Old-age dependency ratio in Malta
Malta: Old-age dependency ratio was 29.5% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
29.5%
Change on year
up 3.4%
World rank
44th
of 236 countries
All-time high
29.5%
in 2023
All-time low
11.9%
in 1954
Years of data
74
1950–2023
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 countries 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.
Old-age dependency ratio in Malta, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 12.6% | — |
| 1951 | 12.3% | -2.8% |
| 1952 | 12.1% | -1.5% |
| 1953 | 12.0% | -1.1% |
| 1954 | 11.9% | -0.5% |
| 1955 | 11.9% | +0.2% |
| 1956 | 12.0% | +0.6% |
| 1957 | 12.1% | +0.7% |
| 1958 | 12.2% | +1.1% |
| 1959 | 12.4% | +1.5% |
| 1960 | 12.6% | +1.3% |
| 1961 | 12.7% | +1.1% |
| 1962 | 12.8% | +0.9% |
| 1963 | 12.9% | +0.9% |
| 1964 | 13.1% | +0.9% |
| 1965 | 13.2% | +0.9% |
| 1966 | 13.3% | +1.0% |
| 1967 | 13.5% | +1.3% |
| 1968 | 13.6% | +0.8% |
| 1969 | 13.7% | +0.4% |
| 1970 | 13.8% | +0.8% |
| 1971 | 13.9% | +0.9% |
| 1972 | 14.0% | +0.8% |
| 1973 | 14.1% | +0.8% |
| 1974 | 14.2% | +0.8% |
| 1975 | 14.3% | +0.8% |
| 1976 | 14.4% | +0.6% |
| 1977 | 14.5% | +0.4% |
| 1978 | 14.5% | +0.2% |
| 1979 | 14.5% | +0.1% |
| 1980 | 14.5% | -0.0% |
| 1981 | 14.5% | -0.2% |
| 1982 | 14.5% | -0.1% |
| 1983 | 14.5% | +0.1% |
| 1984 | 14.6% | +0.5% |
| 1985 | 14.7% | +0.9% |
| 1986 | 14.9% | +1.1% |
| 1987 | 15.0% | +1.2% |
| 1988 | 15.3% | +1.6% |
| 1989 | 15.6% | +1.8% |
| 1990 | 15.8% | +1.8% |
| 1991 | 16.1% | +1.6% |
| 1992 | 16.3% | +1.4% |
| 1993 | 16.5% | +1.1% |
| 1994 | 16.7% | +0.9% |
| 1995 | 16.8% | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 17.0% | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 17.2% | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 17.4% | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 17.6% | +1.3% |
| 2000 | 17.9% | +1.3% |
| 2001 | 18.2% | +1.8% |
| 2002 | 18.5% | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 18.9% | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 19.2% | +1.7% |
| 2005 | 19.5% | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 19.6% | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 19.6% | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 19.8% | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 20.5% | +3.8% |
| 2010 | 21.6% | +5.5% |
| 2011 | 22.8% | +5.4% |
| 2012 | 24.1% | +5.6% |
| 2013 | 25.4% | +5.6% |
| 2014 | 26.5% | +4.1% |
| 2015 | 27.1% | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 27.7% | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 28.0% | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 27.7% | -0.8% |
| 2019 | 27.3% | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 27.1% | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 27.6% | +1.7% |
| 2022 | 28.5% | +3.5% |
| 2023 | 29.5% | +3.4% |
Malta compared with similar countries
- Malta's 29.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 25.9%, 1.1× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Malta's 29.5% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 7.1%, 4.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
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
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0121 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.0042 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.0205 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0008 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.0205 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0404 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.0227 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.0192 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.1009 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0043 (2050)
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 countries 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
Number of people aged 65 and over per 100 working-age people (aged 15 to 64).