Total dependency ratio in Canada
Canada: Total dependency ratio was 53.0% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Total dependency ratio in Canada, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Canada recorded 53.0% for total dependency ratio in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 15.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total dependency ratio in Canada peaked at 71.2% in 1962 and was at its lowest, 44.0%, in 2007.
That places Canada 139th 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 | 65.4% | 60.0% | 69.9% | 10 |
| 1960s | 68.7% | 63.4% | 71.2% | 10 |
| 1970s | 54.2% | 48.2% | 61.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 46.4% | 46.0% | 47.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 47.5% | 46.9% | 47.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 44.9% | 44.0% | 46.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 47.2% | 44.2% | 50.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 52.2% | 51.2% | 53.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Canada
- 136 Lithuania 53.2% compare
- 137 Bangladesh 53.1% compare
- 138 Poland 53.0% compare
- 140 Switzerland 52.9% compare
- 141 Nicaragua 52.9% compare
- 142 North Macedonia 52.8% compare
More reference data data for Canada
- Spring temperature anomalies -4.58 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 1.7 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 2.12 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 2.47 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies -2.57 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 140.97 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 Canada?
- Total dependency ratio in Canada was 53.0% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total dependency ratio recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 71.2% in 1962.
- What is the lowest total dependency ratio recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 44.0% in 2007.
- How does Canada rank for total dependency ratio?
- Canada ranks 139th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total dependency ratio rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Canada 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).