Total dependency ratio in China
China: Total dependency ratio was 44.7% in 2023. ▼ Falling
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.
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
- Spring temperature anomalies 1.66 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.0991 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 1.15 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 0 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 1.34 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 2.06 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 132.6 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 0 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
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.
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).