Total dependency ratio in Malaysia
Malaysia: Total dependency ratio was 42.3% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Total dependency ratio in Malaysia, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total dependency ratio in Malaysia is 42.3%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.3% on the previous year and down 9.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total dependency ratio in Malaysia peaked at 97.3% in 1964 and was at its lowest, 42.3%, in 2023.
That places Malaysia 209th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 86.8% | 84.2% | 91.6% | 10 |
| 1960s | 95.0% | 91.4% | 97.3% | 10 |
| 1970s | 82.3% | 75.2% | 89.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 71.6% | 69.6% | 74.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 65.5% | 62.5% | 68.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 56.0% | 50.2% | 61.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 46.5% | 44.8% | 49.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 43.3% | 42.3% | 44.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
- 206 Trinidad and Tobago 42.6% compare
- 207 Bahamas 42.5% compare
- 208 Thailand 42.4% compare
- 210 Western Sahara 42.3% compare
- 211 Antigua and Barbuda 41.7% compare
- 212 Palau 41.7% compare
More reference data data for Malaysia
- Spring temperature anomalies 0.3171 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.4881 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 0.0702 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.2047 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 0.4538 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 134.6 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 Malaysia?
- Total dependency ratio in Malaysia was 42.3% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total dependency ratio recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 97.3% in 1964.
- What is the lowest total dependency ratio recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 42.3% in 2023.
- How does Malaysia rank for total dependency ratio?
- Malaysia ranks 209th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total dependency ratio rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malaysia 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.
Download this data
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).