Old-age dependency ratio in Spain
Spain: Old-age dependency ratio was 31.2% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
31.2%
Change on year
up 2.5%
World rank
32nd
of 236 countries
All-time high
31.2%
in 2023
All-time low
10.9%
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Old-age dependency ratio in Spain, 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 Spain is 31.2%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is up 2.5% on the previous year and up 17.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, old-age dependency ratio in Spain peaked at 31.2% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 10.9%, in 1950.
That places Spain 32nd out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 74 years of available data.
Old-age dependency ratio in Spain, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 10.9% | — |
| 1951 | 11.1% | +1.1% |
| 1952 | 11.2% | +1.0% |
| 1953 | 11.4% | +2.1% |
| 1954 | 11.6% | +1.9% |
| 1955 | 11.8% | +2.0% |
| 1956 | 12.0% | +1.3% |
| 1957 | 12.1% | +0.7% |
| 1958 | 12.2% | +1.4% |
| 1959 | 12.4% | +1.5% |
| 1960 | 12.7% | +1.9% |
| 1961 | 13.0% | +2.3% |
| 1962 | 13.2% | +1.8% |
| 1963 | 13.3% | +0.9% |
| 1964 | 13.4% | +0.7% |
| 1965 | 13.7% | +2.3% |
| 1966 | 14.1% | +2.9% |
| 1967 | 14.4% | +2.1% |
| 1968 | 14.7% | +2.3% |
| 1969 | 15.0% | +2.0% |
| 1970 | 15.4% | +2.2% |
| 1971 | 15.7% | +2.0% |
| 1972 | 15.9% | +1.6% |
| 1973 | 16.2% | +1.6% |
| 1974 | 16.3% | +0.9% |
| 1975 | 16.5% | +1.1% |
| 1976 | 16.8% | +1.6% |
| 1977 | 17.0% | +1.5% |
| 1978 | 17.2% | +1.4% |
| 1979 | 17.5% | +1.3% |
| 1980 | 17.7% | +1.3% |
| 1981 | 17.8% | +0.9% |
| 1982 | 18.0% | +0.7% |
| 1983 | 18.1% | +0.7% |
| 1984 | 18.2% | +0.8% |
| 1985 | 18.4% | +1.1% |
| 1986 | 18.7% | +1.6% |
| 1987 | 19.1% | +2.1% |
| 1988 | 19.5% | +2.1% |
| 1989 | 19.9% | +2.1% |
| 1990 | 20.3% | +2.0% |
| 1991 | 20.7% | +1.7% |
| 1992 | 21.0% | +1.5% |
| 1993 | 21.3% | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 21.6% | +1.6% |
| 1995 | 22.0% | +1.8% |
| 1996 | 22.4% | +1.9% |
| 1997 | 22.9% | +1.9% |
| 1998 | 23.3% | +2.0% |
| 1999 | 23.7% | +1.7% |
| 2000 | 24.1% | +1.6% |
| 2001 | 24.5% | +1.7% |
| 2002 | 24.7% | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 24.5% | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 24.1% | -1.5% |
| 2005 | 24.0% | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 24.0% | -0.0% |
| 2007 | 23.8% | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 23.9% | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 24.2% | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 24.8% | +2.2% |
| 2011 | 25.3% | +2.2% |
| 2012 | 25.8% | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 26.6% | +2.9% |
| 2014 | 27.3% | +2.9% |
| 2015 | 27.9% | +1.9% |
| 2016 | 28.3% | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 28.7% | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 29.0% | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 29.3% | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 29.5% | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 29.9% | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 30.4% | +2.0% |
| 2023 | 31.2% | +2.5% |
Spain compared with similar countries
- Spain's 31.2% is above the median for high income countries, which is 25.9%, 1.2× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Spain's 31.2% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 30.1%, 1.0× the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 11.7% | 10.9% | 12.4% | 10 |
| 1960s | 13.8% | 12.7% | 15.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 16.4% | 15.4% | 17.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 18.5% | 17.7% | 19.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 21.9% | 20.3% | 23.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 24.2% | 23.8% | 24.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.3% | 24.8% | 29.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 30.3% | 29.5% | 31.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Spain
More reference data data for Spain
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.18 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 2.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 11.76 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.898 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 11.76 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 10.67 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 6.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 11.06 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 52.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.89 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is old-age dependency ratio in Spain?
- Old-age dependency ratio in Spain was 31.2% 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 Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 31.2% in 2023.
- What is the lowest old-age dependency ratio recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.9% in 1950.
- How does Spain rank for old-age dependency ratio?
- Spain ranks 32nd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is old-age dependency ratio rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Spain 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).