Total dependency ratio in Iceland
Iceland: Total dependency ratio was 50.1% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
50.1%
Change on year
down 0.4%
World rank
165th
of 236 countries
All-time high
76.0%
in 1962
All-time low
48.1%
in 2008
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Total dependency ratio in Iceland, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Iceland recorded 50.1% for total dependency ratio in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 1.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total dependency ratio in Iceland peaked at 76.0% in 1962 and was at its lowest, 48.1%, in 2008.
Iceland ranks 165th of 236 countries on this measure, 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 Iceland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 61.7% | — |
| 1951 | 63.1% | +2.2% |
| 1952 | 64.6% | +2.5% |
| 1953 | 66.2% | +2.4% |
| 1954 | 67.7% | +2.3% |
| 1955 | 69.3% | +2.3% |
| 1956 | 71.1% | +2.6% |
| 1957 | 72.5% | +2.0% |
| 1958 | 73.5% | +1.3% |
| 1959 | 74.4% | +1.3% |
| 1960 | 75.3% | +1.1% |
| 1961 | 75.8% | +0.7% |
| 1962 | 76.0% | +0.3% |
| 1963 | 75.9% | -0.1% |
| 1964 | 75.7% | -0.3% |
| 1965 | 75.3% | -0.6% |
| 1966 | 74.7% | -0.8% |
| 1967 | 74.0% | -1.0% |
| 1968 | 73.0% | -1.3% |
| 1969 | 71.9% | -1.5% |
| 1970 | 70.7% | -1.6% |
| 1971 | 69.5% | -1.8% |
| 1972 | 68.2% | -1.8% |
| 1973 | 67.2% | -1.6% |
| 1974 | 66.0% | -1.8% |
| 1975 | 64.6% | -2.1% |
| 1976 | 63.4% | -1.7% |
| 1977 | 62.4% | -1.6% |
| 1978 | 61.3% | -1.8% |
| 1979 | 60.4% | -1.5% |
| 1980 | 59.7% | -1.2% |
| 1981 | 58.9% | -1.3% |
| 1982 | 58.2% | -1.2% |
| 1983 | 57.8% | -0.6% |
| 1984 | 57.5% | -0.6% |
| 1985 | 57.1% | -0.7% |
| 1986 | 56.8% | -0.5% |
| 1987 | 56.2% | -1.0% |
| 1988 | 55.5% | -1.3% |
| 1989 | 55.2% | -0.5% |
| 1990 | 55.2% | +0.1% |
| 1991 | 55.1% | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 55.3% | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 55.7% | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 55.6% | -0.0% |
| 1995 | 55.4% | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 55.1% | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 54.7% | -0.7% |
| 1998 | 54.2% | -0.9% |
| 1999 | 53.8% | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 53.5% | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 53.3% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 53.1% | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 52.7% | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 52.1% | -1.2% |
| 2005 | 51.0% | -2.0% |
| 2006 | 49.6% | -2.8% |
| 2007 | 48.5% | -2.3% |
| 2008 | 48.1% | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 48.6% | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 49.4% | +1.7% |
| 2011 | 49.9% | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 50.3% | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 50.7% | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 51.1% | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 51.2% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 51.1% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 50.5% | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 49.9% | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 49.6% | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 49.9% | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 50.3% | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 50.3% | -0.0% |
| 2023 | 50.1% | -0.4% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 50.1% is below the median for high income countries, which is 52.7%, 95% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 50.1% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 55.3%, 91% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 68.4% | 61.7% | 74.4% | 10 |
| 1960s | 74.8% | 71.9% | 76.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 65.4% | 60.4% | 70.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 57.3% | 55.2% | 59.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 55.0% | 53.8% | 55.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 51.0% | 48.1% | 53.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 50.4% | 49.4% | 51.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 50.2% | 49.9% | 50.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
More reference data data for Iceland
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0288 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.0708 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.1854 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0001 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.1854 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0964 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.062 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.2576 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.7664 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0005 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total dependency ratio in Iceland?
- Total dependency ratio in Iceland was 50.1% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total dependency ratio recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 76.0% in 1962.
- What is the lowest total dependency ratio recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 48.1% in 2008.
- How does Iceland rank for total dependency ratio?
- Iceland ranks 165th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total dependency ratio rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Iceland 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).