Total dependency ratio in Kuwait
Kuwait: Total dependency ratio was 27.5% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
27.5%
Change on year
down 2.4%
World rank
234th
of 236 countries
All-time high
84.0%
in 1971
All-time low
27.5%
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Total dependency ratio in Kuwait, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Kuwait recorded 27.5% for total dependency ratio in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is down 2.4% on the previous year and down 13.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total dependency ratio in Kuwait peaked at 84.0% in 1971 and was at its lowest, 27.5%, in 2023.
Kuwait ranks 234th 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 Kuwait, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 67.3% | — |
| 1951 | 68.9% | +2.3% |
| 1952 | 70.7% | +2.6% |
| 1953 | 72.6% | +2.7% |
| 1954 | 74.4% | +2.5% |
| 1955 | 72.0% | -3.3% |
| 1956 | 67.0% | -7.0% |
| 1957 | 64.6% | -3.6% |
| 1958 | 64.4% | -0.3% |
| 1959 | 65.0% | +1.0% |
| 1960 | 65.8% | +1.3% |
| 1961 | 66.7% | +1.4% |
| 1962 | 68.1% | +2.0% |
| 1963 | 69.7% | +2.4% |
| 1964 | 71.1% | +2.0% |
| 1965 | 72.3% | +1.7% |
| 1966 | 74.2% | +2.6% |
| 1967 | 76.8% | +3.5% |
| 1968 | 79.2% | +3.1% |
| 1969 | 81.4% | +2.8% |
| 1970 | 83.3% | +2.4% |
| 1971 | 84.0% | +0.9% |
| 1972 | 83.5% | -0.6% |
| 1973 | 82.8% | -0.9% |
| 1974 | 81.9% | -1.1% |
| 1975 | 80.7% | -1.5% |
| 1976 | 78.4% | -2.9% |
| 1977 | 75.4% | -3.8% |
| 1978 | 72.7% | -3.6% |
| 1979 | 70.4% | -3.2% |
| 1980 | 68.6% | -2.5% |
| 1981 | 66.9% | -2.5% |
| 1982 | 65.1% | -2.7% |
| 1983 | 63.5% | -2.6% |
| 1984 | 62.4% | -1.7% |
| 1985 | 61.4% | -1.5% |
| 1986 | 61.1% | -0.5% |
| 1987 | 61.5% | +0.7% |
| 1988 | 61.7% | +0.3% |
| 1989 | 61.6% | -0.2% |
| 1990 | 60.9% | -1.2% |
| 1991 | 59.1% | -2.9% |
| 1992 | 58.1% | -1.7% |
| 1993 | 56.0% | -3.6% |
| 1994 | 54.0% | -3.6% |
| 1995 | 53.2% | -1.5% |
| 1996 | 52.3% | -1.8% |
| 1997 | 50.7% | -2.9% |
| 1998 | 48.9% | -3.7% |
| 1999 | 46.8% | -4.2% |
| 2000 | 44.8% | -4.5% |
| 2001 | 42.7% | -4.5% |
| 2002 | 40.8% | -4.5% |
| 2003 | 39.1% | -4.3% |
| 2004 | 37.5% | -4.1% |
| 2005 | 36.2% | -3.3% |
| 2006 | 35.5% | -2.2% |
| 2007 | 34.8% | -1.8% |
| 2008 | 34.2% | -1.8% |
| 2009 | 33.5% | -1.9% |
| 2010 | 33.0% | -1.6% |
| 2011 | 32.2% | -2.5% |
| 2012 | 31.6% | -1.8% |
| 2013 | 31.7% | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 31.8% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 32.0% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 32.0% | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 32.1% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 32.1% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 32.2% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 32.7% | +1.3% |
| 2021 | 30.7% | -5.9% |
| 2022 | 28.1% | -8.4% |
| 2023 | 27.5% | -2.4% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 27.5% is below the median for high income countries, which is 52.7%, 52% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 27.5% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 52.2%, 53% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 68.7% | 64.4% | 74.4% | 10 |
| 1960s | 72.5% | 65.8% | 81.4% | 10 |
| 1970s | 79.3% | 70.4% | 84.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 63.4% | 61.1% | 68.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 54.0% | 46.8% | 60.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 37.9% | 33.5% | 44.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 32.1% | 31.6% | 33.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 29.8% | 27.5% | 32.7% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Kuwait
- 231 Maldives 32.3% compare
- 232 British Virgin Islands 32.2% compare
- 233 Bahrain 29.2% compare
- 235 United Arab Emirates 22.0% compare
- 236 Qatar 20.1% compare
More reference data data for Kuwait
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.092 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.2888 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.385 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.001 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.385 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.3086 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.1086 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.53 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0052 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total dependency ratio in Kuwait?
- Total dependency ratio in Kuwait was 27.5% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total dependency ratio recorded in Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 84.0% in 1971.
- What is the lowest total dependency ratio recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.5% in 2023.
- How does Kuwait rank for total dependency ratio?
- Kuwait ranks 234th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total dependency ratio rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kuwait 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).