Old-age dependency ratio in Estonia
Estonia: Old-age dependency ratio was 33.1% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
33.1%
Change on year
up 1.4%
World rank
22nd
of 236 countries
All-time high
33.1%
in 2023
All-time low
15.2%
in 1957
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Old-age dependency ratio in Estonia, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for old-age dependency ratio in Estonia is 33.1%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.4% on the previous year and up 20.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, old-age dependency ratio in Estonia peaked at 33.1% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 15.2%, in 1957.
Estonia ranks 22nd of 236 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 74 years of available data.
Old-age dependency ratio in Estonia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 16.5% | — |
| 1951 | 16.2% | -1.7% |
| 1952 | 16.0% | -1.6% |
| 1953 | 15.7% | -1.4% |
| 1954 | 15.5% | -1.2% |
| 1955 | 15.4% | -0.9% |
| 1956 | 15.3% | -0.7% |
| 1957 | 15.2% | -0.5% |
| 1958 | 15.6% | +2.4% |
| 1959 | 16.0% | +2.9% |
| 1960 | 16.2% | +0.9% |
| 1961 | 16.3% | +0.7% |
| 1962 | 16.3% | +0.1% |
| 1963 | 16.4% | +0.4% |
| 1964 | 16.6% | +1.0% |
| 1965 | 16.8% | +1.3% |
| 1966 | 17.0% | +1.1% |
| 1967 | 17.2% | +1.2% |
| 1968 | 17.4% | +1.5% |
| 1969 | 17.6% | +1.2% |
| 1970 | 17.8% | +0.8% |
| 1971 | 18.0% | +1.1% |
| 1972 | 18.2% | +1.3% |
| 1973 | 18.4% | +0.9% |
| 1974 | 18.5% | +0.8% |
| 1975 | 18.7% | +0.8% |
| 1976 | 18.8% | +0.6% |
| 1977 | 18.9% | +0.6% |
| 1978 | 19.0% | +0.4% |
| 1979 | 19.0% | +0.2% |
| 1980 | 18.9% | -0.4% |
| 1981 | 18.6% | -1.6% |
| 1982 | 18.2% | -2.4% |
| 1983 | 17.8% | -1.9% |
| 1984 | 17.5% | -1.6% |
| 1985 | 17.2% | -2.0% |
| 1986 | 17.0% | -1.0% |
| 1987 | 17.0% | +0.1% |
| 1988 | 17.1% | +0.5% |
| 1989 | 17.3% | +1.2% |
| 1990 | 17.6% | +1.4% |
| 1991 | 17.9% | +1.9% |
| 1992 | 18.5% | +3.4% |
| 1993 | 19.3% | +4.1% |
| 1994 | 19.9% | +3.4% |
| 1995 | 20.5% | +3.1% |
| 1996 | 21.1% | +3.0% |
| 1997 | 21.7% | +2.7% |
| 1998 | 22.1% | +1.7% |
| 1999 | 22.1% | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 22.2% | +0.6% |
| 2001 | 22.6% | +1.7% |
| 2002 | 23.1% | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 23.6% | +2.2% |
| 2004 | 24.1% | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 24.6% | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 25.1% | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 25.6% | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 25.8% | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 25.8% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 25.9% | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 26.2% | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 26.8% | +2.3% |
| 2013 | 27.5% | +2.6% |
| 2014 | 28.3% | +2.8% |
| 2015 | 29.0% | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 29.7% | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 30.3% | +2.1% |
| 2018 | 30.7% | +1.5% |
| 2019 | 31.2% | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 31.9% | +2.0% |
| 2021 | 32.3% | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 32.6% | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 33.1% | +1.4% |
Estonia compared with similar countries
- Estonia's 33.1% is above the median for high income countries, which is 25.9%, 1.3× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Estonia's 33.1% 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 | 15.7% | 15.2% | 16.5% | 10 |
| 1960s | 16.8% | 16.2% | 17.6% | 10 |
| 1970s | 18.5% | 17.8% | 19.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 17.7% | 17.0% | 18.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 20.1% | 17.6% | 22.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 24.3% | 22.2% | 25.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 28.6% | 25.9% | 31.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 32.5% | 31.9% | 33.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Estonia
More reference data data for Estonia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0827 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.0328 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.2652 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0363 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.2652 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2774 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.193 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.1743 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.31 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1975 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is old-age dependency ratio in Estonia?
- Old-age dependency ratio in Estonia was 33.1% 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 Estonia?
- The highest recorded value was 33.1% in 2023.
- What is the lowest old-age dependency ratio recorded in Estonia?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.2% in 1957.
- How does Estonia rank for old-age dependency ratio?
- Estonia ranks 22nd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is old-age dependency ratio rising or falling in Estonia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Estonia 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).