Old-age dependency ratio in Kenya
Kenya: Old-age dependency ratio was 4.9% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Old-age dependency ratio in Kenya, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, old-age dependency ratio in Kenya stood at 4.9%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 18.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, old-age dependency ratio in Kenya peaked at 10.8% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 3.9%, in 2010.
That places Kenya 218th 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 8.7% | 7.0% | 10.8% | 10 |
| 1960s | 5.7% | 5.0% | 6.7% | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.6% | 4.5% | 4.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.4% | 4.4% | 4.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.4% | 4.3% | 4.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.1% | 3.9% | 4.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.3% | 3.9% | 4.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.8% | 4.8% | 4.9% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More reference data data for Kenya
- Spring temperature anomalies -1.09 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.7428 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 0.7503 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.5834 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 1.22 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 267.82 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 Kenya?
- Old-age dependency ratio in Kenya was 4.9% 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 Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 10.8% in 1950.
- What is the lowest old-age dependency ratio recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.9% in 2010.
- How does Kenya rank for old-age dependency ratio?
- Kenya ranks 218th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is old-age dependency ratio rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kenya 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.
Download this data
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).