Total dependency ratio in Malaysia
Malaysia: Total dependency ratio was 42.3% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
42.3%
Change on year
down 1.3%
World rank
209th
of 236 countries
All-time high
97.3%
in 1964
All-time low
42.3%
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
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.
Total dependency ratio in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 84.2% | — |
| 1951 | 84.6% | +0.5% |
| 1952 | 84.8% | +0.3% |
| 1953 | 85.0% | +0.3% |
| 1954 | 85.5% | +0.6% |
| 1955 | 86.3% | +1.0% |
| 1956 | 87.4% | +1.2% |
| 1957 | 88.6% | +1.4% |
| 1958 | 90.0% | +1.6% |
| 1959 | 91.6% | +1.8% |
| 1960 | 93.3% | +1.8% |
| 1961 | 94.8% | +1.6% |
| 1962 | 96.0% | +1.3% |
| 1963 | 96.9% | +0.9% |
| 1964 | 97.3% | +0.5% |
| 1965 | 97.0% | -0.4% |
| 1966 | 95.9% | -1.1% |
| 1967 | 94.5% | -1.4% |
| 1968 | 93.0% | -1.6% |
| 1969 | 91.4% | -1.8% |
| 1970 | 89.7% | -1.8% |
| 1971 | 88.0% | -1.9% |
| 1972 | 86.3% | -1.9% |
| 1973 | 84.6% | -1.9% |
| 1974 | 83.0% | -1.9% |
| 1975 | 81.4% | -2.0% |
| 1976 | 79.8% | -2.0% |
| 1977 | 78.2% | -2.0% |
| 1978 | 76.6% | -2.0% |
| 1979 | 75.2% | -1.8% |
| 1980 | 74.1% | -1.6% |
| 1981 | 73.2% | -1.2% |
| 1982 | 72.5% | -0.9% |
| 1983 | 72.0% | -0.7% |
| 1984 | 71.5% | -0.6% |
| 1985 | 71.2% | -0.4% |
| 1986 | 71.0% | -0.4% |
| 1987 | 70.7% | -0.4% |
| 1988 | 70.2% | -0.6% |
| 1989 | 69.6% | -0.8% |
| 1990 | 68.9% | -1.1% |
| 1991 | 68.0% | -1.3% |
| 1992 | 67.1% | -1.3% |
| 1993 | 66.3% | -1.2% |
| 1994 | 65.7% | -0.9% |
| 1995 | 65.1% | -0.9% |
| 1996 | 64.5% | -0.9% |
| 1997 | 64.0% | -0.9% |
| 1998 | 63.3% | -1.0% |
| 1999 | 62.5% | -1.4% |
| 2000 | 61.4% | -1.7% |
| 2001 | 60.3% | -1.8% |
| 2002 | 59.2% | -1.8% |
| 2003 | 58.1% | -1.9% |
| 2004 | 56.8% | -2.1% |
| 2005 | 55.5% | -2.3% |
| 2006 | 54.2% | -2.4% |
| 2007 | 52.9% | -2.4% |
| 2008 | 51.6% | -2.5% |
| 2009 | 50.2% | -2.6% |
| 2010 | 49.0% | -2.4% |
| 2011 | 48.1% | -1.8% |
| 2012 | 47.5% | -1.3% |
| 2013 | 47.0% | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 46.4% | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 46.0% | -0.9% |
| 2016 | 45.7% | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 45.5% | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 45.2% | -0.6% |
| 2019 | 44.8% | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 44.3% | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 43.6% | -1.6% |
| 2022 | 42.9% | -1.6% |
| 2023 | 42.3% | -1.3% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 42.3% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 50.3%, 84% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 42.3% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 54.0%, 78% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
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
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.7102 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.5869 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 4.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1487 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 4.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.38 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.64 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 21.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.8098 (2050)
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.
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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).