People > Dependency ratios > Elderly dependency ratio: Countries Compared

DEFINITION: This entry is derived from People > Dependency ratios, which 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.
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.

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Totals

#	COUNTRY	AMOUNT	DATE
1	JapanJapan	40.5%	2013
2	ItalyItaly	32.6%	2013
3	GermanyGermany	32.1%	2013
4	SwedenSweden	30.3%	2013
5	GreeceGreece	29.9%	2013
6	FinlandFinland	29.5%	2013
	Group of 7 countries (G7) averageGroup of 7 countries (G7) average (profile)	29.03%	2013
7	BulgariaBulgaria	28.8%	2013
8	PortugalPortugal	28.2%	2013
=9	FranceFrance	27.9%	2013
=9	LatviaLatvia	27.9%	2013
=11	DenmarkDenmark	27.7%	2013
=11	BelgiumBelgium	27.7%	2013
13	CroatiaCroatia	27.4%	2013
=14	EstoniaEstonia	27.3%	2013
=14	AustriaAustria	27.3%	2013
16	United KingdomUnited Kingdom	26.9%	2013
17	SpainSpain	26.6%	2013
18	SwitzerlandSwitzerland	26.2%	2013
	Eurozone averageEurozone average (profile)	25.88%	2013
19	NetherlandsNetherlands	25.8%	2013
	European Union averageEuropean Union average (profile)	25.77%	2013
=20	Virgin IslandsVirgin Islands	25.3%	2013
=20	HungaryHungary	25.3%	2013
22	SloveniaSlovenia	25.2%	2013
	High income OECD countries averageHigh income OECD countries average (profile)	24.88%	2013
	NATO countries averageNATO average (profile)	24.72%	2013
23	Czech RepublicCzech Republic	24.4%	2013
=24	JerseyJersey	24.2%	2013
=24	GuernseyGuernsey	24.2%	2013
26	NorwayNorway	24.1%	2013
27	MaltaMalta	23.6%	2013
	Europe averageEurope average (profile)	23.11%	2013
=28	Bosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia and Herzegovina	22.7%	2013
=28	LithuaniaLithuania	22.7%	2013
30	CanadaCanada	22.2%	2013
31	UruguayUruguay	22%	2013
32	RomaniaRomania	21.7%	2013
33	AustraliaAustralia	21.5%	2013
	Non-religious countries averageNon-religious countries average (profile)	21.46%	2013
34	UkraineUkraine	21.4%	2013
35	GeorgiaGeorgia	21.3%	2013
36	New ZealandNew Zealand	21.2%	2013
37	United StatesUnited States	21%	2013
38	Puerto RicoPuerto Rico	20.9%	2013
39	LuxembourgLuxembourg	20.8%	2013
40	SerbiaSerbia	20.7%	2013
	Eastern Europe averageEastern Europe average (profile)	20.44%	2013
41	PolandPoland	20.4%	2013
	Cold countries averageCold countries average (profile)	20.12%	2013
42	BelarusBelarus	19.5%	2013
43	IcelandIceland	19.3%	2013
44	MontenegroMontenegro	19.2%	2013
=45	Hong KongHong Kong	18.9%	2013
=45	CubaCuba	18.9%	2013
47	RussiaRussia	18.3%	2013
48	IrelandIreland	18.2%	2013
49	SlovakiaSlovakia	18%	2013
	Potential Future EU Members averagePotential Future EU Members average (profile)	17.99%	2013
	Heavily indebted countries averageHeavily indebted countries average (profile)	17.55%	2013
=50	IsraelIsrael	17.4%	2013
=50	Republic of MacedoniaMacedonia Rep.	17.4%	2013
52	CyprusCyprus	17.3%	2013
53	ArgentinaArgentina	16.9%	2013
54	South KoreaSouth Korea	16.7%	2013
55	ArubaAruba	16.4%	2013
56	MoldovaMoldova	15.8%	2013
57	AlbaniaAlbania	15.6%	2013
58	BarbadosBarbados	15.5%	2013
	Former Soviet republics averageFormer Soviet republics average (profile)	15.39%	2013
