgyzstan | 59.7 | 52.1 | 7.5 | 13.2 |
Laos | 56.8 | 50.1 | 6.7 | 15.0 |
Latvia | 59.0 | 26.1 | 32.9 | 3.0 |
Lebanon | 48.4 | 37.2 | 11.2 | 8.9 |
Lesotho | 59.2 | 51.3 | 7.9 | 12.7 |
Liberia | 77.6 | 71.7 | 5.9 | 17.0 |
Libya | 47.7 | 41.0 | 6.7 | 15.0 |
Lithuania | 56.5 | 24.2 | 32.3 | 3.1 |
Luxembourg | 42.8 | 22.2 | 20.5 | 4.9 |
Macau | 35.7 | 19.5 | 16.2 | 6.2 |
Madagascar | 75.9 | 70.5 | 5.5 | 18.3 |
Malawi | 83.9 | 79.1 | 4.9 | 20.6 |
Malaysia | 44.2 | 33.8 | 10.4 | 9.7 |
Maldives | 30.2 | 25.5 | 4.7 | 21.4 |
Mali | 98.0 | 93.1 | 4.9 | 20.4 |
Malta | 55.5 | 22.4 | 33.2 | 3.0 |
Mauritania | 75.0 | 69.5 | 5.6 | 18.0 |
Mauritius | 41.5 | 23.7 | 17.7 | 5.6 |
Mexico | 50.3 | 38.8 | 11.4 | 8.7 |
Federated States of Micronesia | 55.2 | 48.4 | 6.8 | 14.7 |
Moldova | 39.6 | 22.2 | 17.4 | 5.7 |
Mongolia | 54.8 | 48.1 | 6.7 | 15.0 |
Montenegro | 51.1 | 27.3 | 23.8 | 4.2 |
Morocco | 52.4 | 40.8 | 11.6 | 8.6 |
Mozambique | 88.4 | 83.0 | 5.4 | 18.5 |
Myanmar | 46.5 | 37.3 | 9.1 | 10.9 |
Namibia | 67.9 | 61.8 | 6.0 | 16.6 |
Nepal | 53.0 | 44.1 | 8.9 | 11.2 |
Netherlands | 55.6 | 24.4 | 31.2 | 3.2 |
New Caledonia (France) | 46.6 | 32.4 | 14.2 | 7.0 |
New Zealand | 55.8 | 30.3 | 25.5 | 3.9 |
Nicaragua | 54.3 | 45.5 | 8.8 | 11.4 |
Niger | 109.5 | 104.1 | 5.4 | 18.4 |
Nigeria | 86.0 | 80.9 | 5.1 | 19.6 |
North Macedonia | 44.5 | 23.6 | 20.9 | 4.8 |
Norway | 53.3 | 26.5 | 26.9 | 3.7 |
Oman | 33.3 | 30.0 | 3.3 | 29.9 |
Pakistan | 64.4 | 57.2 | 7.1 | 14.0 |
Palestine | 71.2 | 65.7 | 5.5 | 18.2 |
Panama | 53.9 | 40.8 | 13.1 | 7.6 |
Papua New Guinea | 63.2 | 57.4 | 5.8 | 17.2 |
Paraguay | 55.5 | 49.9 | 10.6 | 9.4 |
Peru | 50.2 | 37.1 | 13.1 | 7.6 |
Philippines | 55.2 | 46.6 | 8.6 | 11.7 |
Poland | 51.4 | 23.0 | 28.4 | 3.5 |
Portugal | 55.8 | 20.3 | 35.5 | 2.8 |
Puerto Rico (US) | 57.7 | 24.8 | 32.8 | 3.0 |
Qatar | 18.1 | 16.1 | 2.0 | 50.1 |
Romania | 53.3 | 23.8 | 29.5 | 3.4 |
Russia | 51.2 | 27.8 | 23.5 | 4.3 |
Rwanda | 74.2 | 68.8 | 5.4 | 18.4 |
Saint Lucia | 39.4 | 25.0 | 14.4 | 7.0 |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 46.7 | 32.1 | 14.5 | 6.9 |
Samoa | 73.3 | 64.5 | 8.8 | 11.4 |
