Old-age dependency ratio in Denmark
Denmark: Old-age dependency ratio was 32.4% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
32.4%
Change on year
up 1.0%
World rank
26th
of 236 countries
All-time high
32.4%
in 2023
All-time low
14.0%
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Old-age dependency ratio in Denmark, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Denmark recorded 32.4% for old-age dependency ratio in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is up 1.0% on the previous year and up 16.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, old-age dependency ratio in Denmark peaked at 32.4% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 14.0%, in 1950.
That places Denmark 26th 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.
Old-age dependency ratio in Denmark, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 14.0% | — |
| 1951 | 14.3% | +2.2% |
| 1952 | 14.5% | +2.0% |
| 1953 | 14.8% | +1.8% |
| 1954 | 15.1% | +1.7% |
| 1955 | 15.3% | +1.8% |
| 1956 | 15.6% | +2.0% |
| 1957 | 15.9% | +1.7% |
| 1958 | 16.1% | +1.3% |
| 1959 | 16.3% | +1.2% |
| 1960 | 16.5% | +1.2% |
| 1961 | 16.7% | +1.3% |
| 1962 | 16.9% | +1.1% |
| 1963 | 17.1% | +1.2% |
| 1964 | 17.3% | +1.4% |
| 1965 | 17.6% | +1.4% |
| 1966 | 17.8% | +1.4% |
| 1967 | 18.1% | +1.6% |
| 1968 | 18.4% | +1.8% |
| 1969 | 18.8% | +1.8% |
| 1970 | 19.0% | +1.5% |
| 1971 | 19.4% | +1.7% |
| 1972 | 19.7% | +1.8% |
| 1973 | 20.1% | +1.8% |
| 1974 | 20.5% | +2.0% |
| 1975 | 20.9% | +2.2% |
| 1976 | 21.3% | +1.8% |
| 1977 | 21.6% | +1.6% |
| 1978 | 21.9% | +1.4% |
| 1979 | 22.1% | +1.0% |
| 1980 | 22.3% | +0.5% |
| 1981 | 22.3% | +0.2% |
| 1982 | 22.4% | +0.3% |
| 1983 | 22.5% | +0.5% |
| 1984 | 22.5% | +0.4% |
| 1985 | 22.7% | +0.7% |
| 1986 | 22.9% | +0.9% |
| 1987 | 23.0% | +0.4% |
| 1988 | 23.1% | +0.3% |
| 1989 | 23.1% | +0.3% |
| 1990 | 23.1% | -0.0% |
| 1991 | 23.1% | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 23.0% | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 22.9% | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 22.8% | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 22.6% | -0.8% |
| 1996 | 22.4% | -0.8% |
| 1997 | 22.3% | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 22.2% | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 22.2% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 22.2% | -0.0% |
| 2001 | 22.2% | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 22.3% | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 22.4% | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 22.6% | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 22.8% | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 23.1% | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 23.4% | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 23.9% | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 24.5% | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 25.3% | +3.2% |
| 2011 | 26.2% | +3.6% |
| 2012 | 27.1% | +3.6% |
| 2013 | 27.9% | +2.9% |
| 2014 | 28.5% | +2.2% |
| 2015 | 29.0% | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 29.4% | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 29.9% | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 30.3% | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 30.8% | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 31.4% | +1.7% |
| 2021 | 31.8% | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 32.1% | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 32.4% | +1.0% |
Denmark compared with similar countries
- Denmark's 32.4% is above the median for high income countries, which is 25.9%, 1.3× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Denmark's 32.4% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 30.1%, 1.1× the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 15.2% | 14.0% | 16.3% | 10 |
| 1960s | 17.5% | 16.5% | 18.8% | 10 |
| 1970s | 20.7% | 19.0% | 22.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 22.7% | 22.3% | 23.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 22.7% | 22.2% | 23.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 22.9% | 22.2% | 24.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 28.5% | 25.3% | 30.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.9% | 31.4% | 32.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Denmark
More reference data data for Denmark
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.1915 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.4109 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 2.16 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 12.99 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.24 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is old-age dependency ratio in Denmark?
- Old-age dependency ratio in Denmark was 32.4% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest old-age dependency ratio recorded in Denmark?
- The highest recorded value was 32.4% in 2023.
- What is the lowest old-age dependency ratio recorded in Denmark?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.0% in 1950.
- How does Denmark rank for old-age dependency ratio?
- Denmark ranks 26th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is old-age dependency ratio rising or falling in Denmark?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Denmark data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Old-age dependency ratio. 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).