	Emerging markets averageEmerging markets average (profile)	15.08%	2013
59	ArmeniaArmenia	14.9%	2013
60	New CaledoniaNew Caledonia	14.7%	2013
61	ChileChile	14.5%	2013
	Christian countries averageChristian countries average (profile)	14.33%	2013
	Catholic countries averageCatholic countries average (profile)	14.33%	2013
62	SingaporeSingapore	13.8%	2013
63	North KoreaNorth Korea	13.7%	2013
64	ThailandThailand	13.5%	2013
65	Saint LuciaSaint Lucia	13%	2013
66	Trinidad and TobagoTrinidad+	12.9%	2013
67	Sri LankaSri Lanka	12.8%	2013
=68	LebanonLebanon	12.3%	2013
=68	GuamGuam	12.3%	2013
=70	MauritiusMauritius	12.2%	2013
=70	JamaicaJamaica	12.2%	2013
72	ChinaChina	12.1%	2013
73	El SalvadorEl Salvador	11.3%	2013
74	PanamaPanama	11.2%	2013
	Latin America and Caribbean averageLatin America and Caribbean average (profile)	11.15%	2013
=75	TurkeyTurkey	11%	2013
=75	BrazilBrazil	11%	2013
=75	SeychellesSeychelles	11%	2013
	East Asia and Pacific averageEast Asia and Pacific average (profile)	10.88%	2013
=78	The BahamasThe Bahamas	10.8%	2013
=78	GrenadaGrenada	10.8%	2013
	Religious countries averageReligious countries average (profile)	10.55%	2013
80	Antigua and BarbudaAntigua and Barbuda	10.5%	2013
	Former Spanish colonies averageFormer Spanish colonies average (profile)	10.4%	2013
=81	EcuadorEcuador	10.3%	2013
=81	Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesSt Vincent+	10.3%	2013
=81	TongaTonga	10.3%	2013
=81	TunisiaTunisia	10.3%	2013
=85	MacauMacau	10.2%	2013
=85	French PolynesiaFr. Polynesia	10.2%	2013
	Landlocked countries averageLandlocked countries average (profile)	10.11%	2013
=87	Costa RicaCosta Rica	10.1%	2013
=87	SurinameSuriname	10.1%	2013
	Sparsely populated countries averageSparsely populated countries average (profile)	10.03%	2013
=89	Dominican RepublicDominican Rep.	9.9%	2013
=89	PeruPeru	9.9%	2013
=89	KazakhstanKazakhstan	9.9%	2013
92	MexicoMexico	9.8%	2013
93	VenezuelaVenezuela	9.5%	2013
=94	ColombiaColombia	9.3%	2013
=94	VietnamVietnam	9.3%	2013
96	GabonGabon	9.2%	2013
97	EgyptEgypt	9.1%	2013
98	SamoaSamoa	9%	2013
99	ParaguayParaguay	8.8%	2013
	Former British colonies averageFormer British colonies average (profile)	8.6%	2013
=100	NepalNepal	8.5%	2013
=100	South AfricaSouth Africa	8.5%	2013
102	CambodiaCambodia	8.4%	2013
=103	FijiFiji	8.3%	2013
=103	GuatemalaGuatemala	8.3%	2013
105	Cape VerdeCape Verde	8.2%	2013
106	BoliviaBolivia	8.1%	2013
	Hot countries averageHot countries average (profile)	8.04%	2013
107	IndiaIndia	8%	2013
108	IndonesiaIndonesia	7.9%	2013
=109	MalaysiaMalaysia	7.8%	2013
=109	AzerbaijanAzerbaijan	7.8%	2013
=111	IranIran	7.5%	2013
=111	HaitiHaiti	7.5%	2013
=111	BurmaBurma	7.5%	2013
	South and Central Asia averageSouth and Central Asia average (profile)	7.45%	2013
=114	MoroccoMorocco	7.4%	2013
=114	MaldivesMaldives	7.4%	2013
=114	NicaraguaNicaragua	7.4%	2013
=114	HondurasHonduras	7.4%	2013
=118	LibyaLibya	7.3%	2013
=118	BangladeshBangladesh	7.3%	2013
=120	PakistanPakistan	7.1%	2013
=120	LesothoLesotho	7.1%	2013
=120	BhutanBhutan	7.1%	2013