São Tomé and Príncipe | 81.0 | 75.6 | 5.4 | 18.4 |
Saudi Arabia | 39.3 | 34.4 | 4.9 | 20.5 |
Senegal | 84.2 | 78.4 | 5.7 | 17.5 |
Serbia | 52.5 | 23.4 | 29.1 | 3.4 |
Seychelles | 46.7 | 34.9 | 11.8 | 8.5 |
Sierra Leone | 76.3 | 71.1 | 5.2 | 19.4 |
Singapore | 34.5 | 16.5 | 18.0 | 5.6 |
Slovakia | 47.6 | 23.0 | 24.6 | 4.1 |
Slovenia | 55.9 | 23.6 | 32.3 | 3.1 |
Solomon Islands | 77.6 | 71.1 | 6.5 | 15.3 |
Somalia | 96.3 | 90.6 | 5.7 | 17.6 |
South Africa | 52.2 | 43.8 | 8.4 | 11.9 |
South Sudan | 80.8 | 74.7 | 6.1 | 16.5 |
Spain | 52.4 | 21.9 | 30.4 | 3.3 |
Sri Lanka | 53.7 | 36.4 | 17.3 | 5.8 |
Sudan | 76.9 | 70.4 | 6.5 | 15.4 |
Suriname | 51.1 | 40.3 | 10.8 | 9.3 |
Sweden | 61.2 | 28.4 | 32.8 | 3.1 |
Switzerland | 51.6 | 22.7 | 29.0 | 3.5 |
Syria | 55.4 | 47.8 | 7.6 | 13.2 |
Taiwan | 40.0 | 17.8 | 22.2 | 4.5 |
Tajikistan | 67.9 | 62.6 | 5.3 | 18.7 |
Tanzania | 85.9 | 81.0 | 4.9 | 20.4 |
Thailand | 41.9 | 23.5 | 18.4 | 5.4 |
Timor-Leste | 87.3 | 78.7 | 7.6 | 13.3 |
Togo | 77.1 | 72.0 | 5.1 | 19.4 |
Tonga | 68.6 | 58.6 | 10.0 | 10.0 |
Trinidad and Tobago | 46.1 | 29.3 | 16.8 | 7.4 |
Tunisia | 49.6 | 36.3 | 13.3 | 7.5 |
Turkey | 49.1 | 35.7 | 13.4 | 7.5 |
Turkmenistan | 55.2 | 47.8 | 7.4 | 13.5 |
Uganda | 92.3 | 88.5 | 3.8 | 26.2 |
Ukraine | 49.1 | 23.8 | 25.3 | 4.0 |
United Arab Emirates | 19.2 | 17.7 | 1.5 | 66.4 |
United Kingdom | 57.1 | 27.8 | 29.3 | 3.4 |
United States | 53.9 | 28.3 | 25.6 | 3.9 |
Uruguay | 54.9 | 31.5 | 23.4 | 4.3 |
Uzbekistan | 50.6 | 43.4 | 7.2 | 13.9 |
Vanuatu | 72.5 | 66.2 | 12.3 | 8.1 |
Venezuela | 54.4 | 42.1 | 12.3 | 8.1 |
Vietnam | 45.1 | 33.6 | 11.4 | 8.8 |
US Virgin Islands (US) | 66.0 | 32.0 | 34.0 | 2.9 |
Western Sahara | 44.1 | 39.2 | 4.9 | 20.4 |
Yemen | 71.7 | 66.7 | 5.0 | 19.9 |
Zambia | 85.7 | 81.7 | 4.0 | 25.3 |
Zimbabwe | 81.6 | 76.1 | 5.5 | 18.3 |
World | 53.3 | 39.0 | 14.3 | 7.0 |
References
- Staff, Investopedia (2003-11-25). "Dependency Ratio". Investopedia. Retrieved 2018-09-22.
- "Implications of higher dependency ratio - Economics Help". Economics Help. Retrieved 2018-09-22.
- "The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency". www.cia.gov. Retrieved 2018-09-22.