Old-age dependency ratio in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Old-age dependency ratio was 5.5% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
5.5%
Change on year
up 1.0%
World rank
204th
of 236 countries
All-time high
5.7%
in 1950
All-time low
5.0%
in 1964
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Old-age dependency ratio in Ethiopia, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Ethiopia recorded 5.5% for old-age dependency ratio in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.0% on the previous year and up 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, old-age dependency ratio in Ethiopia peaked at 5.7% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 5.0%, in 1964.
Ethiopia ranks 204th of 236 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Old-age dependency ratio in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 5.7% | — |
| 1951 | 5.6% | -0.6% |
| 1952 | 5.6% | -0.7% |
| 1953 | 5.5% | -0.7% |
| 1954 | 5.5% | -0.8% |
| 1955 | 5.5% | -0.8% |
| 1956 | 5.4% | -0.8% |
| 1957 | 5.3% | -1.3% |
| 1958 | 5.2% | -1.9% |
| 1959 | 5.2% | -1.3% |
| 1960 | 5.1% | -0.8% |
| 1961 | 5.1% | -0.9% |
| 1962 | 5.0% | -1.0% |
| 1963 | 5.0% | -0.9% |
| 1964 | 5.0% | -0.3% |
| 1965 | 5.0% | +0.3% |
| 1966 | 5.0% | +0.7% |
| 1967 | 5.1% | +1.1% |
| 1968 | 5.2% | +1.5% |
| 1969 | 5.2% | +1.4% |
| 1970 | 5.3% | +1.2% |
| 1971 | 5.4% | +1.1% |
| 1972 | 5.4% | +0.9% |
| 1973 | 5.4% | +0.6% |
| 1974 | 5.5% | +0.2% |
| 1975 | 5.4% | -0.0% |
| 1976 | 5.5% | +0.2% |
| 1977 | 5.5% | +0.3% |
| 1978 | 5.5% | +0.1% |
| 1979 | 5.5% | +0.1% |
| 1980 | 5.5% | +0.1% |
| 1981 | 5.5% | +0.1% |
| 1982 | 5.5% | -0.1% |
| 1983 | 5.4% | -0.8% |
| 1984 | 5.4% | -1.4% |
| 1985 | 5.3% | -1.1% |
| 1986 | 5.3% | -0.6% |
| 1987 | 5.3% | +0.1% |
| 1988 | 5.3% | +0.8% |
| 1989 | 5.3% | +0.6% |
| 1990 | 5.4% | +0.2% |
| 1991 | 5.4% | +0.5% |
| 1992 | 5.4% | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 5.4% | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 5.4% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 5.3% | -0.8% |
| 1996 | 5.3% | -1.0% |
| 1997 | 5.3% | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 5.3% | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 5.3% | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 5.3% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 5.3% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 5.3% | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 5.3% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 5.3% | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 5.3% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 5.3% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 5.3% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 5.3% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 5.3% | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 5.3% | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 5.3% | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 5.4% | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 5.4% | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 5.4% | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 5.4% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 5.4% | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 5.4% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 5.4% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 5.4% | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 5.4% | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 5.4% | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 5.5% | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 5.5% | +1.0% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 5.5% is above the median for low income countries, which is 5.3%, 1.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 5.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.7%, 97% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 5.5% | 5.2% | 5.7% | 10 |
| 1960s | 5.1% | 5.0% | 5.2% | 10 |
| 1970s | 5.4% | 5.3% | 5.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.4% | 5.3% | 5.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.3% | 5.3% | 5.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.3% | 5.3% | 5.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.4% | 5.3% | 5.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.5% | 5.4% | 5.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
More reference data data for Ethiopia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.6564 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 20.69 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 25.11 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 25.11 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 100.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 121.79 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 7.47 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is old-age dependency ratio in Ethiopia?
- Old-age dependency ratio in Ethiopia was 5.5% 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 Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 5.7% in 1950.
- What is the lowest old-age dependency ratio recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.0% in 1964.
- How does Ethiopia rank for old-age dependency ratio?
- Ethiopia ranks 204th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is old-age dependency ratio rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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).