Total dependency ratio in Australia
Australia: Total dependency ratio was 54.8% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Total dependency ratio in Australia, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total dependency ratio in Australia is 54.8%, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 0.5% on the previous year and up 9.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total dependency ratio in Australia peaked at 63.2% in 1961 and was at its lowest, 48.1%, in 2008.
That places Australia 119th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 58.7% | 53.3% | 63.0% | 10 |
| 1960s | 61.7% | 59.5% | 63.2% | 10 |
| 1970s | 56.8% | 54.0% | 59.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 51.4% | 49.5% | 53.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 49.8% | 49.5% | 50.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 48.6% | 48.1% | 49.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 50.7% | 48.3% | 52.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 54.3% | 53.6% | 54.8% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More reference data data for Australia
- Spring temperature anomalies -0.4864 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.8615 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 1.13 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.0026 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 0.4713 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 148.46 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total dependency ratio in Australia?
- Total dependency ratio in Australia was 54.8% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total dependency ratio recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 63.2% in 1961.
- What is the lowest total dependency ratio recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 48.1% in 2008.
- How does Australia rank for total dependency ratio?
- Australia ranks 119th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total dependency ratio rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Total dependency ratio. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The number of children (under 15) and people aged 65 and over per 100 working-age people (aged 15 to 64).