Total dependency ratio in Ireland
Ireland: Total dependency ratio was 52.8% in 2023. ▼ Falling
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 regions 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.
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
- 145 Dominican Republic 52.6% compare
- 146 Austria 52.6% compare
More reference data data for Ireland
- Spring temperature anomalies 1.01 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 1.31 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month -0.6528 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies -0.5528 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 0.8957 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 130.04 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
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 regions 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The number of children (under 15) and people aged 65 and over per 100 working-age people (aged 15 to 64).