Old-age dependency ratio in India
India: Old-age dependency ratio was 10.2% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
10.2%
Change on year
up 3.0%
World rank
141st
of 236 countries
All-time high
10.2%
in 2023
All-time low
5.3%
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Old-age dependency ratio in India, 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 India is 10.2%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is up 3.0% on the previous year and up 27.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, old-age dependency ratio in India peaked at 10.2% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 5.3%, in 1950.
India ranks 141st of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 74 years of available data.
Old-age dependency ratio in India, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 5.3% | — |
| 1951 | 5.3% | +0.8% |
| 1952 | 5.4% | +1.8% |
| 1953 | 5.5% | +2.3% |
| 1954 | 5.6% | +1.9% |
| 1955 | 5.7% | +1.3% |
| 1956 | 5.7% | +0.8% |
| 1957 | 5.8% | +0.3% |
| 1958 | 5.8% | +0.2% |
| 1959 | 5.8% | +0.6% |
| 1960 | 5.9% | +1.3% |
| 1961 | 6.0% | +1.8% |
| 1962 | 6.1% | +2.3% |
| 1963 | 6.3% | +2.5% |
| 1964 | 6.4% | +2.0% |
| 1965 | 6.5% | +1.3% |
| 1966 | 6.5% | +0.8% |
| 1967 | 6.6% | +0.4% |
| 1968 | 6.6% | +0.3% |
| 1969 | 6.6% | +0.6% |
| 1970 | 6.7% | +0.6% |
| 1971 | 6.7% | +0.8% |
| 1972 | 6.8% | +1.0% |
| 1973 | 6.8% | +0.9% |
| 1974 | 6.9% | +0.8% |
| 1975 | 6.9% | +0.6% |
| 1976 | 7.0% | +0.5% |
| 1977 | 7.0% | +0.3% |
| 1978 | 7.0% | +0.2% |
| 1979 | 7.0% | +0.1% |
| 1980 | 7.0% | +0.1% |
| 1981 | 7.0% | +0.1% |
| 1982 | 7.0% | +0.1% |
| 1983 | 7.0% | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 7.0% | -0.0% |
| 1985 | 7.0% | -0.0% |
| 1986 | 7.0% | -0.0% |
| 1987 | 7.0% | -0.0% |
| 1988 | 7.0% | -0.0% |
| 1989 | 7.0% | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 7.0% | +0.1% |
| 1991 | 7.0% | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 7.1% | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 7.1% | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 7.1% | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 7.2% | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 7.2% | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 7.2% | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 7.3% | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 7.3% | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 7.3% | +0.6% |
| 2001 | 7.4% | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 7.4% | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 7.5% | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 7.5% | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 7.6% | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 7.6% | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 7.6% | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 7.7% | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 7.7% | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 7.8% | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 7.8% | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 7.9% | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 8.0% | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 8.1% | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 8.3% | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 8.5% | +2.6% |
| 2017 | 8.8% | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 9.0% | +2.8% |
| 2019 | 9.3% | +2.9% |
| 2020 | 9.5% | +2.7% |
| 2021 | 9.7% | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 9.9% | +1.9% |
| 2023 | 10.2% | +3.0% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 10.2% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.7%, 1.5× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- India's 10.2% is above the median for South Asia, which is 9.7%, 1.0× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 5.6% | 5.3% | 5.8% | 10 |
| 1960s | 6.3% | 5.9% | 6.6% | 10 |
| 1970s | 6.9% | 6.7% | 7.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 7.0% | 7.0% | 7.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.1% | 7.0% | 7.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.5% | 7.3% | 7.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.4% | 7.8% | 9.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.8% | 9.5% | 10.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near India
More reference data data for India
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 20.88 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 68.88 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 246.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 15.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 246.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 70.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 19.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 309.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,063 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 85.03 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is old-age dependency ratio in India?
- Old-age dependency ratio in India was 10.2% 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 10.2% in 2023.
- What is the lowest old-age dependency ratio recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.3% in 1950.
- How does India rank for old-age dependency ratio?
- India ranks 141st out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is old-age dependency ratio rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this India 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).