Total dependency ratio in Ghana
Ghana: Total dependency ratio was 66.1% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
66.1%
Change on year
down 1.2%
World rank
58th
of 236 countries
All-time high
106.6%
in 1970
All-time low
66.1%
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Total dependency ratio in Ghana, 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 Ghana is 66.1%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is down 1.2% on the previous year and down 9.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total dependency ratio in Ghana peaked at 106.6% in 1970 and was at its lowest, 66.1%, in 2023.
That places Ghana 58th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.
Total dependency ratio in Ghana, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 83.8% | — |
| 1951 | 83.1% | -0.8% |
| 1952 | 82.9% | -0.2% |
| 1953 | 83.2% | +0.3% |
| 1954 | 83.9% | +0.9% |
| 1955 | 85.0% | +1.3% |
| 1956 | 86.4% | +1.6% |
| 1957 | 87.9% | +1.8% |
| 1958 | 89.7% | +2.0% |
| 1959 | 91.7% | +2.2% |
| 1960 | 93.5% | +2.0% |
| 1961 | 95.7% | +2.3% |
| 1962 | 98.1% | +2.6% |
| 1963 | 100.2% | +2.1% |
| 1964 | 101.9% | +1.6% |
| 1965 | 103.2% | +1.3% |
| 1966 | 104.2% | +1.0% |
| 1967 | 105.1% | +0.8% |
| 1968 | 105.8% | +0.7% |
| 1969 | 106.3% | +0.5% |
| 1970 | 106.6% | +0.2% |
| 1971 | 106.4% | -0.2% |
| 1972 | 105.8% | -0.5% |
| 1973 | 105.1% | -0.7% |
| 1974 | 104.3% | -0.8% |
| 1975 | 103.5% | -0.8% |
| 1976 | 102.0% | -1.4% |
| 1977 | 100.1% | -1.9% |
| 1978 | 98.4% | -1.7% |
| 1979 | 96.9% | -1.5% |
| 1980 | 95.5% | -1.4% |
| 1981 | 94.1% | -1.4% |
| 1982 | 93.0% | -1.2% |
| 1983 | 92.1% | -1.0% |
| 1984 | 91.6% | -0.5% |
| 1985 | 91.7% | +0.1% |
| 1986 | 92.1% | +0.4% |
| 1987 | 92.4% | +0.4% |
| 1988 | 92.4% | -0.0% |
| 1989 | 92.2% | -0.3% |
| 1990 | 91.9% | -0.3% |
| 1991 | 91.6% | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 91.3% | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 90.5% | -0.8% |
| 1994 | 89.5% | -1.1% |
| 1995 | 88.6% | -1.0% |
| 1996 | 87.9% | -0.8% |
| 1997 | 86.8% | -1.2% |
| 1998 | 85.5% | -1.5% |
| 1999 | 84.3% | -1.5% |
| 2000 | 83.2% | -1.3% |
| 2001 | 82.0% | -1.4% |
| 2002 | 80.8% | -1.5% |
| 2003 | 79.7% | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 78.7% | -1.3% |
| 2005 | 77.7% | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 76.8% | -1.1% |
| 2007 | 76.0% | -1.1% |
| 2008 | 75.1% | -1.1% |
| 2009 | 74.4% | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 73.9% | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 73.5% | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 73.3% | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 73.0% | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 72.7% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 72.3% | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 71.7% | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 71.0% | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 70.2% | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 69.5% | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 68.6% | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 67.7% | -1.3% |
| 2022 | 66.9% | -1.2% |
| 2023 | 66.1% | -1.2% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 66.1% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 65.5%, 1.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 66.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 77.8%, 85% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 85.8% | 82.9% | 91.7% | 10 |
| 1960s | 101.4% | 93.5% | 106.3% | 10 |
| 1970s | 102.9% | 96.9% | 106.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 92.7% | 91.6% | 95.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 88.8% | 84.3% | 91.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 78.4% | 74.4% | 83.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 72.1% | 69.5% | 73.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 67.4% | 66.1% | 68.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
- 55 Tajikistan 67.1% compare
- 56 Saint Helena 67.0% compare
- 57 Israel 66.7% compare
- 59 East Timor 65.5% compare
- 60 Guadeloupe 65.4% compare
- 61 Martinique 65.0% compare
More reference data data for Ghana
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2805 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.89 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.69 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1989 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.69 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.9405 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.9478 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.22 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 12.64 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.08 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total dependency ratio in Ghana?
- Total dependency ratio in Ghana was 66.1% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total dependency ratio recorded in Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 106.6% in 1970.
- What is the lowest total dependency ratio recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 66.1% in 2023.
- How does Ghana rank for total dependency ratio?
- Ghana ranks 58th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total dependency ratio rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ghana 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).