Old-age dependency ratio in Poland
Poland: Old-age dependency ratio was 29.9% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
29.9%
Change on year
up 3.3%
World rank
42nd
of 236 countries
All-time high
29.9%
in 2023
All-time low
8.0%
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Old-age dependency ratio in Poland, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Poland recorded 29.9% for old-age dependency ratio in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.3% on the previous year and up 46.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, old-age dependency ratio in Poland peaked at 29.9% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 8.0%, in 1950.
Poland ranks 42nd of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 74 years of available data.
Old-age dependency ratio in Poland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 8.0% | — |
| 1951 | 8.1% | +1.2% |
| 1952 | 8.2% | +1.3% |
| 1953 | 8.3% | +1.2% |
| 1954 | 8.4% | +1.2% |
| 1955 | 8.5% | +1.3% |
| 1956 | 8.6% | +1.4% |
| 1957 | 8.7% | +1.0% |
| 1958 | 8.9% | +1.9% |
| 1959 | 9.2% | +3.1% |
| 1960 | 9.5% | +3.5% |
| 1961 | 9.8% | +3.8% |
| 1962 | 10.1% | +3.1% |
| 1963 | 10.4% | +2.9% |
| 1964 | 10.7% | +2.7% |
| 1965 | 11.0% | +3.2% |
| 1966 | 11.4% | +3.4% |
| 1967 | 11.8% | +3.0% |
| 1968 | 12.1% | +2.8% |
| 1969 | 12.4% | +2.5% |
| 1970 | 12.7% | +2.3% |
| 1971 | 13.0% | +2.2% |
| 1972 | 13.3% | +2.6% |
| 1973 | 13.7% | +2.6% |
| 1974 | 14.0% | +2.5% |
| 1975 | 14.4% | +2.5% |
| 1976 | 14.7% | +2.1% |
| 1977 | 15.0% | +2.1% |
| 1978 | 15.2% | +1.8% |
| 1979 | 15.4% | +1.3% |
| 1980 | 15.4% | -0.0% |
| 1981 | 15.2% | -1.4% |
| 1982 | 15.0% | -1.7% |
| 1983 | 14.7% | -2.0% |
| 1984 | 14.5% | -1.1% |
| 1985 | 14.5% | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 14.5% | +0.3% |
| 1987 | 14.7% | +1.0% |
| 1988 | 15.0% | +2.0% |
| 1989 | 15.3% | +2.0% |
| 1990 | 15.6% | +1.8% |
| 1991 | 15.8% | +1.6% |
| 1992 | 16.0% | +1.2% |
| 1993 | 16.2% | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 16.5% | +1.7% |
| 1995 | 16.8% | +1.9% |
| 1996 | 17.1% | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 17.4% | +1.4% |
| 1998 | 17.6% | +1.0% |
| 1999 | 17.7% | +1.0% |
| 2000 | 17.9% | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 18.1% | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 18.3% | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 18.5% | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 18.7% | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 18.8% | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 18.9% | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 19.0% | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 19.0% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 19.0% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 19.0% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 19.3% | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 19.8% | +2.7% |
| 2013 | 20.5% | +3.4% |
| 2014 | 21.2% | +3.8% |
| 2015 | 22.1% | +4.1% |
| 2016 | 23.1% | +4.3% |
| 2017 | 24.1% | +4.4% |
| 2018 | 25.1% | +4.3% |
| 2019 | 26.2% | +4.2% |
| 2020 | 27.2% | +3.9% |
| 2021 | 28.1% | +3.2% |
| 2022 | 28.9% | +3.1% |
| 2023 | 29.9% | +3.3% |
Poland compared with similar countries
- Poland's 29.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 25.9%, 1.2× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Poland's 29.9% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 30.1%, 99% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 8.5% | 8.0% | 9.2% | 10 |
| 1960s | 10.9% | 9.5% | 12.4% | 10 |
| 1970s | 14.1% | 12.7% | 15.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 14.9% | 14.5% | 15.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 16.7% | 15.6% | 17.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 18.6% | 17.9% | 19.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.0% | 19.0% | 26.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.5% | 27.2% | 29.9% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Poland
- 39 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 30.1% compare
- 40 Montserrat 30.0% compare
- 41 Switzerland 30.0% compare
- 43 Canada 29.6% compare
- 44 Malta 29.5% compare
- 45 Faroe Islands 28.5% compare
More reference data data for Poland
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.499 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 9.36 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.8896 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 9.36 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 8.77 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 5.77 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 2.57 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 43.86 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.84 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is old-age dependency ratio in Poland?
- Old-age dependency ratio in Poland was 29.9% 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 Poland?
- The highest recorded value was 29.9% in 2023.
- What is the lowest old-age dependency ratio recorded in Poland?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.0% in 1950.
- How does Poland rank for old-age dependency ratio?
- Poland ranks 42nd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is old-age dependency ratio rising or falling in Poland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 46.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Poland 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).