Total dependency ratio in Iran
Iran: Total dependency ratio was 44.4% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
44.4%
Change on year
down 0.4%
World rank
198th
of 236 countries
All-time high
95.2%
in 1964
All-time low
40.1%
in 2010
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Total dependency ratio in Iran, 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 Iran is 44.4%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 0.4% on the previous year and up 9.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total dependency ratio in Iran peaked at 95.2% in 1964 and was at its lowest, 40.1%, in 2010.
Iran ranks 198th 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 Iran, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 72.5% | — |
| 1951 | 73.6% | +1.6% |
| 1952 | 74.8% | +1.6% |
| 1953 | 76.2% | +1.9% |
| 1954 | 77.8% | +2.1% |
| 1955 | 79.7% | +2.4% |
| 1956 | 81.8% | +2.6% |
| 1957 | 84.0% | +2.8% |
| 1958 | 86.5% | +2.9% |
| 1959 | 88.9% | +2.8% |
| 1960 | 91.0% | +2.4% |
| 1961 | 92.7% | +1.9% |
| 1962 | 94.0% | +1.4% |
| 1963 | 95.0% | +1.0% |
| 1964 | 95.2% | +0.2% |
| 1965 | 94.7% | -0.6% |
| 1966 | 94.2% | -0.5% |
| 1967 | 93.8% | -0.4% |
| 1968 | 93.5% | -0.3% |
| 1969 | 93.1% | -0.4% |
| 1970 | 92.5% | -0.6% |
| 1971 | 91.7% | -0.9% |
| 1972 | 90.7% | -1.1% |
| 1973 | 89.5% | -1.4% |
| 1974 | 88.2% | -1.5% |
| 1975 | 87.0% | -1.3% |
| 1976 | 86.3% | -0.8% |
| 1977 | 85.9% | -0.4% |
| 1978 | 85.9% | -0.1% |
| 1979 | 86.1% | +0.3% |
| 1980 | 86.7% | +0.6% |
| 1981 | 85.3% | -1.6% |
| 1982 | 84.2% | -1.3% |
| 1983 | 85.1% | +1.0% |
| 1984 | 86.1% | +1.2% |
| 1985 | 87.1% | +1.1% |
| 1986 | 87.8% | +0.9% |
| 1987 | 88.5% | +0.8% |
| 1988 | 89.3% | +0.9% |
| 1989 | 89.9% | +0.7% |
| 1990 | 89.9% | -0.0% |
| 1991 | 89.3% | -0.6% |
| 1992 | 88.7% | -0.7% |
| 1993 | 88.8% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 87.7% | -1.2% |
| 1995 | 84.2% | -3.9% |
| 1996 | 80.1% | -4.9% |
| 1997 | 75.4% | -5.9% |
| 1998 | 70.3% | -6.8% |
| 1999 | 65.3% | -7.1% |
| 2000 | 60.6% | -7.2% |
| 2001 | 56.3% | -7.1% |
| 2002 | 52.8% | -6.2% |
| 2003 | 49.8% | -5.7% |
| 2004 | 47.1% | -5.5% |
| 2005 | 44.8% | -4.9% |
| 2006 | 43.0% | -4.1% |
| 2007 | 41.6% | -3.1% |
| 2008 | 40.8% | -2.1% |
| 2009 | 40.3% | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 40.1% | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 40.1% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 40.3% | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 40.6% | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 41.2% | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 42.0% | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 42.9% | +2.0% |
| 2017 | 43.7% | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 44.3% | +1.5% |
| 2019 | 44.8% | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 44.9% | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 44.8% | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 44.6% | -0.5% |
| 2023 | 44.4% | -0.4% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 44.4% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 50.3%, 88% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Iran's 44.4% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 52.2%, 85% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 79.6% | 72.5% | 88.9% | 10 |
| 1960s | 93.7% | 91.0% | 95.2% | 10 |
| 1970s | 88.4% | 85.9% | 92.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 87.0% | 84.2% | 89.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 82.0% | 65.3% | 89.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 47.7% | 40.3% | 60.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 42.0% | 40.1% | 44.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 44.7% | 44.4% | 44.9% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More reference data data for Iran
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 12.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 26.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 26.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 11.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 3.84 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 46.54 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 109.46 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 7.3 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total dependency ratio in Iran?
- Total dependency ratio in Iran was 44.4% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total dependency ratio recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 95.2% in 1964.
- What is the lowest total dependency ratio recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 40.1% in 2010.
- How does Iran rank for total dependency ratio?
- Iran ranks 198th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total dependency ratio rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Iran 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).