Old-age dependency ratio in United States
United States: Old-age dependency ratio was 26.8% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
26.8%
Change on year
up 3.4%
World rank
55th
of 236 countries
All-time high
26.8%
in 2023
All-time low
12.3%
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Old-age dependency ratio in United States, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
United States recorded 26.8% for old-age dependency ratio in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.4% on the previous year and up 31.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, old-age dependency ratio in United States peaked at 26.8% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 12.3%, in 1950.
United States ranks 55th of 236 countries on this measure, 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 States, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 12.3% | — |
| 1951 | 12.6% | +2.0% |
| 1952 | 12.8% | +2.0% |
| 1953 | 13.1% | +1.9% |
| 1954 | 13.3% | +1.9% |
| 1955 | 13.6% | +1.9% |
| 1956 | 13.8% | +1.7% |
| 1957 | 14.0% | +1.5% |
| 1958 | 14.2% | +1.4% |
| 1959 | 14.4% | +1.7% |
| 1960 | 14.7% | +2.0% |
| 1961 | 15.0% | +1.5% |
| 1962 | 15.1% | +0.8% |
| 1963 | 15.2% | +0.5% |
| 1964 | 15.3% | +0.6% |
| 1965 | 15.4% | +1.1% |
| 1966 | 15.5% | +0.9% |
| 1967 | 15.6% | +0.3% |
| 1968 | 15.6% | +0.2% |
| 1969 | 15.7% | +0.2% |
| 1970 | 15.7% | +0.4% |
| 1971 | 15.8% | +0.2% |
| 1972 | 15.8% | -0.0% |
| 1973 | 15.8% | +0.1% |
| 1974 | 15.8% | +0.2% |
| 1975 | 15.9% | +0.5% |
| 1976 | 16.0% | +0.6% |
| 1977 | 16.1% | +0.8% |
| 1978 | 16.3% | +1.0% |
| 1979 | 16.4% | +1.1% |
| 1980 | 16.6% | +1.1% |
| 1981 | 16.8% | +1.0% |
| 1982 | 17.0% | +1.0% |
| 1983 | 17.2% | +1.1% |
| 1984 | 17.4% | +1.1% |
| 1985 | 17.5% | +1.0% |
| 1986 | 17.7% | +1.1% |
| 1987 | 18.0% | +1.3% |
| 1988 | 18.2% | +1.3% |
| 1989 | 18.4% | +1.2% |
| 1990 | 18.6% | +1.0% |
| 1991 | 18.7% | +0.7% |
| 1992 | 18.8% | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 18.9% | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 18.9% | -0.0% |
| 1995 | 18.8% | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 18.8% | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 18.7% | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 18.5% | -0.7% |
| 1999 | 18.4% | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 18.3% | -0.7% |
| 2001 | 18.1% | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 18.1% | -0.5% |
| 2003 | 18.0% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 18.0% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 17.9% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 18.0% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 18.2% | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 18.4% | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 18.7% | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 19.0% | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 19.4% | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 19.9% | +2.7% |
| 2013 | 20.5% | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 21.0% | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 21.5% | +2.4% |
| 2016 | 22.0% | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 22.6% | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 23.2% | +2.7% |
| 2019 | 23.8% | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 24.5% | +2.8% |
| 2021 | 25.2% | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 25.9% | +3.0% |
| 2023 | 26.8% | +3.4% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 26.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 25.9%, 1.0× the median. (85 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 13.4% | 12.3% | 14.4% | 10 |
| 1960s | 15.3% | 14.7% | 15.7% | 10 |
| 1970s | 16.0% | 15.7% | 16.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 17.5% | 16.6% | 18.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 18.7% | 18.4% | 18.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 18.2% | 17.9% | 18.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.3% | 19.0% | 23.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 25.6% | 24.5% | 26.8% | 4 |
Countries ranked near United States
More reference data data for United States
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 19.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 24.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 20.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 64.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 52.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 133.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 589.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 112.69 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is old-age dependency ratio in United States?
- Old-age dependency ratio in United States was 26.8% 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 States?
- The highest recorded value was 26.8% in 2023.
- What is the lowest old-age dependency ratio recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.3% in 1950.
- How does United States rank for old-age dependency ratio?
- United States ranks 55th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is old-age dependency ratio rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States 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).