Old-age dependency ratio in Germany
Germany: Old-age dependency ratio was 36.0% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
36.0%
Change on year
up 2.0%
World rank
15th
of 236 countries
All-time high
36.0%
in 2023
All-time low
13.4%
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Old-age dependency ratio in Germany, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, old-age dependency ratio in Germany stood at 36.0%. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.0% on the previous year and up 14.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, old-age dependency ratio in Germany peaked at 36.0% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 13.4%, in 1950.
That places Germany 15th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 74 years of available data.
Old-age dependency ratio in Germany, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 13.4% | — |
| 1951 | 13.8% | +3.0% |
| 1952 | 14.2% | +2.8% |
| 1953 | 14.6% | +2.5% |
| 1954 | 14.9% | +2.1% |
| 1955 | 15.1% | +1.8% |
| 1956 | 15.4% | +1.7% |
| 1957 | 15.9% | +3.2% |
| 1958 | 16.4% | +3.2% |
| 1959 | 16.7% | +2.0% |
| 1960 | 17.1% | +2.1% |
| 1961 | 17.5% | +2.8% |
| 1962 | 18.0% | +2.7% |
| 1963 | 18.4% | +2.3% |
| 1964 | 18.9% | +2.5% |
| 1965 | 19.3% | +2.4% |
| 1966 | 19.8% | +2.5% |
| 1967 | 20.4% | +3.1% |
| 1968 | 21.0% | +2.5% |
| 1969 | 21.2% | +1.4% |
| 1970 | 21.6% | +1.8% |
| 1971 | 22.0% | +1.9% |
| 1972 | 22.3% | +1.4% |
| 1973 | 22.6% | +1.3% |
| 1974 | 23.0% | +1.4% |
| 1975 | 23.3% | +1.5% |
| 1976 | 23.5% | +1.0% |
| 1977 | 23.7% | +0.9% |
| 1978 | 23.9% | +0.7% |
| 1979 | 23.9% | +0.1% |
| 1980 | 23.6% | -1.2% |
| 1981 | 23.0% | -2.9% |
| 1982 | 22.1% | -3.6% |
| 1983 | 21.3% | -3.6% |
| 1984 | 20.9% | -2.2% |
| 1985 | 20.9% | +0.2% |
| 1986 | 21.1% | +1.1% |
| 1987 | 21.4% | +1.0% |
| 1988 | 21.5% | +0.6% |
| 1989 | 21.5% | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 21.5% | +0.2% |
| 1991 | 21.6% | +0.5% |
| 1992 | 21.7% | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 21.9% | +0.8% |
| 1994 | 22.2% | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 22.5% | +1.3% |
| 1996 | 22.7% | +1.0% |
| 1997 | 22.9% | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 23.2% | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 23.6% | +2.0% |
| 2000 | 24.2% | +2.5% |
| 2001 | 24.9% | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 25.6% | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 26.3% | +2.9% |
| 2004 | 27.3% | +3.5% |
| 2005 | 28.3% | +3.8% |
| 2006 | 29.4% | +3.9% |
| 2007 | 30.3% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | 30.8% | +1.7% |
| 2009 | 31.2% | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 31.3% | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 31.1% | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 31.3% | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 31.5% | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 31.8% | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 32.0% | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 32.2% | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 32.6% | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 33.0% | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 33.4% | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 33.9% | +1.5% |
| 2021 | 34.6% | +1.9% |
| 2022 | 35.3% | +2.1% |
| 2023 | 36.0% | +2.0% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 36.0% is above the median for high income countries, which is 25.9%, 1.4× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Germany's 36.0% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 30.1%, 1.2× the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 15.0% | 13.4% | 16.7% | 10 |
| 1960s | 19.2% | 17.1% | 21.2% | 10 |
| 1970s | 23.0% | 21.6% | 23.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 21.7% | 20.9% | 23.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 22.4% | 21.5% | 23.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 27.8% | 24.2% | 31.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 32.0% | 31.1% | 33.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 34.9% | 33.9% | 36.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Germany
More reference data data for Germany
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.6 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 16.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 16.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 15.41 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 9.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.87 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 80.38 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 10.56 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is old-age dependency ratio in Germany?
- Old-age dependency ratio in Germany was 36.0% 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 Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 36.0% in 2023.
- What is the lowest old-age dependency ratio recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.4% in 1950.
- How does Germany rank for old-age dependency ratio?
- Germany ranks 15th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is old-age dependency ratio rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Germany 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).