Age dependency breakdown in Canada
Canada: Age dependency breakdown was 29.6% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
29.6%
Change on year
up 2.5%
World rank
43rd
of 236 countries
All-time high
29.6%
in 2023
All-time low
12.3%
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Age dependency breakdown in Canada, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for age dependency breakdown in Canada is 29.6%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is up 2.5% on the previous year and up 33.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, age dependency breakdown in Canada peaked at 29.6% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 12.3%, in 1950.
That places Canada 43rd out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 74 years of available data.
Age dependency breakdown in Canada, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 12.3% | — |
| 1951 | 12.5% | +1.9% |
| 1952 | 12.7% | +1.0% |
| 1953 | 12.7% | +0.6% |
| 1954 | 12.8% | +0.6% |
| 1955 | 12.9% | +0.6% |
| 1956 | 12.9% | +0.2% |
| 1957 | 12.9% | -0.3% |
| 1958 | 12.9% | -0.1% |
| 1959 | 12.9% | +0.3% |
| 1960 | 13.0% | +0.4% |
| 1961 | 13.0% | +0.4% |
| 1962 | 13.1% | +0.1% |
| 1963 | 13.0% | -0.1% |
| 1964 | 13.0% | -0.2% |
| 1965 | 13.0% | -0.2% |
| 1966 | 12.9% | -0.3% |
| 1967 | 12.9% | -0.4% |
| 1968 | 12.8% | -0.3% |
| 1969 | 12.8% | -0.1% |
| 1970 | 12.8% | -0.3% |
| 1971 | 12.7% | -0.4% |
| 1972 | 12.8% | +0.1% |
| 1973 | 12.8% | +0.3% |
| 1974 | 12.8% | +0.3% |
| 1975 | 12.9% | +0.5% |
| 1976 | 13.0% | +1.0% |
| 1977 | 13.2% | +1.3% |
| 1978 | 13.4% | +1.5% |
| 1979 | 13.6% | +1.6% |
| 1980 | 13.8% | +1.6% |
| 1981 | 14.0% | +1.4% |
| 1982 | 14.2% | +1.3% |
| 1983 | 14.4% | +1.3% |
| 1984 | 14.6% | +1.7% |
| 1985 | 14.9% | +2.1% |
| 1986 | 15.3% | +2.3% |
| 1987 | 15.6% | +2.3% |
| 1988 | 15.9% | +2.0% |
| 1989 | 16.2% | +1.7% |
| 1990 | 16.5% | +1.8% |
| 1991 | 16.8% | +1.8% |
| 1992 | 17.1% | +1.6% |
| 1993 | 17.3% | +1.3% |
| 1994 | 17.5% | +1.1% |
| 1995 | 17.7% | +1.0% |
| 1996 | 17.8% | +1.0% |
| 1997 | 18.0% | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 18.2% | +0.8% |
| 1999 | 18.3% | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 18.4% | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 18.4% | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 18.5% | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 18.6% | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 18.7% | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 18.8% | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 19.0% | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 19.3% | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 19.6% | +1.6% |
| 2009 | 19.9% | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 20.3% | +2.0% |
| 2011 | 20.8% | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 21.5% | +3.1% |
| 2013 | 22.2% | +3.3% |
| 2014 | 22.9% | +3.1% |
| 2015 | 23.6% | +3.0% |
| 2016 | 24.3% | +2.9% |
| 2017 | 25.0% | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 25.6% | +2.7% |
| 2019 | 26.3% | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 27.2% | +3.1% |
| 2021 | 28.1% | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 28.9% | +2.9% |
| 2023 | 29.6% | +2.5% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 29.6% is above the median for high income countries, which is 25.9%, 1.1× the median. (85 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 12.8% | 12.3% | 12.9% | 10 |
| 1960s | 13.0% | 12.8% | 13.1% | 10 |
| 1970s | 13.0% | 12.7% | 13.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 14.9% | 13.8% | 16.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 17.5% | 16.5% | 18.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 18.9% | 18.4% | 19.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.3% | 20.3% | 26.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.4% | 27.2% | 29.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Canada
- 40 Montserrat 30.0% compare
- 41 Switzerland 30.0% compare
- 42 Poland 29.9% compare
- 44 Malta 29.5% compare
- 45 Faroe Islands 28.5% compare
- 46 Norway 28.5% compare
More reference data data for Canada
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 20.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 20.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 6.86 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 7.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 22.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 99.83 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 15.88 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is age dependency breakdown in Canada?
- Age dependency breakdown in Canada was 29.6% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest age dependency breakdown recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 29.6% in 2023.
- What is the lowest age dependency breakdown recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.3% in 1950.
- How does Canada rank for age dependency breakdown?
- Canada ranks 43rd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is age dependency breakdown rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 33.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Age dependency breakdown. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people aged 65 and over per 100 working-age people (aged 15 to 64).