Total dependency ratio in Ireland
Ireland: Total dependency ratio was 52.8% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
52.8%
Change on year
down 0.3%
World rank
143rd
of 236 countries
All-time high
73.5%
in 1966
All-time low
45.1%
in 2007
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Total dependency ratio in Ireland, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Ireland recorded 52.8% for total dependency ratio in 2023.
That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and up 2.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total dependency ratio in Ireland peaked at 73.5% in 1966 and was at its lowest, 45.1%, in 2007.
That places Ireland 143rd out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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 Ireland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 65.5% | — |
| 1951 | 65.4% | -0.2% |
| 1952 | 65.4% | -0.0% |
| 1953 | 65.8% | +0.6% |
| 1954 | 66.4% | +1.0% |
| 1955 | 67.3% | +1.4% |
| 1956 | 68.6% | +1.8% |
| 1957 | 69.9% | +1.9% |
| 1958 | 70.9% | +1.5% |
| 1959 | 71.8% | +1.3% |
| 1960 | 72.7% | +1.3% |
| 1961 | 73.1% | +0.5% |
| 1962 | 72.8% | -0.4% |
| 1963 | 72.6% | -0.3% |
| 1964 | 72.7% | +0.2% |
| 1965 | 73.2% | +0.7% |
| 1966 | 73.5% | +0.4% |
| 1967 | 73.3% | -0.3% |
| 1968 | 73.1% | -0.3% |
| 1969 | 73.0% | -0.1% |
| 1970 | 73.2% | +0.2% |
| 1971 | 73.3% | +0.1% |
| 1972 | 72.9% | -0.5% |
| 1973 | 72.4% | -0.6% |
| 1974 | 72.1% | -0.4% |
| 1975 | 71.9% | -0.4% |
| 1976 | 71.6% | -0.4% |
| 1977 | 71.3% | -0.5% |
| 1978 | 70.8% | -0.6% |
| 1979 | 70.3% | -0.7% |
| 1980 | 69.9% | -0.6% |
| 1981 | 69.5% | -0.6% |
| 1982 | 69.0% | -0.7% |
| 1983 | 68.4% | -0.8% |
| 1984 | 67.7% | -1.0% |
| 1985 | 66.9% | -1.2% |
| 1986 | 66.0% | -1.3% |
| 1987 | 65.3% | -1.2% |
| 1988 | 64.6% | -1.0% |
| 1989 | 63.7% | -1.3% |
| 1990 | 62.6% | -1.8% |
| 1991 | 61.2% | -2.1% |
| 1992 | 59.9% | -2.2% |
| 1993 | 58.5% | -2.4% |
| 1994 | 56.9% | -2.6% |
| 1995 | 55.3% | -2.9% |
| 1996 | 53.7% | -2.9% |
| 1997 | 52.3% | -2.6% |
| 1998 | 51.1% | -2.3% |
| 1999 | 50.1% | -2.0% |
| 2000 | 49.2% | -1.8% |
| 2001 | 48.3% | -1.8% |
| 2002 | 47.6% | -1.5% |
| 2003 | 47.1% | -0.9% |
| 2004 | 46.8% | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 46.2% | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 45.5% | -1.7% |
| 2007 | 45.1% | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 45.5% | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 46.7% | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 48.1% | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 49.4% | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 50.5% | +2.3% |
| 2013 | 51.4% | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 52.0% | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 52.5% | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 52.8% | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 52.9% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 53.0% | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 53.0% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 53.0% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 53.0% | -0.0% |
| 2022 | 52.9% | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 52.8% | -0.3% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 52.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 52.7%, 1.0× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 52.8% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 55.3%, 95% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 67.7% | 65.4% | 71.8% | 10 |
| 1960s | 73.0% | 72.6% | 73.5% | 10 |
| 1970s | 72.0% | 70.3% | 73.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 67.1% | 63.7% | 69.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 56.2% | 50.1% | 62.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 46.8% | 45.1% | 49.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 51.6% | 48.1% | 53.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 52.9% | 52.8% | 53.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
- 140 Switzerland 52.9% compare
- 141 Nicaragua 52.9% compare
- 142 North Macedonia 52.8% compare
- 144 Liechtenstein 52.7% compare
- 145 Dominican Republic 52.6% compare
- 146 Austria 52.6% compare
More reference data data for Ireland
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.19 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 4.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0921 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 4.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.87 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 3.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.6 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 21.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.5015 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total dependency ratio in Ireland?
- Total dependency ratio in Ireland was 52.8% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total dependency ratio recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 73.5% in 1966.
- What is the lowest total dependency ratio recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 45.1% in 2007.
- How does Ireland rank for total dependency ratio?
- Ireland ranks 143rd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total dependency ratio rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ireland 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).