Total dependency ratio in Benin
Benin: Total dependency ratio was 81.6% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
81.6%
Change on year
down 1.0%
World rank
19th
of 236 countries
All-time high
99.2%
in 1988
All-time low
77.1%
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Total dependency ratio in Benin, 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 Benin is 81.6%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.0% on the previous year and down 6.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total dependency ratio in Benin peaked at 99.2% in 1988 and was at its lowest, 77.1%, in 1950.
That places Benin 19th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 74 years of available data.
Total dependency ratio in Benin, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 77.1% | — |
| 1951 | 77.7% | +0.7% |
| 1952 | 78.2% | +0.6% |
| 1953 | 78.7% | +0.6% |
| 1954 | 79.1% | +0.6% |
| 1955 | 79.6% | +0.6% |
| 1956 | 80.1% | +0.6% |
| 1957 | 80.6% | +0.6% |
| 1958 | 81.1% | +0.6% |
| 1959 | 81.6% | +0.7% |
| 1960 | 82.3% | +0.8% |
| 1961 | 83.1% | +1.0% |
| 1962 | 84.1% | +1.2% |
| 1963 | 85.2% | +1.3% |
| 1964 | 86.4% | +1.4% |
| 1965 | 87.6% | +1.4% |
| 1966 | 88.8% | +1.4% |
| 1967 | 90.0% | +1.3% |
| 1968 | 91.2% | +1.3% |
| 1969 | 92.2% | +1.2% |
| 1970 | 93.3% | +1.1% |
| 1971 | 94.2% | +1.0% |
| 1972 | 95.1% | +0.9% |
| 1973 | 95.9% | +0.8% |
| 1974 | 96.6% | +0.7% |
| 1975 | 97.1% | +0.6% |
| 1976 | 97.5% | +0.4% |
| 1977 | 97.7% | +0.2% |
| 1978 | 97.8% | +0.1% |
| 1979 | 97.9% | +0.1% |
| 1980 | 98.1% | +0.2% |
| 1981 | 98.3% | +0.2% |
| 1982 | 98.5% | +0.2% |
| 1983 | 98.7% | +0.2% |
| 1984 | 98.9% | +0.2% |
| 1985 | 99.0% | +0.1% |
| 1986 | 99.1% | +0.1% |
| 1987 | 99.2% | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 99.2% | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 99.1% | -0.0% |
| 1990 | 99.0% | -0.1% |
| 1991 | 98.8% | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 98.6% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 96.5% | -2.2% |
| 1994 | 95.6% | -0.9% |
| 1995 | 96.9% | +1.3% |
| 1996 | 97.1% | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 96.6% | -0.4% |
| 1998 | 96.0% | -0.7% |
| 1999 | 95.3% | -0.7% |
| 2000 | 94.6% | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 93.8% | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 93.0% | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 92.3% | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 91.7% | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 91.0% | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 90.5% | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 90.2% | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 89.8% | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 89.2% | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 88.5% | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 88.1% | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 87.7% | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 87.3% | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 87.0% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 86.7% | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 86.4% | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 86.0% | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 85.5% | -0.6% |
| 2019 | 84.9% | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 84.1% | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 83.3% | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 82.4% | -1.1% |
| 2023 | 81.6% | -1.0% |
Benin compared with similar countries
- Benin's 81.6% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 65.5%, 1.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Benin's 81.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 77.8%, 1.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 79.4% | 77.1% | 81.6% | 10 |
| 1960s | 87.1% | 82.3% | 92.2% | 10 |
| 1970s | 96.3% | 93.3% | 97.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 98.8% | 98.1% | 99.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 97.0% | 95.3% | 99.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 91.6% | 89.2% | 94.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 86.8% | 84.9% | 88.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 82.9% | 81.6% | 84.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Benin
More reference data data for Benin
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1979 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.67 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1562 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.6635 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.5244 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.56 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 10.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.8505 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total dependency ratio in Benin?
- Total dependency ratio in Benin was 81.6% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total dependency ratio recorded in Benin?
- The highest recorded value was 99.2% in 1988.
- What is the lowest total dependency ratio recorded in Benin?
- The lowest recorded value was 77.1% in 1950.
- How does Benin rank for total dependency ratio?
- Benin ranks 19th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total dependency ratio rising or falling in Benin?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Benin 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).