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

020406080100195019862023

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.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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

  1. 196 China 44.7% compare
  2. 197 Dominica 44.6% compare
  3. 199 Brazil 44.0% compare
  4. 200 French Polynesia 43.8% compare
  5. 201 Cyprus 43.6% compare

See the full ranking of 236 places →

More reference data data for Iran

All data for Iran →

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.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator
Total dependency ratio
Unit
%
Source
UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
236 places, 17,464 data points, 1950–2023
Last refreshed

The number of children (under 15) and people aged 65 and over per 100 working-age people (aged 15 to 64).