Age dependency breakdown in Ireland
Ireland: Age dependency breakdown was 23.7% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
23.7%
Change on year
up 2.4%
World rank
70th
of 236 countries
All-time high
23.7%
in 2023
All-time low
15.6%
in 2007
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Age dependency breakdown in Ireland, 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 Ireland is 23.7%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.4% on the previous year and up 26.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, age dependency breakdown in Ireland peaked at 23.7% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 15.6%, in 2007.
Ireland ranks 70th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Age dependency breakdown in Ireland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 18.1% | — |
| 1951 | 17.9% | -1.5% |
| 1952 | 17.8% | -0.6% |
| 1953 | 18.0% | +1.0% |
| 1954 | 18.1% | +1.0% |
| 1955 | 18.3% | +0.9% |
| 1956 | 18.6% | +1.4% |
| 1957 | 18.8% | +1.3% |
| 1958 | 19.0% | +0.9% |
| 1959 | 19.1% | +0.8% |
| 1960 | 19.4% | +1.3% |
| 1961 | 19.5% | +0.7% |
| 1962 | 19.4% | -0.4% |
| 1963 | 19.3% | -0.6% |
| 1964 | 19.3% | -0.1% |
| 1965 | 19.4% | +0.7% |
| 1966 | 19.5% | +0.3% |
| 1967 | 19.4% | -0.4% |
| 1968 | 19.4% | -0.3% |
| 1969 | 19.3% | -0.3% |
| 1970 | 19.3% | -0.1% |
| 1971 | 19.2% | -0.2% |
| 1972 | 19.0% | -1.2% |
| 1973 | 18.7% | -1.6% |
| 1974 | 18.5% | -1.1% |
| 1975 | 18.4% | -0.5% |
| 1976 | 18.4% | -0.1% |
| 1977 | 18.4% | -0.0% |
| 1978 | 18.4% | -0.1% |
| 1979 | 18.3% | -0.2% |
| 1980 | 18.3% | -0.3% |
| 1981 | 18.2% | -0.3% |
| 1982 | 18.1% | -0.5% |
| 1983 | 18.0% | -0.5% |
| 1984 | 18.0% | -0.0% |
| 1985 | 18.1% | +0.2% |
| 1986 | 18.1% | +0.2% |
| 1987 | 18.2% | +0.6% |
| 1988 | 18.4% | +1.1% |
| 1989 | 18.6% | +0.8% |
| 1990 | 18.5% | -0.1% |
| 1991 | 18.4% | -0.7% |
| 1992 | 18.2% | -0.9% |
| 1993 | 18.1% | -1.0% |
| 1994 | 17.9% | -1.0% |
| 1995 | 17.7% | -1.1% |
| 1996 | 17.5% | -1.2% |
| 1997 | 17.3% | -1.1% |
| 1998 | 17.1% | -1.1% |
| 1999 | 16.9% | -1.2% |
| 2000 | 16.7% | -1.2% |
| 2001 | 16.5% | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 16.4% | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 16.3% | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 16.3% | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 16.1% | -1.0% |
| 2006 | 15.8% | -1.8% |
| 2007 | 15.6% | -1.1% |
| 2008 | 15.8% | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 16.2% | +2.9% |
| 2010 | 16.8% | +3.7% |
| 2011 | 17.5% | +3.9% |
| 2012 | 18.2% | +3.9% |
| 2013 | 18.8% | +3.6% |
| 2014 | 19.4% | +3.2% |
| 2015 | 20.0% | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 20.4% | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 20.9% | +2.2% |
| 2018 | 21.3% | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 21.8% | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 22.3% | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 22.7% | +2.0% |
| 2022 | 23.2% | +2.0% |
| 2023 | 23.7% | +2.4% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 23.7% is below the median for high income countries, which is 25.9%, 92% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 23.7% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 30.1%, 79% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 18.4% | 17.8% | 19.1% | 10 |
| 1960s | 19.4% | 19.3% | 19.5% | 10 |
| 1970s | 18.7% | 18.3% | 19.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 18.2% | 18.0% | 18.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 17.8% | 16.9% | 18.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.2% | 15.6% | 16.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.5% | 16.8% | 21.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 23.0% | 22.3% | 23.7% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More reference data data for Ireland
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.19 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 4.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0921 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 4.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.87 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 3.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.6 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 21.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.5015 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is age dependency breakdown in Ireland?
- Age dependency breakdown in Ireland was 23.7% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest age dependency breakdown recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 23.7% in 2023.
- What is the lowest age dependency breakdown recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.6% in 2007.
- How does Ireland rank for age dependency breakdown?
- Ireland ranks 70th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is age dependency breakdown rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Ireland 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).