Old-age dependency ratio in Faroe Islands
Faroe Islands: Old-age dependency ratio was 28.5% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
28.5%
Change on year
down 1.0%
World rank
45th
of 236 countries
All-time high
29.0%
in 2021
All-time low
12.7%
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Old-age dependency ratio in Faroe Islands, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, old-age dependency ratio in Faroe Islands stood at 28.5%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.0% on the previous year and up 11.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, old-age dependency ratio in Faroe Islands peaked at 29.0% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 12.7%, in 1950.
That places Faroe Islands 45th 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 Faroe Islands, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 12.7% | — |
| 1951 | 12.7% | +0.2% |
| 1952 | 12.8% | +0.6% |
| 1953 | 12.9% | +0.8% |
| 1954 | 13.0% | +1.1% |
| 1955 | 13.2% | +1.4% |
| 1956 | 13.3% | +0.5% |
| 1957 | 13.2% | -0.5% |
| 1958 | 13.3% | +0.4% |
| 1959 | 13.3% | +0.5% |
| 1960 | 13.4% | +0.7% |
| 1961 | 13.5% | +0.9% |
| 1962 | 13.7% | +0.9% |
| 1963 | 13.8% | +0.9% |
| 1964 | 13.9% | +0.9% |
| 1965 | 14.1% | +1.1% |
| 1966 | 14.2% | +0.9% |
| 1967 | 14.3% | +0.6% |
| 1968 | 14.3% | +0.6% |
| 1969 | 14.4% | +0.7% |
| 1970 | 14.6% | +0.8% |
| 1971 | 14.6% | +0.5% |
| 1972 | 14.7% | +0.6% |
| 1973 | 14.8% | +0.8% |
| 1974 | 15.0% | +1.1% |
| 1975 | 15.2% | +1.2% |
| 1976 | 15.4% | +1.4% |
| 1977 | 15.6% | +1.5% |
| 1978 | 15.9% | +1.5% |
| 1979 | 16.1% | +1.7% |
| 1980 | 16.4% | +1.6% |
| 1981 | 16.7% | +1.8% |
| 1982 | 17.0% | +1.7% |
| 1983 | 17.2% | +1.6% |
| 1984 | 17.5% | +1.8% |
| 1985 | 17.8% | +1.4% |
| 1986 | 18.0% | +1.2% |
| 1987 | 18.1% | +0.7% |
| 1988 | 18.2% | +0.7% |
| 1989 | 18.3% | +0.5% |
| 1990 | 18.6% | +1.7% |
| 1991 | 19.3% | +3.3% |
| 1992 | 20.0% | +3.7% |
| 1993 | 20.7% | +3.8% |
| 1994 | 21.4% | +3.4% |
| 1995 | 21.8% | +1.8% |
| 1996 | 21.9% | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 21.9% | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 21.9% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 21.7% | -0.6% |
| 2000 | 21.6% | -0.7% |
| 2001 | 21.4% | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 21.3% | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 21.2% | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 20.9% | -1.0% |
| 2005 | 20.9% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 21.1% | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 21.5% | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 22.1% | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 22.7% | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 23.4% | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 24.2% | +3.3% |
| 2012 | 24.9% | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 25.6% | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 26.5% | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 27.2% | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 27.7% | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 28.0% | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 28.2% | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 28.4% | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 28.7% | +1.3% |
| 2021 | 29.0% | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 28.8% | -0.6% |
| 2023 | 28.5% | -1.0% |
Faroe Islands compared with similar countries
- Faroe Islands's 28.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 25.9%, 1.1× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Faroe Islands's 28.5% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 30.1%, 95% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 13.0% | 12.7% | 13.3% | 10 |
| 1960s | 14.0% | 13.4% | 14.4% | 10 |
| 1970s | 15.2% | 14.6% | 16.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 17.5% | 16.4% | 18.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 20.9% | 18.6% | 21.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 21.5% | 20.9% | 22.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 26.4% | 23.4% | 28.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.8% | 28.5% | 29.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Faroe Islands
More reference data data for Faroe Islands
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 8.43 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Enteric Fermentation 21.86 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Manure left on 6.33 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Manure Management 0.7467 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Manure applied 1.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.029 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Direct emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.0169 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0051 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 31.38 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Crop Residues 0.015 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is old-age dependency ratio in Faroe Islands?
- Old-age dependency ratio in Faroe Islands was 28.5% 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 Faroe Islands?
- The highest recorded value was 29.0% in 2021.
- What is the lowest old-age dependency ratio recorded in Faroe Islands?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.7% in 1950.
- How does Faroe Islands rank for old-age dependency ratio?
- Faroe Islands ranks 45th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is old-age dependency ratio rising or falling in Faroe Islands?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Faroe Islands 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).