Total dependency ratio in Italy

Italy: Total dependency ratio was 57.1% in 2023. ▬ Flat

Latest (2023)
57.1%
Change on year
up 0.2%
World rank
101st
of 236 countries
All-time high
57.4%
in 1975
All-time low
44.7%
in 1992
Years of data
74
1950–2023

Total dependency ratio in Italy, 1950–2023

0204060195019862023

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

Analysis

In 2023, total dependency ratio in Italy stood at 57.1%.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 4.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, total dependency ratio in Italy peaked at 57.4% in 1975 and was at its lowest, 44.7%, in 1992.

Italy ranks 101st of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Total dependency ratio in Italy, year by year

Annual values for Total dependency ratio in Italy, 1950 to 2023.
Year % Change
1950 53.2%
1951 53.0% -0.4%
1952 52.7% -0.5%
1953 52.2% -1.0%
1954 51.7% -0.9%
1955 51.4% -0.6%
1956 51.3% -0.2%
1957 51.4% +0.3%
1958 51.8% +0.6%
1959 52.2% +0.8%
1960 52.7% +1.0%
1961 52.9% +0.4%
1962 52.7% -0.3%
1963 52.5% -0.4%
1964 52.6% +0.1%
1965 52.9% +0.6%
1966 53.4% +0.9%
1967 53.9% +1.1%
1968 54.5% +1.0%
1969 55.1% +1.0%
1970 55.6% +1.0%
1971 56.1% +0.9%
1972 56.5% +0.8%
1973 56.9% +0.7%
1974 57.3% +0.6%
1975 57.4% +0.2%
1976 57.3% -0.2%
1977 57.1% -0.4%
1978 56.7% -0.6%
1979 56.1% -1.1%
1980 55.0% -1.9%
1981 53.6% -2.5%
1982 52.1% -2.8%
1983 50.5% -3.1%
1984 49.0% -3.0%
1985 48.1% -1.8%
1986 47.5% -1.2%
1987 47.0% -1.1%
1988 46.6% -0.9%
1989 46.2% -0.9%
1990 45.8% -0.8%
1991 45.1% -1.5%
1992 44.7% -0.8%
1993 45.0% +0.6%
1994 45.9% +2.0%
1995 46.3% +0.8%
1996 46.1% -0.4%
1997 46.5% +1.0%
1998 47.0% +1.0%
1999 47.5% +1.1%
2000 48.1% +1.2%
2001 48.7% +1.2%
2002 49.3% +1.3%
2003 49.8% +1.0%
2004 50.3% +0.9%
2005 50.9% +1.2%
2006 51.5% +1.2%
2007 51.9% +0.7%
2008 52.0% +0.3%
2009 52.3% +0.5%
2010 52.6% +0.6%
2011 53.1% +0.9%
2012 53.7% +1.2%
2013 54.4% +1.2%
2014 55.1% +1.2%
2015 55.6% +0.9%
2016 55.9% +0.6%
2017 56.1% +0.4%
2018 56.3% +0.3%
2019 56.5% +0.5%
2020 56.7% +0.3%
2021 56.9% +0.3%
2022 57.0% +0.2%
2023 57.1% +0.2%

Italy compared with similar countries

  • Italy's 57.1% is above the median for high income countries, which is 52.7%, 1.1× the median. (85 countries reporting)
  • Italy's 57.1% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 55.3%, 1.0× the median. (56 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1950s 52.1% 51.3% 53.2% 10
1960s 53.3% 52.5% 55.1% 10
1970s 56.7% 55.6% 57.4% 10
1980s 49.6% 46.2% 55.0% 10
1990s 46.0% 44.7% 47.5% 10
2000s 50.5% 48.1% 52.3% 10
2010s 54.9% 52.6% 56.5% 10
2020s 56.9% 56.7% 57.1% 4

Countries ranked near Italy

  1. 98 Belgium 57.3% compare
  2. 99 Bulgaria 57.2% compare
  3. 100 Georgia 57.1% compare
  4. 102 Botswana 56.9% compare
  5. 103 Slovenia 56.9% compare
  6. 104 Czechia 56.8% compare

See the full ranking of 236 places →

More reference data data for Italy

All data for Italy →

Frequently asked questions

What is total dependency ratio in Italy?
Total dependency ratio in Italy was 57.1% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest total dependency ratio recorded in Italy?
The highest recorded value was 57.4% in 1975.
What is the lowest total dependency ratio recorded in Italy?
The lowest recorded value was 44.7% in 1992.
How does Italy rank for total dependency ratio?
Italy ranks 101st out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
Is total dependency ratio rising or falling in Italy?
Over the last ten years it is up 4.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Italy 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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Total dependency ratio in Italy. Statizoid, drawing on UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 23 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/age-dependency-ratio-projected-to-2100/italy/

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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

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