Total dependency ratio in Jamaica
Jamaica: Total dependency ratio was 37.0% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
37.0%
Change on year
down 0.6%
World rank
227th
of 236 countries
All-time high
104.0%
in 1970
All-time low
37.0%
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Total dependency ratio in Jamaica, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total dependency ratio in Jamaica is 37.0%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is down 0.6% on the previous year and down 17.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total dependency ratio in Jamaica peaked at 104.0% in 1970 and was at its lowest, 37.0%, in 2023.
Jamaica ranks 227th 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.
Total dependency ratio in Jamaica, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 65.8% | — |
| 1951 | 65.3% | -0.8% |
| 1952 | 65.5% | +0.2% |
| 1953 | 66.2% | +1.1% |
| 1954 | 67.5% | +2.0% |
| 1955 | 69.3% | +2.7% |
| 1956 | 71.6% | +3.3% |
| 1957 | 74.3% | +3.8% |
| 1958 | 77.3% | +4.1% |
| 1959 | 80.5% | +4.1% |
| 1960 | 83.2% | +3.4% |
| 1961 | 85.5% | +2.7% |
| 1962 | 87.7% | +2.6% |
| 1963 | 90.1% | +2.7% |
| 1964 | 92.8% | +3.0% |
| 1965 | 95.5% | +2.9% |
| 1966 | 97.9% | +2.5% |
| 1967 | 100.1% | +2.3% |
| 1968 | 102.1% | +1.9% |
| 1969 | 103.4% | +1.3% |
| 1970 | 104.0% | +0.6% |
| 1971 | 103.9% | -0.1% |
| 1972 | 103.2% | -0.7% |
| 1973 | 101.9% | -1.2% |
| 1974 | 100.4% | -1.5% |
| 1975 | 98.7% | -1.7% |
| 1976 | 96.9% | -1.8% |
| 1977 | 95.1% | -1.8% |
| 1978 | 93.4% | -1.9% |
| 1979 | 91.4% | -2.1% |
| 1980 | 89.5% | -2.2% |
| 1981 | 87.5% | -2.2% |
| 1982 | 85.7% | -2.1% |
| 1983 | 84.0% | -1.9% |
| 1984 | 82.6% | -1.7% |
| 1985 | 81.4% | -1.5% |
| 1986 | 80.2% | -1.5% |
| 1987 | 79.0% | -1.4% |
| 1988 | 77.8% | -1.5% |
| 1989 | 76.7% | -1.5% |
| 1990 | 75.6% | -1.4% |
| 1991 | 74.6% | -1.3% |
| 1992 | 73.8% | -1.0% |
| 1993 | 73.2% | -0.9% |
| 1994 | 72.4% | -1.0% |
| 1995 | 71.6% | -1.2% |
| 1996 | 70.6% | -1.4% |
| 1997 | 69.4% | -1.7% |
| 1998 | 68.0% | -2.0% |
| 1999 | 66.4% | -2.3% |
| 2000 | 64.7% | -2.5% |
| 2001 | 63.1% | -2.6% |
| 2002 | 61.5% | -2.6% |
| 2003 | 59.9% | -2.5% |
| 2004 | 58.4% | -2.4% |
| 2005 | 57.0% | -2.5% |
| 2006 | 55.5% | -2.7% |
| 2007 | 53.8% | -2.9% |
| 2008 | 52.2% | -3.0% |
| 2009 | 50.6% | -3.0% |
| 2010 | 49.1% | -3.0% |
| 2011 | 47.6% | -3.0% |
| 2012 | 46.2% | -3.0% |
| 2013 | 44.9% | -2.9% |
| 2014 | 43.6% | -2.8% |
| 2015 | 42.5% | -2.5% |
| 2016 | 41.5% | -2.2% |
| 2017 | 40.7% | -2.1% |
| 2018 | 39.8% | -2.1% |
| 2019 | 39.0% | -1.9% |
| 2020 | 38.3% | -1.8% |
| 2021 | 37.7% | -1.7% |
| 2022 | 37.2% | -1.2% |
| 2023 | 37.0% | -0.6% |
Jamaica compared with similar countries
- Jamaica's 37.0% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 50.3%, 74% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Jamaica's 37.0% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 49.6%, 75% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 70.3% | 65.3% | 80.5% | 10 |
| 1960s | 93.8% | 83.2% | 103.4% | 10 |
| 1970s | 98.9% | 91.4% | 104.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 82.4% | 76.7% | 89.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 71.6% | 66.4% | 75.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 57.7% | 50.6% | 64.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 43.5% | 39.0% | 49.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 37.5% | 37.0% | 38.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Jamaica
- 224 Brunei 38.0% compare
- 225 Saint Lucia 37.3% compare
- 226 Turks and Caicos Islands 37.2% compare
- 228 Saudi Arabia 36.8% compare
- 229 Singapore 33.1% compare
- 230 Cayman Islands 33.1% compare
More reference data data for Jamaica
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.045 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.1808 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.2582 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0003 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.2582 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1508 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.0583 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.8486 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.19 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0015 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total dependency ratio in Jamaica?
- Total dependency ratio in Jamaica was 37.0% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total dependency ratio recorded in Jamaica?
- The highest recorded value was 104.0% in 1970.
- What is the lowest total dependency ratio recorded in Jamaica?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.0% in 2023.
- How does Jamaica rank for total dependency ratio?
- Jamaica ranks 227th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total dependency ratio rising or falling in Jamaica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Jamaica 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).