Old-age dependency ratio in Japan
Japan: Old-age dependency ratio was 50.1% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Old-age dependency ratio in Japan, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, old-age dependency ratio in Japan stood at 50.1%. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.5% on the previous year and up 21.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, old-age dependency ratio in Japan peaked at 50.1% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 8.2%, in 1950.
That places Japan 3rd out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 8.5% | 8.2% | 8.8% | 10 |
| 1960s | 9.3% | 8.9% | 10.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 11.5% | 10.1% | 13.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 15.1% | 13.4% | 16.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 20.8% | 17.4% | 24.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 30.4% | 25.6% | 35.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 43.1% | 36.3% | 48.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 49.6% | 49.0% | 50.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More reference data data for Japan
- Spring temperature anomalies 1.24 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.1053 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month -0.7172 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 1.9 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 0.5865 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 118.04 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is old-age dependency ratio in Japan?
- Old-age dependency ratio in Japan was 50.1% 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 Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 50.1% in 2023.
- What is the lowest old-age dependency ratio recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.2% in 1950.
- How does Japan rank for old-age dependency ratio?
- Japan ranks 3rd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is old-age dependency ratio rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan 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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CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The number of people aged 65 and over per 100 working-age people (aged 15 to 64).