Old-age dependency ratio in Taiwan
Taiwan: Old-age dependency ratio was 26.2% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
26.2%
Change on year
up 5.3%
World rank
58th
of 236 countries
All-time high
26.2%
in 2023
All-time low
3.9%
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Old-age dependency ratio in Taiwan, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Taiwan recorded 26.2% for old-age dependency ratio in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.3% on the previous year and up 71.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, old-age dependency ratio in Taiwan peaked at 26.2% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 3.9%, in 1950.
That places Taiwan 58th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Old-age dependency ratio in Taiwan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 3.9% | — |
| 1951 | 4.0% | +2.5% |
| 1952 | 4.1% | +3.1% |
| 1953 | 4.2% | +3.2% |
| 1954 | 4.3% | +3.0% |
| 1955 | 4.4% | +2.5% |
| 1956 | 4.5% | +1.6% |
| 1957 | 4.5% | -0.1% |
| 1958 | 4.5% | -1.0% |
| 1959 | 4.4% | -0.8% |
| 1960 | 4.4% | +0.2% |
| 1961 | 4.5% | +0.6% |
| 1962 | 4.5% | +0.7% |
| 1963 | 4.6% | +1.3% |
| 1964 | 4.6% | +1.1% |
| 1965 | 4.7% | +1.0% |
| 1966 | 4.7% | +1.1% |
| 1967 | 4.7% | +0.9% |
| 1968 | 4.8% | +0.7% |
| 1969 | 4.8% | +0.5% |
| 1970 | 4.9% | +1.4% |
| 1971 | 5.0% | +1.6% |
| 1972 | 5.0% | +1.5% |
| 1973 | 5.1% | +1.2% |
| 1974 | 5.1% | +1.0% |
| 1975 | 5.2% | +1.3% |
| 1976 | 5.3% | +1.4% |
| 1977 | 5.4% | +2.9% |
| 1978 | 5.7% | +4.4% |
| 1979 | 5.9% | +4.7% |
| 1980 | 6.2% | +4.7% |
| 1981 | 6.5% | +3.8% |
| 1982 | 6.7% | +3.5% |
| 1983 | 6.9% | +3.4% |
| 1984 | 7.1% | +3.1% |
| 1985 | 7.4% | +3.4% |
| 1986 | 7.7% | +4.1% |
| 1987 | 8.0% | +4.4% |
| 1988 | 8.3% | +3.8% |
| 1989 | 8.6% | +3.6% |
| 1990 | 9.0% | +4.0% |
| 1991 | 9.3% | +4.0% |
| 1992 | 9.7% | +3.7% |
| 1993 | 10.0% | +3.6% |
| 1994 | 10.4% | +3.4% |
| 1995 | 10.7% | +3.2% |
| 1996 | 11.0% | +2.8% |
| 1997 | 11.2% | +2.3% |
| 1998 | 11.5% | +2.0% |
| 1999 | 11.7% | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 12.0% | +2.9% |
| 2001 | 12.4% | +3.0% |
| 2002 | 12.6% | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 12.9% | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 13.2% | +2.0% |
| 2005 | 13.4% | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 13.7% | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 14.0% | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 14.2% | +1.7% |
| 2009 | 14.5% | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 14.6% | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 14.7% | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 14.9% | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 15.3% | +2.9% |
| 2014 | 16.0% | +4.0% |
| 2015 | 16.7% | +4.7% |
| 2016 | 17.6% | +5.4% |
| 2017 | 18.7% | +5.9% |
| 2018 | 19.7% | +5.8% |
| 2019 | 20.9% | +5.9% |
| 2020 | 22.2% | +6.2% |
| 2021 | 23.6% | +6.3% |
| 2022 | 24.9% | +5.6% |
| 2023 | 26.2% | +5.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 4.3% | 3.9% | 4.5% | 10 |
| 1960s | 4.6% | 4.4% | 4.8% | 10 |
| 1970s | 5.3% | 4.9% | 5.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 7.3% | 6.2% | 8.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.4% | 9.0% | 11.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 13.3% | 12.0% | 14.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.9% | 14.6% | 20.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.2% | 22.2% | 26.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Taiwan
- 55 United States 26.8% compare
- 56 North Macedonia 26.7% compare
- 57 Niue 26.6% compare
- 59 South Korea 25.9% compare
- 60 New Zealand 25.9% compare
- 61 Belarus 25.7% compare
More reference data data for Taiwan
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 2,323 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - IPCC Agriculture 111.86 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Manure Management 46.04 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.84 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0594 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.4506 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 7.6 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Manure left on 360.08 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Agricultural 2,013 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is old-age dependency ratio in Taiwan?
- Old-age dependency ratio in Taiwan was 26.2% 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 Taiwan?
- The highest recorded value was 26.2% in 2023.
- What is the lowest old-age dependency ratio recorded in Taiwan?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.9% in 1950.
- How does Taiwan rank for old-age dependency ratio?
- Taiwan ranks 58th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is old-age dependency ratio rising or falling in Taiwan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 71.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Taiwan 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).