Total dependency ratio in Japan
Japan: Total dependency ratio was 69.9% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Total dependency ratio in Japan, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, total dependency ratio in Japan stood at 69.9%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 11.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total dependency ratio in Japan peaked at 70.1% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 42.9%, in 1992.
Japan ranks 47th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 74 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 62.2% | 55.8% | 67.0% | 10 |
| 1960s | 47.8% | 43.5% | 55.2% | 10 |
| 1970s | 46.0% | 43.5% | 48.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 46.8% | 43.8% | 48.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 43.8% | 42.9% | 45.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 51.4% | 46.7% | 56.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 64.3% | 57.3% | 69.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 70.0% | 69.7% | 70.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 44 Sierra Leone 71.6% compare
- 45 Rwanda 71.1% compare
- 46 Pakistan 70.2% compare
- 48 Equatorial Guinea 69.8% compare
- 49 Solomon Islands 69.5% compare
- 50 Namibia 69.1% compare
More reference data data for Japan
- Spring temperature anomalies 1.24 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.1053 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month -0.7172 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 1.9 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 0.5865 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 118.04 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 Japan?
- Total dependency ratio in Japan was 69.9% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total dependency ratio recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 70.1% in 2021.
- What is the lowest total dependency ratio recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 42.9% in 1992.
- How does Japan rank for total dependency ratio?
- Japan ranks 47th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total dependency ratio rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Japan 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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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).