Total dependency ratio in Ghana
Ghana: Total dependency ratio was 66.1% in 2023. ▼ Falling
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.
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
More reference data data for Ghana
- Spring temperature anomalies -0.2851 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies -0.0419 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 0.8532 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.3544 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 0.6214 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 855.78 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
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.
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).