Old-age dependency ratio in Singapore
Singapore: Old-age dependency ratio was 17.4% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Old-age dependency ratio in Singapore, 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 Singapore is 17.4%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is up 3.4% on the previous year and up 68.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, old-age dependency ratio in Singapore peaked at 17.4% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 3.7%, in 1954.
That places Singapore 93rd out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 74 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 3.9% | 3.7% | 4.3% | 10 |
| 1960s | 5.1% | 4.4% | 5.7% | 10 |
| 1970s | 6.3% | 5.8% | 6.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 7.2% | 6.8% | 7.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.8% | 7.7% | 8.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.0% | 8.3% | 9.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.4% | 9.3% | 14.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.4% | 15.2% | 17.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Singapore
More reference data data for Singapore
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Consumer price index 134.36 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 0 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
- Elected parliament 1 (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected 1 (2025)
- Democracy 3 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating 4 (2025)
- Free country 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is old-age dependency ratio in Singapore?
- Old-age dependency ratio in Singapore was 17.4% 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 Singapore?
- The highest recorded value was 17.4% in 2023.
- What is the lowest old-age dependency ratio recorded in Singapore?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.7% in 1954.
- How does Singapore rank for old-age dependency ratio?
- Singapore ranks 93rd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is old-age dependency ratio rising or falling in Singapore?
- Over the last ten years it is up 68.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Singapore 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).