Total dependency ratio in Lesotho
Lesotho: Total dependency ratio was 63.3% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Total dependency ratio in Lesotho, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, total dependency ratio in Lesotho stood at 63.3%. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.4% on the previous year and down 7.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total dependency ratio in Lesotho peaked at 99.4% in 1952 and was at its lowest, 63.3%, in 2023.
That places Lesotho 67th out of 236 countries 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 | 98.9% | 98.3% | 99.4% | 10 |
| 1960s | 96.6% | 92.6% | 98.6% | 10 |
| 1970s | 85.1% | 82.3% | 90.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 87.1% | 84.8% | 88.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 85.9% | 80.6% | 88.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 73.5% | 69.3% | 79.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 67.8% | 66.3% | 68.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 64.5% | 63.3% | 65.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
More reference data data for Lesotho
- Spring temperature anomalies 0.6457 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 1.77 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 0.6724 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.5102 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies -0.4131 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 221.03 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 Lesotho?
- Total dependency ratio in Lesotho was 63.3% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total dependency ratio recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 99.4% in 1952.
- What is the lowest total dependency ratio recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 63.3% in 2023.
- How does Lesotho rank for total dependency ratio?
- Lesotho ranks 67th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total dependency ratio rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Lesotho 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).