Total dependency ratio in China
China: Total dependency ratio was 44.7% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
44.7%
Change on year
up 0.0%
World rank
196th
of 236 countries
All-time high
82.3%
in 1966
All-time low
37.2%
in 2010
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Total dependency ratio in China, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
China recorded 44.7% for total dependency ratio in 2023.
The figure is up 17.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total dependency ratio in China peaked at 82.3% in 1966 and was at its lowest, 37.2%, in 2010.
That places China 196th 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 China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 66.2% | — |
| 1951 | 67.2% | +1.5% |
| 1952 | 68.7% | +2.2% |
| 1953 | 70.5% | +2.6% |
| 1954 | 72.4% | +2.6% |
| 1955 | 74.4% | +2.7% |
| 1956 | 76.0% | +2.2% |
| 1957 | 77.8% | +2.4% |
| 1958 | 79.8% | +2.5% |
| 1959 | 80.4% | +0.8% |
| 1960 | 79.5% | -1.0% |
| 1961 | 78.0% | -1.9% |
| 1962 | 77.9% | -0.2% |
| 1963 | 79.7% | +2.3% |
| 1964 | 81.5% | +2.2% |
| 1965 | 82.2% | +0.9% |
| 1966 | 82.3% | +0.2% |
| 1967 | 81.5% | -0.9% |
| 1968 | 80.8% | -0.9% |
| 1969 | 80.6% | -0.3% |
| 1970 | 80.2% | -0.6% |
| 1971 | 79.8% | -0.4% |
| 1972 | 79.1% | -0.9% |
| 1973 | 78.5% | -0.8% |
| 1974 | 78.7% | +0.3% |
| 1975 | 79.2% | +0.6% |
| 1976 | 79.5% | +0.4% |
| 1977 | 78.3% | -1.6% |
| 1978 | 74.7% | -4.6% |
| 1979 | 71.0% | -4.9% |
| 1980 | 68.0% | -4.1% |
| 1981 | 65.5% | -3.8% |
| 1982 | 63.5% | -3.0% |
| 1983 | 61.3% | -3.5% |
| 1984 | 58.7% | -4.2% |
| 1985 | 56.5% | -3.8% |
| 1986 | 54.7% | -3.1% |
| 1987 | 53.5% | -2.2% |
| 1988 | 52.6% | -1.8% |
| 1989 | 51.9% | -1.2% |
| 1990 | 51.8% | -0.2% |
| 1991 | 51.7% | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 51.5% | -0.5% |
| 1993 | 51.2% | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 50.9% | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 50.3% | -1.0% |
| 1996 | 49.6% | -1.4% |
| 1997 | 48.7% | -2.0% |
| 1998 | 47.8% | -1.8% |
| 1999 | 47.0% | -1.6% |
| 2000 | 46.1% | -1.9% |
| 2001 | 45.0% | -2.5% |
| 2002 | 43.5% | -3.2% |
| 2003 | 42.1% | -3.3% |
| 2004 | 40.7% | -3.3% |
| 2005 | 39.2% | -3.6% |
| 2006 | 38.2% | -2.6% |
| 2007 | 37.7% | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 37.4% | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 37.3% | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 37.2% | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 37.4% | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 37.7% | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 38.2% | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 38.9% | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 39.6% | +1.9% |
| 2016 | 40.4% | +2.1% |
| 2017 | 41.5% | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 42.5% | +2.5% |
| 2019 | 43.4% | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 44.1% | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 44.5% | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 44.7% | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 44.7% | +0.0% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 44.7% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 50.3%, 89% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- China's 44.7% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 54.0%, 83% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 73.3% | 66.2% | 80.4% | 10 |
| 1960s | 80.4% | 77.9% | 82.3% | 10 |
| 1970s | 77.9% | 71.0% | 80.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 58.6% | 51.9% | 68.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 50.1% | 47.0% | 51.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 40.7% | 37.3% | 46.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 39.7% | 37.2% | 43.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 44.5% | 44.1% | 44.7% | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
More reference data data for China
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 49.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 75.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 18.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 165.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 206.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 350.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,480 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 102.37 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total dependency ratio in China?
- Total dependency ratio in China was 44.7% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total dependency ratio recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 82.3% in 1966.
- What is the lowest total dependency ratio recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.2% in 2010.
- How does China rank for total dependency ratio?
- China ranks 196th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total dependency ratio rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China 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).