Age dependency ratio old in South Africa
South Africa: Age dependency ratio old was 9.65 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
9.65
Change on year
up 2.3%
World rank
148th
of 236 countries
All-time high
9.65
in 2023
All-time low
6.18
in 1962
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Age dependency ratio old in South Africa, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for age dependency ratio old in South Africa is 9.65, 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, age dependency ratio old in South Africa peaked at 9.65 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 6.18, 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.
Age dependency ratio old in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 7.28 | — |
| 1951 | 7.12 | -2.2% |
| 1952 | 6.97 | -2.1% |
| 1953 | 6.84 | -1.9% |
| 1954 | 6.72 | -1.8% |
| 1955 | 6.61 | -1.6% |
| 1956 | 6.51 | -1.5% |
| 1957 | 6.42 | -1.4% |
| 1958 | 6.33 | -1.3% |
| 1959 | 6.27 | -1.0% |
| 1960 | 6.22 | -0.7% |
| 1961 | 6.19 | -0.5% |
| 1962 | 6.18 | -0.2% |
| 1963 | 6.19 | +0.1% |
| 1964 | 6.22 | +0.4% |
| 1965 | 6.26 | +0.8% |
| 1966 | 6.32 | +1.0% |
| 1967 | 6.39 | +1.1% |
| 1968 | 6.46 | +1.1% |
| 1969 | 6.54 | +1.1% |
| 1970 | 6.61 | +1.1% |
| 1971 | 6.67 | +0.9% |
| 1972 | 6.72 | +0.7% |
| 1973 | 6.76 | +0.6% |
| 1974 | 6.79 | +0.5% |
| 1975 | 6.82 | +0.5% |
| 1976 | 6.85 | +0.4% |
| 1977 | 6.87 | +0.3% |
| 1978 | 6.88 | +0.1% |
| 1979 | 6.89 | +0.1% |
| 1980 | 6.88 | -0.1% |
| 1981 | 6.87 | -0.2% |
| 1982 | 6.88 | +0.1% |
| 1983 | 6.91 | +0.4% |
| 1984 | 6.95 | +0.7% |
| 1985 | 6.98 | +0.4% |
| 1986 | 6.98 | -0.0% |
| 1987 | 6.96 | -0.3% |
| 1988 | 6.92 | -0.5% |
| 1989 | 6.86 | -0.9% |
| 1990 | 6.78 | -1.2% |
| 1991 | 6.74 | -0.5% |
| 1992 | 6.82 | +1.2% |
| 1993 | 6.79 | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 6.89 | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 7.18 | +4.3% |
| 1996 | 7.46 | +3.8% |
| 1997 | 7.69 | +3.2% |
| 1998 | 7.79 | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 7.84 | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 7.86 | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 7.88 | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 7.88 | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 7.89 | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 7.93 | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 7.98 | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 8.02 | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 8.05 | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 8.07 | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 8.06 | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 8.03 | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 7.98 | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 7.97 | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 8 | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 8.05 | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 8.09 | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 8.26 | +2.1% |
| 2017 | 8.51 | +3.0% |
| 2018 | 8.7 | +2.2% |
| 2019 | 8.91 | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 9.12 | +2.3% |
| 2021 | 9.27 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 9.44 | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 9.65 | +2.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 9.65 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 11.73, 82% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 9.65 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.66, 1.7× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 6.71 | 6.27 | 7.28 | 10 |
| 1960s | 6.3 | 6.18 | 6.54 | 10 |
| 1970s | 6.79 | 6.61 | 6.89 | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.92 | 6.86 | 6.98 | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.2 | 6.74 | 7.84 | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.96 | 7.86 | 8.07 | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.25 | 7.97 | 8.91 | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.37 | 9.12 | 9.65 | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 145 Cape Verde 9.81 compare
- 146 Nepal 9.8 compare
- 147 Bangladesh 9.68 compare
- 149 Fiji 9.57 compare
- 150 Cambodia 9.32 compare
- 151 Micronesia (country) 9.23 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 age dependency ratio old in South Africa?
- Age dependency ratio old in South Africa was 9.65 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest age dependency ratio old recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 9.65 in 2023.
- What is the lowest age dependency ratio old recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.18 in 1962.
- How does South Africa rank for age dependency ratio old?
- South Africa ranks 148th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is age dependency ratio old 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Age dependency ratio old. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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