Total dependency ratio in Hong Kong
Hong Kong: Total dependency ratio was 47.6% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
47.6%
Change on year
up 3.5%
World rank
180th
of 236 countries
All-time high
108.2%
in 1963
All-time low
33.9%
in 2011
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Total dependency ratio in Hong Kong, 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 Hong Kong is 47.6%, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 3.5% on the previous year and up 36.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total dependency ratio in Hong Kong peaked at 108.2% in 1963 and was at its lowest, 33.9%, in 2011.
Hong Kong ranks 180th of 236 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.
Total dependency ratio in Hong Kong, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 48.0% | — |
| 1951 | 49.8% | +3.7% |
| 1952 | 51.8% | +3.9% |
| 1953 | 53.9% | +4.2% |
| 1954 | 56.5% | +4.7% |
| 1955 | 59.5% | +5.3% |
| 1956 | 62.9% | +5.7% |
| 1957 | 66.7% | +6.0% |
| 1958 | 70.5% | +5.8% |
| 1959 | 74.1% | +5.0% |
| 1960 | 76.4% | +3.2% |
| 1961 | 81.9% | +7.1% |
| 1962 | 93.1% | +13.7% |
| 1963 | 108.2% | +16.2% |
| 1964 | 86.6% | -20.0% |
| 1965 | 69.2% | -20.1% |
| 1966 | 69.7% | +0.8% |
| 1967 | 87.2% | +25.1% |
| 1968 | 104.0% | +19.2% |
| 1969 | 86.5% | -16.8% |
| 1970 | 74.2% | -14.2% |
| 1971 | 67.5% | -9.1% |
| 1972 | 64.4% | -4.6% |
| 1973 | 61.8% | -4.0% |
| 1974 | 59.3% | -4.1% |
| 1975 | 56.8% | -4.2% |
| 1976 | 54.5% | -4.1% |
| 1977 | 52.3% | -4.0% |
| 1978 | 50.1% | -4.2% |
| 1979 | 48.2% | -3.9% |
| 1980 | 46.7% | -3.1% |
| 1981 | 45.8% | -1.9% |
| 1982 | 45.4% | -0.9% |
| 1983 | 45.0% | -0.7% |
| 1984 | 44.8% | -0.7% |
| 1985 | 44.5% | -0.5% |
| 1986 | 44.2% | -0.6% |
| 1987 | 43.8% | -1.0% |
| 1988 | 43.3% | -1.1% |
| 1989 | 42.9% | -1.0% |
| 1990 | 42.5% | -0.9% |
| 1991 | 42.2% | -0.8% |
| 1992 | 41.8% | -0.8% |
| 1993 | 41.5% | -0.8% |
| 1994 | 41.1% | -0.9% |
| 1995 | 40.7% | -1.0% |
| 1996 | 40.4% | -0.7% |
| 1997 | 40.2% | -0.6% |
| 1998 | 39.9% | -0.7% |
| 1999 | 39.5% | -0.9% |
| 2000 | 39.0% | -1.3% |
| 2001 | 38.6% | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 38.4% | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 38.1% | -0.9% |
| 2004 | 37.5% | -1.6% |
| 2005 | 36.7% | -2.0% |
| 2006 | 35.9% | -2.1% |
| 2007 | 35.3% | -1.7% |
| 2008 | 34.8% | -1.3% |
| 2009 | 34.5% | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 34.1% | -1.1% |
| 2011 | 33.9% | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 34.2% | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 34.9% | +2.1% |
| 2014 | 35.8% | +2.5% |
| 2015 | 36.8% | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 37.9% | +2.9% |
| 2017 | 39.1% | +3.2% |
| 2018 | 40.3% | +3.2% |
| 2019 | 41.6% | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 42.9% | +3.2% |
| 2021 | 44.4% | +3.5% |
| 2022 | 46.0% | +3.6% |
| 2023 | 47.6% | +3.5% |
Hong Kong compared with similar countries
- Hong Kong's 47.6% is below the median for high income countries, which is 52.7%, 90% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Hong Kong's 47.6% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 54.0%, 88% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 59.4% | 48.0% | 74.1% | 10 |
| 1960s | 86.3% | 69.2% | 108.2% | 10 |
| 1970s | 58.9% | 48.2% | 74.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 44.6% | 42.9% | 46.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 41.0% | 39.5% | 42.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 36.9% | 34.5% | 39.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 36.9% | 33.9% | 41.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 45.3% | 42.9% | 47.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Hong Kong
More reference data data for Hong Kong
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.0011 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.0072 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0012 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0 (1990)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.0072 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Manure Management 1.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Enteric Fermentation 6.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 20.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Manure applied to Soils 1.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Manure left on Pasture 1.38 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total dependency ratio in Hong Kong?
- Total dependency ratio in Hong Kong was 47.6% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total dependency ratio recorded in Hong Kong?
- The highest recorded value was 108.2% in 1963.
- What is the lowest total dependency ratio recorded in Hong Kong?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.9% in 2011.
- How does Hong Kong rank for total dependency ratio?
- Hong Kong ranks 180th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total dependency ratio rising or falling in Hong Kong?
- Over the last ten years it is up 36.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Hong Kong 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).