Old-age dependency ratio in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Old-age dependency ratio was 30.3% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
30.3%
Change on year
up 1.8%
World rank
38th
of 236 countries
All-time high
30.3%
in 2023
All-time low
16.2%
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Old-age dependency ratio in United Kingdom, 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 United Kingdom is 30.3%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.8% on the previous year and up 13.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, old-age dependency ratio in United Kingdom peaked at 30.3% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 16.2%, in 1950.
That places United Kingdom 38th 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 United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 16.2% | — |
| 1951 | 16.4% | +1.1% |
| 1952 | 16.6% | +1.3% |
| 1953 | 16.8% | +1.3% |
| 1954 | 17.0% | +1.1% |
| 1955 | 17.2% | +1.0% |
| 1956 | 17.4% | +1.0% |
| 1957 | 17.6% | +1.1% |
| 1958 | 17.7% | +1.0% |
| 1959 | 17.9% | +0.7% |
| 1960 | 18.0% | +0.8% |
| 1961 | 18.1% | +0.6% |
| 1962 | 18.2% | +0.3% |
| 1963 | 18.3% | +0.9% |
| 1964 | 18.6% | +1.7% |
| 1965 | 19.0% | +1.8% |
| 1966 | 19.3% | +1.8% |
| 1967 | 19.7% | +1.9% |
| 1968 | 20.1% | +2.0% |
| 1969 | 20.5% | +1.9% |
| 1970 | 20.9% | +2.0% |
| 1971 | 21.2% | +1.9% |
| 1972 | 21.6% | +1.7% |
| 1973 | 21.9% | +1.5% |
| 1974 | 22.3% | +1.5% |
| 1975 | 22.5% | +1.3% |
| 1976 | 22.8% | +0.9% |
| 1977 | 22.9% | +0.8% |
| 1978 | 23.1% | +0.9% |
| 1979 | 23.3% | +0.7% |
| 1980 | 23.4% | +0.4% |
| 1981 | 23.4% | -0.0% |
| 1982 | 23.2% | -0.7% |
| 1983 | 23.0% | -1.3% |
| 1984 | 22.8% | -0.6% |
| 1985 | 23.0% | +0.9% |
| 1986 | 23.3% | +1.3% |
| 1987 | 23.5% | +0.9% |
| 1988 | 23.9% | +1.6% |
| 1989 | 24.3% | +1.5% |
| 1990 | 24.4% | +0.6% |
| 1991 | 24.6% | +0.6% |
| 1992 | 24.7% | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 24.8% | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 24.8% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 24.8% | -0.0% |
| 1996 | 24.7% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 24.7% | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 24.6% | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 24.5% | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 24.4% | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 24.3% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 24.3% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 24.3% | -0.0% |
| 2004 | 24.3% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 24.2% | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 24.1% | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 24.1% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 24.2% | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 24.5% | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 24.8% | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 25.2% | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 26.0% | +3.0% |
| 2013 | 26.7% | +2.7% |
| 2014 | 27.2% | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 27.6% | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 27.9% | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 28.2% | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 28.6% | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 29.0% | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 29.3% | +0.9% |
| 2021 | 29.5% | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 29.8% | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 30.3% | +1.8% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 30.3% is above the median for high income countries, which is 25.9%, 1.2× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 30.3% 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 | 17.1% | 16.2% | 17.9% | 10 |
| 1960s | 19.0% | 18.0% | 20.5% | 10 |
| 1970s | 22.3% | 20.9% | 23.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 23.4% | 22.8% | 24.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 24.6% | 24.4% | 24.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 24.3% | 24.1% | 24.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.1% | 24.8% | 29.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 29.7% | 29.3% | 30.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 35 Austria 30.7% compare
- 36 Romania 30.7% compare
- 37 Lithuania 30.4% compare
- 39 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 30.1% compare
- 40 Montserrat 30.0% compare
- 41 Switzerland 30.0% compare
More reference data data for United Kingdom
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.13 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.97 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 10.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 6.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 15.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 59.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 5.48 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is old-age dependency ratio in United Kingdom?
- Old-age dependency ratio in United Kingdom was 30.3% 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 30.3% in 2023.
- What is the lowest old-age dependency ratio recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.2% in 1950.
- How does United Kingdom rank for old-age dependency ratio?
- United Kingdom ranks 38th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is old-age dependency ratio rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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).