Total dependency ratio in Belgium
Belgium: Total dependency ratio was 57.3% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
57.3%
Change on year
up 0.6%
World rank
98th
of 236 countries
All-time high
58.7%
in 1969
All-time low
47.1%
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Total dependency ratio in Belgium, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Belgium recorded 57.3% for total dependency ratio in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.6% on the previous year and up 7.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total dependency ratio in Belgium peaked at 58.7% in 1969 and was at its lowest, 47.1%, in 1950.
That places Belgium 98th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
Total dependency ratio in Belgium, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 47.1% | — |
| 1951 | 47.7% | +1.3% |
| 1952 | 48.3% | +1.3% |
| 1953 | 48.9% | +1.2% |
| 1954 | 49.5% | +1.2% |
| 1955 | 50.3% | +1.6% |
| 1956 | 51.4% | +2.2% |
| 1957 | 52.6% | +2.4% |
| 1958 | 53.7% | +2.0% |
| 1959 | 54.6% | +1.7% |
| 1960 | 55.5% | +1.6% |
| 1961 | 56.1% | +1.2% |
| 1962 | 56.5% | +0.8% |
| 1963 | 56.9% | +0.6% |
| 1964 | 57.3% | +0.8% |
| 1965 | 57.8% | +0.9% |
| 1966 | 58.3% | +0.8% |
| 1967 | 58.6% | +0.6% |
| 1968 | 58.7% | +0.2% |
| 1969 | 58.7% | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 58.7% | -0.1% |
| 1971 | 58.6% | -0.2% |
| 1972 | 58.4% | -0.3% |
| 1973 | 58.1% | -0.6% |
| 1974 | 57.5% | -1.0% |
| 1975 | 56.8% | -1.2% |
| 1976 | 56.0% | -1.4% |
| 1977 | 55.3% | -1.3% |
| 1978 | 54.6% | -1.2% |
| 1979 | 53.9% | -1.3% |
| 1980 | 53.1% | -1.5% |
| 1981 | 52.0% | -2.0% |
| 1982 | 50.8% | -2.3% |
| 1983 | 49.5% | -2.4% |
| 1984 | 48.6% | -1.8% |
| 1985 | 48.3% | -0.7% |
| 1986 | 48.2% | -0.1% |
| 1987 | 48.3% | +0.1% |
| 1988 | 48.5% | +0.5% |
| 1989 | 48.9% | +0.8% |
| 1990 | 49.4% | +1.0% |
| 1991 | 49.9% | +1.1% |
| 1992 | 50.3% | +0.9% |
| 1993 | 50.7% | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 50.9% | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 51.2% | +0.6% |
| 1996 | 51.5% | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 51.8% | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 52.1% | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 52.3% | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 52.5% | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 52.5% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 52.5% | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 52.5% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 52.4% | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 52.3% | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 51.9% | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 51.5% | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 51.4% | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 51.5% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 51.6% | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 52.0% | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 52.6% | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 53.1% | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 53.7% | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 54.2% | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 54.6% | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 55.2% | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 55.6% | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 56.0% | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 56.3% | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 56.5% | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 56.9% | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 57.3% | +0.6% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 57.3% is above the median for high income countries, which is 52.7%, 1.1× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 57.3% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 55.3%, 1.0× the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 50.4% | 47.1% | 54.6% | 10 |
| 1960s | 57.4% | 55.5% | 58.7% | 10 |
| 1970s | 56.8% | 53.9% | 58.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 49.6% | 48.2% | 53.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 51.0% | 49.4% | 52.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 52.1% | 51.4% | 52.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 53.9% | 51.6% | 56.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 56.8% | 56.3% | 57.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
More reference data data for Belgium
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.9298 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.291 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.09 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1382 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.09 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.12 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.61 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 10.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7526 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total dependency ratio in Belgium?
- Total dependency ratio in Belgium was 57.3% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total dependency ratio recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 58.7% in 1969.
- What is the lowest total dependency ratio recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.1% in 1950.
- How does Belgium rank for total dependency ratio?
- Belgium ranks 98th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total dependency ratio rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Belgium 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.
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About this data
Number of children (under 15) and people aged 65 and over per 100 working-age people (aged 15 to 64).