Old-age dependency ratio in South Africa
South Africa: Old-age dependency ratio was 9.7% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
9.7%
Change on year
up 2.3%
World rank
148th
of 236 countries
All-time high
9.7%
in 2023
All-time low
6.2%
in 1962
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Old-age dependency ratio in South Africa, 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 South Africa is 9.7%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is up 2.3% on the previous year and up 20.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, old-age dependency ratio in South Africa peaked at 9.7% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 6.2%, in 1962.
South Africa ranks 148th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 74 years of available data.
Old-age dependency ratio in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 7.3% | — |
| 1951 | 7.1% | -2.2% |
| 1952 | 7.0% | -2.1% |
| 1953 | 6.8% | -1.9% |
| 1954 | 6.7% | -1.8% |
| 1955 | 6.6% | -1.6% |
| 1956 | 6.5% | -1.5% |
| 1957 | 6.4% | -1.4% |
| 1958 | 6.3% | -1.3% |
| 1959 | 6.3% | -1.0% |
| 1960 | 6.2% | -0.7% |
| 1961 | 6.2% | -0.5% |
| 1962 | 6.2% | -0.2% |
| 1963 | 6.2% | +0.1% |
| 1964 | 6.2% | +0.4% |
| 1965 | 6.3% | +0.8% |
| 1966 | 6.3% | +1.0% |
| 1967 | 6.4% | +1.1% |
| 1968 | 6.5% | +1.1% |
| 1969 | 6.5% | +1.1% |
| 1970 | 6.6% | +1.1% |
| 1971 | 6.7% | +0.9% |
| 1972 | 6.7% | +0.7% |
| 1973 | 6.8% | +0.6% |
| 1974 | 6.8% | +0.5% |
| 1975 | 6.8% | +0.5% |
| 1976 | 6.9% | +0.4% |
| 1977 | 6.9% | +0.3% |
| 1978 | 6.9% | +0.1% |
| 1979 | 6.9% | +0.1% |
| 1980 | 6.9% | -0.1% |
| 1981 | 6.9% | -0.2% |
| 1982 | 6.9% | +0.1% |
| 1983 | 6.9% | +0.4% |
| 1984 | 7.0% | +0.7% |
| 1985 | 7.0% | +0.4% |
| 1986 | 7.0% | -0.0% |
| 1987 | 7.0% | -0.3% |
| 1988 | 6.9% | -0.5% |
| 1989 | 6.9% | -0.9% |
| 1990 | 6.8% | -1.2% |
| 1991 | 6.7% | -0.5% |
| 1992 | 6.8% | +1.2% |
| 1993 | 6.8% | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 6.9% | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 7.2% | +4.3% |
| 1996 | 7.5% | +3.8% |
| 1997 | 7.7% | +3.2% |
| 1998 | 7.8% | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 7.8% | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 7.9% | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 7.9% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 7.9% | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 7.9% | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 7.9% | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 8.0% | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 8.0% | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 8.1% | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 8.1% | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 8.1% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 8.0% | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 8.0% | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 8.0% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 8.0% | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 8.1% | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 8.1% | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 8.3% | +2.1% |
| 2017 | 8.5% | +3.0% |
| 2018 | 8.7% | +2.2% |
| 2019 | 8.9% | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 9.1% | +2.3% |
| 2021 | 9.3% | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 9.4% | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 9.7% | +2.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 9.7% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 11.7%, 82% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 9.7% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.7%, 1.7× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 6.7% | 6.3% | 7.3% | 10 |
| 1960s | 6.3% | 6.2% | 6.5% | 10 |
| 1970s | 6.8% | 6.6% | 6.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.9% | 6.9% | 7.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.2% | 6.7% | 7.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.0% | 7.9% | 8.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.3% | 8.0% | 8.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.4% | 9.1% | 9.7% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 145 Cape Verde 9.8% compare
- 146 Nepal 9.8% compare
- 147 Bangladesh 9.7% compare
- 149 Fiji 9.6% compare
- 150 Cambodia 9.3% compare
- 151 Micronesia (country) 9.2% compare
More reference data data for South Africa
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5111 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7468 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 41.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 63.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.07 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is old-age dependency ratio in South Africa?
- Old-age dependency ratio in South Africa was 9.7% 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 9.7% in 2023.
- What is the lowest old-age dependency ratio recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.2% in 1962.
- How does South Africa rank for old-age dependency ratio?
- South Africa ranks 148th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is old-age dependency ratio rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa 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).