Total dependency ratio in Bhutan
Bhutan: Total dependency ratio was 38.6% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
38.6%
Change on year
down 2.2%
World rank
221st
of 236 countries
All-time high
85.8%
in 1950
All-time low
38.6%
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Total dependency ratio in Bhutan, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, total dependency ratio in Bhutan stood at 38.6%. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.2% on the previous year and down 22.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total dependency ratio in Bhutan peaked at 85.8% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 38.6%, in 2023.
That places Bhutan 221st out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.
Total dependency ratio in Bhutan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 85.8% | — |
| 1951 | 85.2% | -0.7% |
| 1952 | 84.6% | -0.7% |
| 1953 | 84.0% | -0.7% |
| 1954 | 83.5% | -0.6% |
| 1955 | 83.0% | -0.5% |
| 1956 | 82.6% | -0.5% |
| 1957 | 82.2% | -0.5% |
| 1958 | 81.8% | -0.5% |
| 1959 | 81.3% | -0.6% |
| 1960 | 80.8% | -0.6% |
| 1961 | 80.3% | -0.6% |
| 1962 | 79.7% | -0.8% |
| 1963 | 79.3% | -0.5% |
| 1964 | 79.1% | -0.3% |
| 1965 | 78.9% | -0.2% |
| 1966 | 78.9% | -0.0% |
| 1967 | 78.9% | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 79.0% | +0.1% |
| 1969 | 79.1% | +0.1% |
| 1970 | 79.3% | +0.2% |
| 1971 | 79.5% | +0.3% |
| 1972 | 79.8% | +0.3% |
| 1973 | 80.1% | +0.4% |
| 1974 | 80.5% | +0.4% |
| 1975 | 80.8% | +0.5% |
| 1976 | 81.3% | +0.5% |
| 1977 | 81.7% | +0.5% |
| 1978 | 82.1% | +0.5% |
| 1979 | 82.5% | +0.5% |
| 1980 | 82.9% | +0.5% |
| 1981 | 83.3% | +0.5% |
| 1982 | 83.6% | +0.4% |
| 1983 | 84.0% | +0.4% |
| 1984 | 84.2% | +0.3% |
| 1985 | 84.4% | +0.2% |
| 1986 | 84.5% | +0.1% |
| 1987 | 84.5% | +0.1% |
| 1988 | 84.5% | -0.0% |
| 1989 | 84.4% | -0.1% |
| 1990 | 84.3% | -0.1% |
| 1991 | 84.1% | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 83.8% | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 83.2% | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 82.4% | -0.9% |
| 1995 | 81.4% | -1.2% |
| 1996 | 80.2% | -1.5% |
| 1997 | 78.8% | -1.7% |
| 1998 | 77.2% | -2.1% |
| 1999 | 75.4% | -2.3% |
| 2000 | 73.5% | -2.6% |
| 2001 | 71.3% | -3.0% |
| 2002 | 68.9% | -3.4% |
| 2003 | 66.3% | -3.7% |
| 2004 | 63.6% | -4.1% |
| 2005 | 61.1% | -3.9% |
| 2006 | 59.1% | -3.2% |
| 2007 | 57.3% | -3.0% |
| 2008 | 55.6% | -2.9% |
| 2009 | 54.1% | -2.8% |
| 2010 | 52.8% | -2.5% |
| 2011 | 51.6% | -2.2% |
| 2012 | 50.6% | -1.9% |
| 2013 | 49.8% | -1.6% |
| 2014 | 49.1% | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 48.3% | -1.6% |
| 2016 | 47.5% | -1.6% |
| 2017 | 46.3% | -2.6% |
| 2018 | 44.7% | -3.6% |
| 2019 | 43.0% | -3.6% |
| 2020 | 41.6% | -3.3% |
| 2021 | 40.4% | -2.8% |
| 2022 | 39.4% | -2.5% |
| 2023 | 38.6% | -2.2% |
Bhutan compared with similar countries
- Bhutan's 38.6% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 65.5%, 59% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Bhutan's 38.6% is below the median for South Asia, which is 49.4%, 78% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 83.4% | 81.3% | 85.8% | 10 |
| 1960s | 79.4% | 78.9% | 80.8% | 10 |
| 1970s | 80.7% | 79.3% | 82.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 84.0% | 82.9% | 84.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 81.1% | 75.4% | 84.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 63.1% | 54.1% | 73.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 48.4% | 43.0% | 52.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 40.0% | 38.6% | 41.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Bhutan
More reference data data for Bhutan
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0217 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.0671 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.1192 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0167 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.1192 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0727 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.0153 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.3489 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.5881 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0909 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total dependency ratio in Bhutan?
- Total dependency ratio in Bhutan was 38.6% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total dependency ratio recorded in Bhutan?
- The highest recorded value was 85.8% in 1950.
- What is the lowest total dependency ratio recorded in Bhutan?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.6% in 2023.
- How does Bhutan rank for total dependency ratio?
- Bhutan ranks 221st out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total dependency ratio rising or falling in Bhutan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Bhutan 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).