Old-age dependency ratio in Malta
Malta: Old-age dependency ratio was 29.5% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Old-age dependency ratio in Malta, 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 Malta is 29.5%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.4% on the previous year and up 15.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, old-age dependency ratio in Malta peaked at 29.5% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 11.9%, in 1954.
That places Malta 44th out of 236 regions with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 74 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 12.2% | 11.9% | 12.6% | 10 |
| 1960s | 13.1% | 12.6% | 13.7% | 10 |
| 1970s | 14.2% | 13.8% | 14.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 14.8% | 14.5% | 15.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 16.8% | 15.8% | 17.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 19.2% | 17.9% | 20.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.8% | 21.6% | 28.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.2% | 27.1% | 29.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malta
- 41 Switzerland 30.0% compare
- 42 Poland 29.9% compare
- 43 Canada 29.6% compare
- 45 Faroe Islands 28.5% compare
- 46 Norway 28.5% compare
- 47 Saint Martin (French part) 27.9% compare
More reference data data for Malta
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Consumer price index 134.53 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
- Elected parliament 1 (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected 1 (2025)
- Democracy 7 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating 1 (2025)
- Free country 2 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is old-age dependency ratio in Malta?
- Old-age dependency ratio in Malta was 29.5% 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 Malta?
- The highest recorded value was 29.5% in 2023.
- What is the lowest old-age dependency ratio recorded in Malta?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.9% in 1954.
- How does Malta rank for old-age dependency ratio?
- Malta ranks 44th out of 236 regions with data for 2023.
- Is old-age dependency ratio rising or falling in Malta?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malta 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
The number of people aged 65 and over per 100 working-age people (aged 15 to 64).