Total dependency ratio in Canada
Canada: Total dependency ratio was 53.0% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
53.0%
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
139th
of 236 countries
All-time high
71.2%
in 1962
All-time low
44.0%
in 2007
Years of data
74
1950–2023
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.
Total dependency ratio in Canada, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 60.0% | — |
| 1951 | 61.5% | +2.6% |
| 1952 | 62.8% | +2.1% |
| 1953 | 63.9% | +1.8% |
| 1954 | 65.1% | +1.9% |
| 1955 | 66.3% | +1.8% |
| 1956 | 67.3% | +1.5% |
| 1957 | 68.3% | +1.4% |
| 1958 | 69.1% | +1.3% |
| 1959 | 69.9% | +1.1% |
| 1960 | 70.6% | +1.0% |
| 1961 | 71.0% | +0.7% |
| 1962 | 71.2% | +0.2% |
| 1963 | 70.9% | -0.3% |
| 1964 | 70.4% | -0.8% |
| 1965 | 69.5% | -1.3% |
| 1966 | 68.2% | -1.8% |
| 1967 | 66.7% | -2.2% |
| 1968 | 65.1% | -2.4% |
| 1969 | 63.4% | -2.5% |
| 1970 | 61.5% | -3.0% |
| 1971 | 59.6% | -3.2% |
| 1972 | 57.8% | -2.9% |
| 1973 | 56.1% | -2.9% |
| 1974 | 54.5% | -2.9% |
| 1975 | 53.0% | -2.8% |
| 1976 | 51.6% | -2.6% |
| 1977 | 50.4% | -2.4% |
| 1978 | 49.3% | -2.3% |
| 1979 | 48.2% | -2.1% |
| 1980 | 47.4% | -1.7% |
| 1981 | 46.8% | -1.2% |
| 1982 | 46.4% | -0.8% |
| 1983 | 46.2% | -0.5% |
| 1984 | 46.1% | -0.3% |
| 1985 | 46.0% | -0.2% |
| 1986 | 46.0% | -0.0% |
| 1987 | 46.2% | +0.4% |
| 1988 | 46.4% | +0.5% |
| 1989 | 46.7% | +0.5% |
| 1990 | 46.9% | +0.6% |
| 1991 | 47.3% | +0.7% |
| 1992 | 47.6% | +0.7% |
| 1993 | 47.9% | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 47.9% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 47.9% | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 47.7% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 47.6% | -0.4% |
| 1998 | 47.3% | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 46.9% | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 46.5% | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 46.0% | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 45.6% | -0.9% |
| 2003 | 45.2% | -0.9% |
| 2004 | 44.8% | -0.9% |
| 2005 | 44.4% | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 44.1% | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 44.0% | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 44.0% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 44.0% | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 44.2% | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 44.6% | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 45.2% | +1.4% |
| 2013 | 46.0% | +1.6% |
| 2014 | 46.7% | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 47.6% | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 48.4% | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 49.1% | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 49.7% | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 50.4% | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 51.2% | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 52.0% | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 52.6% | +1.2% |
| 2023 | 53.0% | +0.8% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 53.0% is above the median for high income countries, which is 52.7%, 1.0× the median. (85 countries reporting)
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
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 20.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 20.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 6.86 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 7.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 22.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 99.83 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 15.88 (2050)
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.
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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).