Old-age dependency ratio in Hong Kong
Hong Kong: Old-age dependency ratio was 31.8% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
31.8%
Change on year
up 5.8%
World rank
30th
of 236 countries
All-time high
31.8%
in 2023
All-time low
3.5%
in 1953
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Old-age dependency ratio in Hong Kong, 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 Hong Kong is 31.8%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.8% on the previous year and up 65.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, old-age dependency ratio in Hong Kong peaked at 31.8% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 3.5%, in 1953.
That places Hong Kong 30th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Old-age dependency ratio in Hong Kong, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 3.7% | — |
| 1951 | 3.6% | -2.1% |
| 1952 | 3.6% | -1.4% |
| 1953 | 3.5% | -0.3% |
| 1954 | 3.6% | +1.2% |
| 1955 | 3.7% | +3.0% |
| 1956 | 3.8% | +4.2% |
| 1957 | 4.0% | +5.1% |
| 1958 | 4.3% | +5.8% |
| 1959 | 4.5% | +5.9% |
| 1960 | 4.8% | +6.2% |
| 1961 | 5.1% | +5.7% |
| 1962 | 5.3% | +4.1% |
| 1963 | 5.3% | +0.8% |
| 1964 | 4.6% | -14.1% |
| 1965 | 4.2% | -8.7% |
| 1966 | 4.4% | +5.1% |
| 1967 | 5.3% | +20.1% |
| 1968 | 6.6% | +24.5% |
| 1969 | 6.9% | +4.6% |
| 1970 | 7.3% | +5.5% |
| 1971 | 7.6% | +4.0% |
| 1972 | 7.7% | +2.1% |
| 1973 | 7.9% | +1.9% |
| 1974 | 8.0% | +2.0% |
| 1975 | 8.2% | +2.4% |
| 1976 | 8.4% | +3.0% |
| 1977 | 8.7% | +3.0% |
| 1978 | 8.9% | +2.6% |
| 1979 | 9.1% | +2.5% |
| 1980 | 9.4% | +2.8% |
| 1981 | 9.7% | +2.9% |
| 1982 | 9.9% | +2.6% |
| 1983 | 10.2% | +2.3% |
| 1984 | 10.4% | +2.4% |
| 1985 | 10.7% | +3.2% |
| 1986 | 11.1% | +3.2% |
| 1987 | 11.4% | +2.8% |
| 1988 | 11.7% | +2.6% |
| 1989 | 12.0% | +2.4% |
| 1990 | 12.3% | +2.6% |
| 1991 | 12.6% | +2.7% |
| 1992 | 12.9% | +2.4% |
| 1993 | 13.2% | +2.4% |
| 1994 | 13.6% | +2.5% |
| 1995 | 14.0% | +3.1% |
| 1996 | 14.4% | +2.8% |
| 1997 | 14.6% | +1.7% |
| 1998 | 14.9% | +1.8% |
| 1999 | 15.2% | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 15.4% | +1.7% |
| 2001 | 15.7% | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 16.1% | +2.2% |
| 2003 | 16.4% | +2.0% |
| 2004 | 16.7% | +1.6% |
| 2005 | 16.9% | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 17.0% | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 17.1% | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 17.2% | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 17.4% | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 17.7% | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 18.0% | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 18.5% | +2.9% |
| 2013 | 19.2% | +3.6% |
| 2014 | 20.0% | +4.3% |
| 2015 | 21.0% | +4.8% |
| 2016 | 22.0% | +4.8% |
| 2017 | 23.0% | +4.5% |
| 2018 | 24.1% | +4.7% |
| 2019 | 25.3% | +5.3% |
| 2020 | 26.8% | +5.8% |
| 2021 | 28.4% | +6.0% |
| 2022 | 30.1% | +5.8% |
| 2023 | 31.8% | +5.8% |
Hong Kong compared with similar countries
- Hong Kong's 31.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 25.9%, 1.2× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Hong Kong's 31.8% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 10.6%, 3.0× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 3.8% | 3.5% | 4.5% | 10 |
| 1960s | 5.2% | 4.2% | 6.9% | 10 |
| 1970s | 8.2% | 7.3% | 9.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 10.6% | 9.4% | 12.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 13.8% | 12.3% | 15.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.6% | 15.4% | 17.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.9% | 17.7% | 25.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 29.3% | 26.8% | 31.8% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Hong Kong
More reference data data for Hong Kong
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Manure Management 6.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0012 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.0011 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Crop Residues 0.0002 (1990)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Enteric Fermentation 6.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 20.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Manure left on Pasture 1.38 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 11.57 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - Burning - Crop 0 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Direct emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.0041 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is old-age dependency ratio in Hong Kong?
- Old-age dependency ratio in Hong Kong was 31.8% 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 Hong Kong?
- The highest recorded value was 31.8% in 2023.
- What is the lowest old-age dependency ratio recorded in Hong Kong?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.5% in 1953.
- How does Hong Kong rank for old-age dependency ratio?
- Hong Kong ranks 30th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is old-age dependency ratio rising or falling in Hong Kong?
- Over the last ten years it is up 65.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Hong Kong 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).