Total dependency ratio in Libya

Libya: Total dependency ratio was 48.9% in 2023. ▼ Falling

Latest (2023)
48.9%
Change on year
down 1.9%
World rank
175th
of 236 countries
All-time high
118.3%
in 1970
All-time low
48.9%
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023

Total dependency ratio in Libya, 1950–2023

0255075100125195019862023

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

Analysis

In 2023, total dependency ratio in Libya stood at 48.9%. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.9% on the previous year and down 11.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, total dependency ratio in Libya peaked at 118.3% in 1970 and was at its lowest, 48.9%, in 2023.

Libya ranks 175th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.

Total dependency ratio in Libya, year by year

Annual values for Total dependency ratio in Libya, 1950 to 2023.
Year % Change
1950 79.9%
1951 81.0% +1.4%
1952 81.9% +1.1%
1953 82.5% +0.8%
1954 82.9% +0.5%
1955 83.8% +1.0%
1956 85.1% +1.7%
1957 86.7% +1.8%
1958 88.4% +1.9%
1959 90.1% +2.0%
1960 92.0% +2.0%
1961 93.8% +2.0%
1962 95.7% +2.0%
1963 97.8% +2.1%
1964 99.5% +1.8%
1965 103.1% +3.6%
1966 108.6% +5.3%
1967 113.2% +4.2%
1968 116.5% +2.9%
1969 118.2% +1.5%
1970 118.3% +0.1%
1971 118.1% -0.2%
1972 117.9% -0.2%
1973 113.9% -3.4%
1974 109.4% -4.0%
1975 107.3% -1.9%
1976 105.4% -1.8%
1977 103.6% -1.7%
1978 102.3% -1.2%
1979 101.4% -0.9%
1980 100.4% -0.9%
1981 99.5% -0.9%
1982 98.6% -0.9%
1983 97.0% -1.6%
1984 94.7% -2.4%
1985 92.4% -2.5%
1986 90.1% -2.5%
1987 87.8% -2.6%
1988 85.4% -2.7%
1989 82.8% -3.0%
1990 80.1% -3.3%
1991 77.3% -3.5%
1992 74.3% -3.8%
1993 71.3% -4.1%
1994 68.2% -4.3%
1995 65.3% -4.3%
1996 62.6% -4.1%
1997 60.2% -3.8%
1998 58.2% -3.3%
1999 56.5% -2.9%
2000 55.4% -2.0%
2001 54.9% -0.9%
2002 54.5% -0.7%
2003 54.2% -0.5%
2004 54.1% -0.3%
2005 54.0% -0.1%
2006 53.6% -0.9%
2007 52.8% -1.4%
2008 52.2% -1.2%
2009 51.7% -1.0%
2010 51.4% -0.6%
2011 53.6% +4.3%
2012 56.0% +4.4%
2013 55.5% -0.8%
2014 55.2% -0.6%
2015 55.0% -0.2%
2016 54.8% -0.4%
2017 54.3% -0.9%
2018 53.6% -1.4%
2019 52.7% -1.6%
2020 51.8% -1.8%
2021 50.8% -1.9%
2022 49.8% -1.9%
2023 48.9% -1.9%

Libya compared with similar countries

  • Libya's 48.9% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 50.3%, 97% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
  • Libya's 48.9% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 52.2%, 94% of the median. (23 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1950s 84.2% 79.9% 90.1% 10
1960s 103.8% 92.0% 118.2% 10
1970s 109.8% 101.4% 118.3% 10
1980s 92.9% 82.8% 100.4% 10
1990s 67.4% 56.5% 80.1% 10
2000s 53.7% 51.7% 55.4% 10
2010s 54.2% 51.4% 56.0% 10
2020s 50.3% 48.9% 51.8% 4

Countries ranked near Libya

  1. 172 Cape Verde 49.1% compare
  2. 173 Malta 49.1% compare
  3. 174 Mexico 49.0% compare
  4. 176 Ukraine 48.9% compare
  5. 177 Armenia 48.7% compare
  6. 178 New Caledonia 48.4% compare

See the full ranking of 236 places →

More reference data data for Libya

All data for Libya →

Frequently asked questions

What is total dependency ratio in Libya?
Total dependency ratio in Libya was 48.9% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest total dependency ratio recorded in Libya?
The highest recorded value was 118.3% in 1970.
What is the lowest total dependency ratio recorded in Libya?
The lowest recorded value was 48.9% in 2023.
How does Libya rank for total dependency ratio?
Libya ranks 175th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
Is total dependency ratio rising or falling in Libya?
Over the last ten years it is down 11.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Libya 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 Libya. 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/libya/

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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).