	South Asia averageSouth Asia average (profile)	6.82%	2013
=123	Central African RepublicCentral Africa	6.8%	2013
=123	ZimbabweZimbabwe	6.8%	2013
=123	AlgeriaAlgeria	6.8%	2013
	Former French colonies averageFormer French colonies average (profile)	6.74%	2013
=126	VanuatuVanuatu	6.7%	2013
=126	SyriaSyria	6.7%	2013
=126	Federated States of MicronesiaMicronesia	6.7%	2013
129	KiribatiKiribati	6.5%	2013
	Middle Eastern and North Africa averageMiddle Eastern and North Africa average (profile)	6.5%	2013
=130	East TimorEast Timor	6.4%	2013
=130	BelizeBelize	6.4%	2013
=130	UzbekistanUzbekistan	6.4%	2013
=130	MozambiqueMozambique	6.4%	2013
=130	DjiboutiDjibouti	6.4%	2013
=130	KyrgyzstanKyrgyzstan	6.4%	2013
=130	South SudanSouth Sudan	6.4%	2013
	Muslim countries averageMuslim countries average (profile)	6.34%	2013
=137	EthiopiaEthiopia	6.3%	2013
=137	Congo, Republic of theCongo, Republic of the	6.3%	2013
=137	PhilippinesPhilippines	6.3%	2013
=140	TanzaniaTanzania	6.2%	2013
=140	MalawiMalawi	6.2%	2013
=140	LaosLaos	6.2%	2013
=143	TurkmenistanTurkmenistan	6.1%	2013
=143	Sao Tome and PrincipeSoa Tome+	6.1%	2013
=143	BruneiBrunei	6.1%	2013
=146	CameroonCameroon	6%	2013
=146	GhanaGhana	6%	2013
=146	Solomon IslandsSolomon Islands	6%	2013
	Sub-Saharan Africa averageSub-Saharan Africa average (profile)	5.98%	2013
=149	SwazilandSwaziland	5.9%	2013
=149	NamibiaNamibia	5.9%	2013
	failed states averagefailed states average (profile)	5.85%	2013
=151	SudanSudan	5.8%	2013
=151	BotswanaBotswana	5.8%	2013
=153	GuineaGuinea	5.7%	2013
=153	JordanJordan	5.7%	2013
=153	SomaliaSomalia	5.7%	2013
=153	Cote d'IvoireCote d'Ivoire	5.7%	2013
=153	GuyanaGuyana	5.7%	2013
=158	LiberiaLiberia	5.6%	2013
=158	SenegalSenegal	5.6%	2013
=158	MauritaniaMauritania	5.6%	2013
=158	MaliMali	5.6%	2013
=158	IraqIraq	5.6%	2013
=163	MongoliaMongolia	5.5%	2013
=163	NigerNiger	5.5%	2013
=163	Democratic Republic of the CongoCongo, DR.	5.5%	2013
166	BeninBenin	5.3%	2013
=167	TajikistanTajikistan	5.2%	2013
=167	Gaza StripGaza Strip	5.2%	2013
=167	NigeriaNigeria	5.2%	2013
=167	West BankWest Bank	5.2%	2013
=167	Guinea-BissauGuinea-Bissau	5.2%	2013
=167	ZambiaZambia	5.2%	2013
=167	ComorosComoros	5.2%	2013
=174	MadagascarMadagascar	5.1%	2013
=174	YemenYemen	5.1%	2013
	OPEC countries averageOPEC countries average (profile)	5.07%	2013
176	TogoTogo	5%	2013
=177	Papua New GuineaPapua NG	4.9%	2013
=177	KenyaKenya	4.9%	2013
=177	ChadChad	4.9%	2013
=177	UgandaUganda	4.9%	2013
=181	Sierra LeoneSierra Leone	4.8%	2013
=181	Equatorial GuineaEqu. Guinea	4.8%	2013
=181	AngolaAngola	4.8%	2013
184	Burkina FasoBurkina Faso	4.7%	2013
=185	AfghanistanAfghanistan	4.6%	2013
=185	The GambiaThe Gambia	4.6%	2013
187	BurundiBurundi	4.5%	2013
188	RwandaRwanda	4.3%	2013
189	Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia	4.2%	2013
190	EritreaEritrea	4.1%	2013
191	OmanOman	3.8%	2013
192	Western SaharaWestern Sahara	3.7%	2013
193	KuwaitKuwait	3.2%	2013
194	BahrainBahrain	2.9%	2013
195	QatarQatar	1.2%	2013
196	United Arab EmiratesUAE	0.5%	2013

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