Total dependency ratio in Denmark
Denmark: Total dependency ratio was 57.4% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
57.4%
Change on year
up 0.1%
World rank
97th
of 236 countries
All-time high
57.5%
in 1957
All-time low
48.2%
in 1992
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Total dependency ratio in Denmark, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total dependency ratio in Denmark is 57.4%, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 4.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total dependency ratio in Denmark peaked at 57.5% in 1957 and was at its lowest, 48.2%, in 1992.
That places Denmark 97th 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 Denmark, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 54.6% | — |
| 1951 | 55.3% | +1.2% |
| 1952 | 55.8% | +0.9% |
| 1953 | 56.2% | +0.8% |
| 1954 | 56.6% | +0.7% |
| 1955 | 57.0% | +0.7% |
| 1956 | 57.4% | +0.7% |
| 1957 | 57.5% | +0.1% |
| 1958 | 57.1% | -0.6% |
| 1959 | 56.5% | -1.0% |
| 1960 | 55.8% | -1.4% |
| 1961 | 55.0% | -1.4% |
| 1962 | 54.3% | -1.2% |
| 1963 | 54.0% | -0.6% |
| 1964 | 54.0% | +0.1% |
| 1965 | 54.3% | +0.4% |
| 1966 | 54.7% | +0.7% |
| 1967 | 55.1% | +0.7% |
| 1968 | 55.2% | +0.3% |
| 1969 | 55.3% | +0.1% |
| 1970 | 55.2% | -0.2% |
| 1971 | 55.2% | +0.1% |
| 1972 | 55.5% | +0.5% |
| 1973 | 55.7% | +0.3% |
| 1974 | 55.9% | +0.4% |
| 1975 | 56.2% | +0.5% |
| 1976 | 56.3% | +0.2% |
| 1977 | 56.2% | -0.2% |
| 1978 | 55.9% | -0.6% |
| 1979 | 55.3% | -1.0% |
| 1980 | 54.5% | -1.5% |
| 1981 | 53.4% | -2.0% |
| 1982 | 52.3% | -2.0% |
| 1983 | 51.5% | -1.5% |
| 1984 | 50.9% | -1.2% |
| 1985 | 50.4% | -0.9% |
| 1986 | 50.0% | -0.8% |
| 1987 | 49.5% | -1.1% |
| 1988 | 49.1% | -0.9% |
| 1989 | 48.8% | -0.6% |
| 1990 | 48.5% | -0.7% |
| 1991 | 48.2% | -0.5% |
| 1992 | 48.2% | -0.0% |
| 1993 | 48.2% | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 48.3% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 48.4% | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 48.6% | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 48.9% | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 49.3% | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 49.6% | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 49.9% | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 50.3% | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 50.6% | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 50.8% | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 51.0% | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 51.2% | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 51.3% | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 51.5% | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 51.7% | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 52.2% | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 52.8% | +1.1% |
| 2011 | 53.5% | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 54.2% | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 54.7% | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 55.1% | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 55.3% | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 55.5% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 55.9% | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 56.2% | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 56.6% | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 57.0% | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 57.3% | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 57.3% | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 57.4% | +0.1% |
Denmark compared with similar countries
- Denmark's 57.4% is above the median for high income countries, which is 52.7%, 1.1× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Denmark's 57.4% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 55.3%, 1.0× the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 56.4% | 54.6% | 57.5% | 10 |
| 1960s | 54.8% | 54.0% | 55.8% | 10 |
| 1970s | 55.7% | 55.2% | 56.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 51.0% | 48.8% | 54.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 48.6% | 48.2% | 49.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 51.0% | 49.9% | 52.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 55.0% | 52.8% | 56.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 57.2% | 57.0% | 57.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Denmark
More reference data data for Denmark
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.1915 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.4109 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 2.16 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 12.99 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.24 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total dependency ratio in Denmark?
- Total dependency ratio in Denmark was 57.4% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total dependency ratio recorded in Denmark?
- The highest recorded value was 57.5% in 1957.
- What is the lowest total dependency ratio recorded in Denmark?
- The lowest recorded value was 48.2% in 1992.
- How does Denmark rank for total dependency ratio?
- Denmark ranks 97th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total dependency ratio rising or falling in Denmark?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Denmark 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).