Old-age dependency ratio in Nigeria
Nigeria: Old-age dependency ratio was 5.5% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Old-age dependency ratio in Nigeria, 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 Nigeria is 5.5%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 0.1% on the previous year and down 4.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, old-age dependency ratio in Nigeria peaked at 6.1% in 1986 and was at its lowest, 5.4%, in 1950.
That places Nigeria 206th 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 | 5.7% | 5.4% | 6.0% | 10 |
| 1960s | 6.1% | 6.0% | 6.1% | 10 |
| 1970s | 6.0% | 6.0% | 6.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.1% | 6.1% | 6.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.9% | 5.7% | 6.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.7% | 5.7% | 5.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.6% | 5.5% | 5.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.5% | 5.5% | 5.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 203 Benin 5.6% compare
- 204 Ethiopia 5.5% compare
- 205 Sierra Leone 5.5% compare
- 207 Guinea-Bissau 5.5% compare
- 208 Angola 5.3% compare
- 209 Papua New Guinea 5.3% compare
More reference data data for Nigeria
- Spring temperature anomalies 0.3216 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.3105 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 1.8 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.4187 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 1.76 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 860.32 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 0 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is old-age dependency ratio in Nigeria?
- Old-age dependency ratio in Nigeria was 5.5% 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 Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 6.1% in 1986.
- What is the lowest old-age dependency ratio recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.4% in 1950.
- How does Nigeria rank for old-age dependency ratio?
- Nigeria ranks 206th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is old-age dependency ratio rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Nigeria 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).