Old-age dependency ratio in Ghana
Ghana: Old-age dependency ratio was 6.0% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
6.0%
Change on year
up 1.5%
World rank
195th
of 236 countries
All-time high
8.5%
in 1950
All-time low
4.9%
in 1982
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Old-age dependency ratio in Ghana, 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 Ghana is 6.0%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 1.5% on the previous year and up 4.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, old-age dependency ratio in Ghana peaked at 8.5% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 4.9%, in 1982.
That places Ghana 195th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.
Old-age dependency ratio in Ghana, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 8.5% | — |
| 1951 | 8.1% | -4.9% |
| 1952 | 7.7% | -4.7% |
| 1953 | 7.3% | -4.5% |
| 1954 | 7.0% | -4.2% |
| 1955 | 6.7% | -4.0% |
| 1956 | 6.5% | -4.0% |
| 1957 | 6.2% | -3.8% |
| 1958 | 6.0% | -3.5% |
| 1959 | 5.8% | -3.2% |
| 1960 | 5.7% | -2.8% |
| 1961 | 5.8% | +2.5% |
| 1962 | 6.2% | +6.7% |
| 1963 | 6.5% | +5.2% |
| 1964 | 6.8% | +3.9% |
| 1965 | 6.9% | +2.5% |
| 1966 | 7.0% | +1.5% |
| 1967 | 7.1% | +0.8% |
| 1968 | 7.1% | +0.4% |
| 1969 | 7.1% | -0.3% |
| 1970 | 6.9% | -2.2% |
| 1971 | 6.5% | -5.7% |
| 1972 | 6.1% | -6.6% |
| 1973 | 5.8% | -4.8% |
| 1974 | 5.6% | -4.0% |
| 1975 | 5.4% | -3.4% |
| 1976 | 5.2% | -3.5% |
| 1977 | 5.1% | -1.3% |
| 1978 | 5.2% | +1.7% |
| 1979 | 5.3% | +2.2% |
| 1980 | 5.2% | -1.8% |
| 1981 | 5.0% | -5.3% |
| 1982 | 4.9% | -2.2% |
| 1983 | 4.9% | +1.5% |
| 1984 | 5.0% | +0.8% |
| 1985 | 5.0% | -0.3% |
| 1986 | 5.0% | +0.1% |
| 1987 | 5.0% | +0.2% |
| 1988 | 5.0% | +0.1% |
| 1989 | 5.0% | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 5.0% | +0.5% |
| 1991 | 5.1% | +1.0% |
| 1992 | 5.1% | +1.2% |
| 1993 | 5.2% | +1.2% |
| 1994 | 5.2% | +1.2% |
| 1995 | 5.3% | +1.4% |
| 1996 | 5.4% | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 5.5% | +1.7% |
| 1998 | 5.6% | +1.6% |
| 1999 | 5.7% | +1.6% |
| 2000 | 5.8% | +1.3% |
| 2001 | 5.8% | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 5.9% | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 5.9% | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 5.9% | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 5.9% | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 5.9% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 5.9% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 5.9% | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 5.9% | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 5.9% | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 5.8% | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 5.8% | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 5.8% | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 5.8% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 5.8% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 5.8% | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 5.8% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 5.8% | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 5.8% | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 5.8% | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 5.9% | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 5.9% | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 6.0% | +1.5% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 6.0% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.7%, 90% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 6.0% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.7%, 1.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 7.0% | 5.8% | 8.5% | 10 |
| 1960s | 6.6% | 5.7% | 7.1% | 10 |
| 1970s | 5.7% | 5.1% | 6.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.0% | 4.9% | 5.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.3% | 5.0% | 5.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.9% | 5.8% | 5.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.8% | 5.8% | 5.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.9% | 5.8% | 6.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
- 192 Tajikistan 6.1% compare
- 193 Namibia 6.0% compare
- 194 Democratic Republic of Congo 6.0% compare
- 196 Mauritania 6.0% compare
- 197 Madagascar 5.8% compare
- 198 Liberia 5.8% compare
More reference data data for Ghana
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2805 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.89 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.69 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1989 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.69 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.9405 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.9478 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.22 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 12.64 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.08 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is old-age dependency ratio in Ghana?
- Old-age dependency ratio in Ghana was 6.0% 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 Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 8.5% in 1950.
- What is the lowest old-age dependency ratio recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.9% in 1982.
- How does Ghana rank for old-age dependency ratio?
- Ghana ranks 195th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is old-age dependency ratio rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ghana 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).