Total dependency ratio in Iraq

Iraq: Total dependency ratio was 68.0% in 2023. ▼ Falling

Latest (2023)
68.0%
Change on year
down 2.0%
World rank
53rd
of 236 countries
All-time high
107.2%
in 1977
All-time low
68.0%
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023

Total dependency ratio in Iraq, 1950–2023

0255075100195019862023

Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

Iraq recorded 68.0% for total dependency ratio in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.

That represents a change of down 2.0% on the previous year and down 12.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, total dependency ratio in Iraq peaked at 107.2% in 1977 and was at its lowest, 68.0%, in 2023.

Iraq ranks 53rd of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1950s 73.5% 69.9% 75.7% 10
1960s 83.6% 75.9% 90.6% 10
1970s 101.7% 92.1% 107.2% 10
1980s 101.4% 96.9% 105.1% 10
1990s 91.8% 88.5% 95.7% 10
2000s 84.2% 80.1% 87.8% 10
2010s 76.7% 73.1% 79.3% 10
2020s 70.1% 68.0% 72.0% 4

Countries ranked near Iraq

  1. 50 Namibia 69.1% compare
  2. 51 Nauru 69.1% compare
  3. 52 Gabon 68.6% compare
  4. 54 Kenya 67.7% compare
  5. 55 Tajikistan 67.1% compare
  6. 56 Saint Helena 67.0% compare

See the full ranking of 236 places →

More reference data data for Iraq

All data for Iraq →

Frequently asked questions

What is total dependency ratio in Iraq?
Total dependency ratio in Iraq was 68.0% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest total dependency ratio recorded in Iraq?
The highest recorded value was 107.2% in 1977.
What is the lowest total dependency ratio recorded in Iraq?
The lowest recorded value was 68.0% in 2023.
How does Iraq rank for total dependency ratio?
Iraq ranks 53rd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
Is total dependency ratio rising or falling in Iraq?
Over the last ten years it is down 12.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Iraq 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

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).