Age dependency breakdown in Japan
Japan: Age dependency breakdown was 50.1% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
50.1%
Change on year
up 0.5%
World rank
3rd
of 236 countries
All-time high
50.1%
in 2023
All-time low
8.2%
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Age dependency breakdown in Japan, 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 Japan is 50.1%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.5% on the previous year and up 21.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, age dependency breakdown in Japan peaked at 50.1% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 8.2%, in 1950.
That places Japan 3rd out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Age dependency breakdown in Japan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 8.2% | — |
| 1951 | 8.2% | +0.3% |
| 1952 | 8.3% | +1.1% |
| 1953 | 8.4% | +1.3% |
| 1954 | 8.5% | +1.3% |
| 1955 | 8.6% | +0.6% |
| 1956 | 8.6% | +0.3% |
| 1957 | 8.6% | +0.1% |
| 1958 | 8.6% | +0.4% |
| 1959 | 8.8% | +1.4% |
| 1960 | 8.9% | +1.7% |
| 1961 | 9.0% | +0.9% |
| 1962 | 9.0% | +0.2% |
| 1963 | 9.0% | +0.3% |
| 1964 | 9.1% | +0.8% |
| 1965 | 9.2% | +1.3% |
| 1966 | 9.4% | +1.9% |
| 1967 | 9.6% | +2.3% |
| 1968 | 9.8% | +1.9% |
| 1969 | 10.0% | +1.8% |
| 1970 | 10.1% | +1.6% |
| 1971 | 10.4% | +2.1% |
| 1972 | 10.7% | +3.1% |
| 1973 | 11.0% | +3.0% |
| 1974 | 11.3% | +2.8% |
| 1975 | 11.6% | +2.7% |
| 1976 | 12.0% | +3.0% |
| 1977 | 12.3% | +3.1% |
| 1978 | 12.7% | +3.1% |
| 1979 | 13.1% | +2.9% |
| 1980 | 13.4% | +2.6% |
| 1981 | 13.8% | +2.7% |
| 1982 | 14.2% | +2.6% |
| 1983 | 14.4% | +2.0% |
| 1984 | 14.8% | +2.6% |
| 1985 | 15.2% | +2.8% |
| 1986 | 15.6% | +2.3% |
| 1987 | 15.9% | +2.4% |
| 1988 | 16.3% | +2.5% |
| 1989 | 16.8% | +3.0% |
| 1990 | 17.4% | +3.4% |
| 1991 | 18.1% | +3.8% |
| 1992 | 18.8% | +3.9% |
| 1993 | 19.5% | +3.8% |
| 1994 | 20.2% | +3.8% |
| 1995 | 21.0% | +3.9% |
| 1996 | 21.9% | +4.0% |
| 1997 | 22.8% | +4.1% |
| 1998 | 23.7% | +4.0% |
| 1999 | 24.6% | +3.8% |
| 2000 | 25.6% | +3.9% |
| 2001 | 26.6% | +4.0% |
| 2002 | 27.6% | +3.8% |
| 2003 | 28.5% | +3.2% |
| 2004 | 29.4% | +3.4% |
| 2005 | 30.7% | +4.3% |
| 2006 | 32.1% | +4.4% |
| 2007 | 33.3% | +4.0% |
| 2008 | 34.6% | +3.8% |
| 2009 | 35.6% | +3.0% |
| 2010 | 36.3% | +1.9% |
| 2011 | 37.4% | +3.2% |
| 2012 | 39.3% | +4.9% |
| 2013 | 41.2% | +5.0% |
| 2014 | 43.0% | +4.4% |
| 2015 | 44.6% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | 45.9% | +3.0% |
| 2017 | 47.0% | +2.3% |
| 2018 | 47.8% | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 48.4% | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 49.0% | +1.2% |
| 2021 | 49.6% | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 49.9% | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 50.1% | +0.5% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 50.1% is above the median for high income countries, which is 25.9%, 1.9× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Japan's 50.1% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 10.6%, 4.7× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 8.5% | 8.2% | 8.8% | 10 |
| 1960s | 9.3% | 8.9% | 10.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 11.5% | 10.1% | 13.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 15.1% | 13.4% | 16.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 20.8% | 17.4% | 24.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 30.4% | 25.6% | 35.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 43.1% | 36.3% | 48.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 49.6% | 49.0% | 50.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 1 Vatican 91.5% compare
- 2 Monaco 70.1% compare
- 4 Saint Helena 44.0% compare
- 5 Martinique 40.2% compare
- 6 Finland 38.3% compare
More reference data data for Japan
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.19 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.981 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 4.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.3629 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 4.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.98 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 4.16 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.57 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 23.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.98 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is age dependency breakdown in Japan?
- Age dependency breakdown in Japan was 50.1% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest age dependency breakdown recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 50.1% in 2023.
- What is the lowest age dependency breakdown recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.2% in 1950.
- How does Japan rank for age dependency breakdown?
- Japan ranks 3rd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is age dependency breakdown rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan 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).