Age dependency ratio old in United States
United States: Age dependency ratio old 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
12.32
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Age dependency ratio old in United States, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
United States recorded 26.8 for age dependency ratio old 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, age dependency ratio old in United States peaked at 26.8 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 12.32, 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.
Age dependency ratio old in United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 12.32 | — |
| 1951 | 12.57 | +2.0% |
| 1952 | 12.81 | +2.0% |
| 1953 | 13.06 | +1.9% |
| 1954 | 13.31 | +1.9% |
| 1955 | 13.56 | +1.9% |
| 1956 | 13.79 | +1.7% |
| 1957 | 14 | +1.5% |
| 1958 | 14.2 | +1.4% |
| 1959 | 14.45 | +1.7% |
| 1960 | 14.74 | +2.0% |
| 1961 | 14.97 | +1.5% |
| 1962 | 15.09 | +0.8% |
| 1963 | 15.16 | +0.5% |
| 1964 | 15.25 | +0.6% |
| 1965 | 15.41 | +1.1% |
| 1966 | 15.55 | +0.9% |
| 1967 | 15.6 | +0.3% |
| 1968 | 15.63 | +0.2% |
| 1969 | 15.67 | +0.2% |
| 1970 | 15.74 | +0.4% |
| 1971 | 15.77 | +0.2% |
| 1972 | 15.77 | -0.0% |
| 1973 | 15.78 | +0.1% |
| 1974 | 15.82 | +0.2% |
| 1975 | 15.9 | +0.5% |
| 1976 | 15.99 | +0.6% |
| 1977 | 16.12 | +0.8% |
| 1978 | 16.27 | +1.0% |
| 1979 | 16.45 | +1.1% |
| 1980 | 16.64 | +1.1% |
| 1981 | 16.8 | +1.0% |
| 1982 | 16.97 | +1.0% |
| 1983 | 17.16 | +1.1% |
| 1984 | 17.36 | +1.1% |
| 1985 | 17.53 | +1.0% |
| 1986 | 17.73 | +1.1% |
| 1987 | 17.95 | +1.3% |
| 1988 | 18.18 | +1.3% |
| 1989 | 18.4 | +1.2% |
| 1990 | 18.59 | +1.0% |
| 1991 | 18.71 | +0.7% |
| 1992 | 18.8 | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 18.85 | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 18.85 | -0.0% |
| 1995 | 18.83 | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 18.77 | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 18.67 | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 18.53 | -0.7% |
| 1999 | 18.39 | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 18.26 | -0.7% |
| 2001 | 18.14 | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 18.06 | -0.5% |
| 2003 | 18 | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 17.96 | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 17.94 | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 17.98 | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 18.17 | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 18.44 | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 18.74 | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 19.01 | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 19.38 | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 19.9 | +2.7% |
| 2013 | 20.45 | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 20.98 | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 21.49 | +2.4% |
| 2016 | 22.01 | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 22.57 | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 23.17 | +2.7% |
| 2019 | 23.82 | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 24.5 | +2.8% |
| 2021 | 25.17 | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 25.92 | +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 25.91, 1.0× the median. (85 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 13.41 | 12.32 | 14.45 | 10 |
| 1960s | 15.31 | 14.74 | 15.67 | 10 |
| 1970s | 15.96 | 15.74 | 16.45 | 10 |
| 1980s | 17.47 | 16.64 | 18.4 | 10 |
| 1990s | 18.7 | 18.39 | 18.85 | 10 |
| 2000s | 18.17 | 17.94 | 18.74 | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.28 | 19.01 | 23.82 | 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 age dependency ratio old in United States?
- Age dependency ratio old in United States was 26.8 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest age dependency ratio old recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 26.8 in 2023.
- What is the lowest age dependency ratio old recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.32 in 1950.
- How does United States rank for age dependency ratio old?
- United States ranks 55th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is age dependency ratio old 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Age dependency ratio old. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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