Total dependency ratio in India
India: Total dependency ratio was 47.0% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
47.0%
Change on year
down 1.0%
World rank
183rd
of 236 countries
All-time high
82.6%
in 1966
All-time low
47.0%
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Total dependency ratio in India, 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 India is 47.0%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is down 1.0% on the previous year and down 13.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total dependency ratio in India peaked at 82.6% in 1966 and was at its lowest, 47.0%, in 2023.
India ranks 183rd 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 India, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 69.6% | — |
| 1951 | 70.1% | +0.7% |
| 1952 | 70.6% | +0.8% |
| 1953 | 71.4% | +1.0% |
| 1954 | 72.2% | +1.2% |
| 1955 | 73.2% | +1.3% |
| 1956 | 74.1% | +1.3% |
| 1957 | 75.2% | +1.4% |
| 1958 | 76.2% | +1.4% |
| 1959 | 77.2% | +1.3% |
| 1960 | 78.2% | +1.3% |
| 1961 | 79.2% | +1.3% |
| 1962 | 80.4% | +1.4% |
| 1963 | 81.5% | +1.4% |
| 1964 | 82.3% | +0.9% |
| 1965 | 82.6% | +0.3% |
| 1966 | 82.6% | +0.1% |
| 1967 | 82.5% | -0.1% |
| 1968 | 82.3% | -0.2% |
| 1969 | 82.2% | -0.2% |
| 1970 | 81.9% | -0.4% |
| 1971 | 81.6% | -0.4% |
| 1972 | 81.3% | -0.3% |
| 1973 | 81.0% | -0.4% |
| 1974 | 80.7% | -0.4% |
| 1975 | 80.2% | -0.6% |
| 1976 | 79.7% | -0.6% |
| 1977 | 79.2% | -0.6% |
| 1978 | 78.7% | -0.6% |
| 1979 | 78.2% | -0.6% |
| 1980 | 77.8% | -0.6% |
| 1981 | 77.4% | -0.4% |
| 1982 | 77.1% | -0.4% |
| 1983 | 76.8% | -0.4% |
| 1984 | 76.5% | -0.4% |
| 1985 | 76.3% | -0.4% |
| 1986 | 76.0% | -0.4% |
| 1987 | 75.6% | -0.4% |
| 1988 | 75.2% | -0.5% |
| 1989 | 74.7% | -0.6% |
| 1990 | 74.2% | -0.7% |
| 1991 | 73.6% | -0.8% |
| 1992 | 73.0% | -0.8% |
| 1993 | 72.4% | -0.9% |
| 1994 | 71.8% | -0.9% |
| 1995 | 71.0% | -1.0% |
| 1996 | 70.2% | -1.2% |
| 1997 | 69.3% | -1.2% |
| 1998 | 68.4% | -1.3% |
| 1999 | 67.5% | -1.4% |
| 2000 | 66.6% | -1.4% |
| 2001 | 65.6% | -1.4% |
| 2002 | 64.7% | -1.4% |
| 2003 | 63.8% | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 62.9% | -1.5% |
| 2005 | 61.9% | -1.5% |
| 2006 | 60.9% | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 59.9% | -1.7% |
| 2008 | 58.9% | -1.7% |
| 2009 | 57.9% | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 56.9% | -1.7% |
| 2011 | 56.0% | -1.7% |
| 2012 | 55.1% | -1.7% |
| 2013 | 54.1% | -1.7% |
| 2014 | 53.2% | -1.7% |
| 2015 | 52.4% | -1.6% |
| 2016 | 51.6% | -1.6% |
| 2017 | 50.8% | -1.6% |
| 2018 | 50.0% | -1.5% |
| 2019 | 49.4% | -1.3% |
| 2020 | 48.7% | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 48.0% | -1.4% |
| 2022 | 47.5% | -1.2% |
| 2023 | 47.0% | -1.0% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 47.0% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 65.5%, 72% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- India's 47.0% is below the median for South Asia, which is 49.4%, 95% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 73.0% | 69.6% | 77.2% | 10 |
| 1960s | 81.4% | 78.2% | 82.6% | 10 |
| 1970s | 80.3% | 78.2% | 81.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 76.4% | 74.7% | 77.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 71.2% | 67.5% | 74.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 62.3% | 57.9% | 66.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 52.9% | 49.4% | 56.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 47.8% | 47.0% | 48.7% | 4 |
Countries ranked near India
More reference data data for India
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 20.88 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 68.88 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 246.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 15.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 246.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 70.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 19.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 309.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,063 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 85.03 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total dependency ratio in India?
- Total dependency ratio in India was 47.0% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total dependency ratio recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 82.6% in 1966.
- What is the lowest total dependency ratio recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.0% in 2023.
- How does India rank for total dependency ratio?
- India ranks 183rd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total dependency ratio rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India 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).