Total dependency ratio in Macao

Macao: Total dependency ratio was 38.1% in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
38.1%
Change on year
up 2.9%
World rank
223rd
of 236 countries
All-time high
174.5%
in 1974
All-time low
24.1%
in 2011
Years of data
74
1950–2023

Total dependency ratio in Macao, 1950–2023

050100150195019862023

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

Analysis

In 2023, total dependency ratio in Macao stood at 38.1%.

The figure is up 2.9% on the previous year and up 49.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, total dependency ratio in Macao peaked at 174.5% in 1974 and was at its lowest, 24.1%, in 2011.

That places Macao 223rd out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Total dependency ratio in Macao, year by year

Annual values for Total dependency ratio in Macao, 1950 to 2023.
Year % Change
1950 45.5%
1951 48.9% +7.5%
1952 52.8% +7.9%
1953 56.6% +7.2%
1954 60.5% +6.8%
1955 64.5% +6.6%
1956 68.6% +6.3%
1957 72.7% +6.1%
1958 76.8% +5.5%
1959 80.0% +4.2%
1960 82.9% +3.6%
1961 84.4% +1.9%
1962 83.8% -0.7%
1963 82.2% -2.0%
1964 116.5% +41.8%
1965 141.3% +21.3%
1966 124.7% -11.7%
1967 109.8% -11.9%
1968 97.0% -11.7%
1969 86.2% -11.2%
1970 79.0% -8.4%
1971 70.3% -11.0%
1972 56.7% -19.3%
1973 91.8% +61.9%
1974 174.5% +90.0%
1975 139.4% -20.1%
1976 112.7% -19.2%
1977 91.9% -18.4%
1978 75.8% -17.5%
1979 63.2% -16.7%
1980 53.3% -15.7%
1981 48.1% -9.6%
1982 47.1% -2.1%
1983 46.9% -0.4%
1984 46.7% -0.3%
1985 46.6% -0.3%
1986 46.6% -0.1%
1987 46.6% +0.2%
1988 45.0% -3.5%
1989 43.6% -3.1%
1990 43.9% +0.8%
1991 44.4% +1.1%
1992 45.4% +2.1%
1993 46.4% +2.1%
1994 46.9% +1.2%
1995 47.1% +0.4%
1996 47.0% -0.2%
1997 46.6% -1.0%
1998 45.7% -1.9%
1999 44.4% -2.8%
2000 42.7% -3.8%
2001 40.6% -4.8%
2002 38.4% -5.6%
2003 36.0% -6.1%
2004 33.6% -6.6%
2005 31.5% -6.5%
2006 29.6% -6.0%
2007 27.9% -5.6%
2008 26.5% -5.0%
2009 25.4% -4.1%
2010 24.5% -3.4%
2011 24.1% -1.7%
2012 24.6% +1.7%
2013 25.5% +3.9%
2014 26.6% +4.2%
2015 27.7% +4.1%
2016 28.7% +3.8%
2017 29.8% +3.8%
2018 31.2% +4.6%
2019 32.8% +5.3%
2020 34.5% +5.2%
2021 35.9% +4.0%
2022 37.0% +3.0%
2023 38.1% +2.9%

Macao compared with similar countries

  • Macao's 38.1% is below the median for high income countries, which is 52.7%, 72% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
  • Macao's 38.1% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 54.0%, 70% of the median. (37 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Total dependency ratio in Macao changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
1974 +90.0% 91.8% 174.5%
1973 +61.9% 56.7% 91.8%
1964 +41.8% 82.2% 116.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1950s 62.7% 45.5% 80.0% 10
1960s 100.9% 82.2% 141.3% 10
1970s 95.5% 56.7% 174.5% 10
1980s 47.0% 43.6% 53.3% 10
1990s 45.8% 43.9% 47.1% 10
2000s 33.2% 25.4% 42.7% 10
2010s 27.6% 24.1% 32.8% 10
2020s 36.4% 34.5% 38.1% 4

Countries ranked near Macao

  1. 220 Oman 38.7% compare
  2. 221 Bhutan 38.6% compare
  3. 222 Andorra 38.2% compare
  4. 224 Brunei 38.0% compare
  5. 225 Saint Lucia 37.3% compare
  6. 226 Turks and Caicos Islands 37.2% compare

See the full ranking of 236 places →

More reference data data for Macao

All data for Macao →

Frequently asked questions

What is total dependency ratio in Macao?
Total dependency ratio in Macao was 38.1% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest total dependency ratio recorded in Macao?
The highest recorded value was 174.5% in 1974.
What is the lowest total dependency ratio recorded in Macao?
The lowest recorded value was 24.1% in 2011.
How does Macao rank for total dependency ratio?
Macao ranks 223rd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
Is total dependency ratio rising or falling in Macao?
Over the last ten years it is up 49.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Macao 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 Macao. 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/macao-sar-china/

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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).