Total dependency ratio in Malta
Malta: Total dependency ratio was 49.1% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
49.1%
Change on year
up 2.1%
World rank
173rd
of 236 countries
All-time high
77.6%
in 1957
All-time low
42.4%
in 2008
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Total dependency ratio in Malta, 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 Malta is 49.1%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.1% on the previous year and up 5.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total dependency ratio in Malta peaked at 77.6% in 1957 and was at its lowest, 42.4%, in 2008.
That places Malta 173rd 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.
Total dependency ratio in Malta, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 73.5% | — |
| 1951 | 73.9% | +0.5% |
| 1952 | 74.4% | +0.8% |
| 1953 | 75.1% | +0.8% |
| 1954 | 75.8% | +1.0% |
| 1955 | 76.6% | +1.1% |
| 1956 | 77.2% | +0.8% |
| 1957 | 77.6% | +0.4% |
| 1958 | 77.4% | -0.2% |
| 1959 | 76.7% | -1.0% |
| 1960 | 75.3% | -1.8% |
| 1961 | 73.5% | -2.4% |
| 1962 | 71.5% | -2.7% |
| 1963 | 69.5% | -2.8% |
| 1964 | 67.6% | -2.7% |
| 1965 | 65.8% | -2.7% |
| 1966 | 64.1% | -2.6% |
| 1967 | 62.5% | -2.5% |
| 1968 | 60.7% | -2.9% |
| 1969 | 58.8% | -3.0% |
| 1970 | 57.3% | -2.7% |
| 1971 | 55.9% | -2.4% |
| 1972 | 54.6% | -2.3% |
| 1973 | 53.4% | -2.1% |
| 1974 | 52.4% | -1.9% |
| 1975 | 51.5% | -1.7% |
| 1976 | 50.8% | -1.4% |
| 1977 | 50.2% | -1.1% |
| 1978 | 49.9% | -0.7% |
| 1979 | 49.6% | -0.4% |
| 1980 | 49.6% | -0.1% |
| 1981 | 49.7% | +0.2% |
| 1982 | 49.9% | +0.5% |
| 1983 | 50.3% | +0.7% |
| 1984 | 50.7% | +0.8% |
| 1985 | 51.1% | +0.8% |
| 1986 | 51.3% | +0.4% |
| 1987 | 51.3% | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 51.3% | -0.0% |
| 1989 | 51.3% | -0.0% |
| 1990 | 51.2% | -0.1% |
| 1991 | 51.0% | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 50.8% | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 50.6% | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 50.2% | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 49.8% | -0.8% |
| 1996 | 49.3% | -0.9% |
| 1997 | 48.7% | -1.3% |
| 1998 | 48.0% | -1.3% |
| 1999 | 47.5% | -1.2% |
| 2000 | 47.0% | -1.1% |
| 2001 | 46.6% | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 46.2% | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 45.8% | -0.9% |
| 2004 | 45.2% | -1.2% |
| 2005 | 44.6% | -1.4% |
| 2006 | 43.8% | -1.7% |
| 2007 | 43.0% | -1.9% |
| 2008 | 42.4% | -1.3% |
| 2009 | 42.7% | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 43.4% | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 44.3% | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 45.4% | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 46.7% | +2.7% |
| 2014 | 47.6% | +2.1% |
| 2015 | 48.2% | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 48.8% | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 48.9% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 48.2% | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 47.3% | -1.9% |
| 2020 | 46.7% | -1.4% |
| 2021 | 47.0% | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 48.1% | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 49.1% | +2.1% |
Malta compared with similar countries
- Malta's 49.1% is below the median for high income countries, which is 52.7%, 93% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Malta's 49.1% 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
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 75.8% | 73.5% | 77.6% | 10 |
| 1960s | 66.9% | 58.8% | 75.3% | 10 |
| 1970s | 52.6% | 49.6% | 57.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 50.6% | 49.6% | 51.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 49.7% | 47.5% | 51.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 44.7% | 42.4% | 47.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 46.9% | 43.4% | 48.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 47.7% | 46.7% | 49.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malta
More reference data data for Malta
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0121 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.0042 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.0205 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0008 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.0205 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0404 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.0227 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.0192 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.1009 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0043 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total dependency ratio in Malta?
- Total dependency ratio in Malta was 49.1% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total dependency ratio recorded in Malta?
- The highest recorded value was 77.6% in 1957.
- What is the lowest total dependency ratio recorded in Malta?
- The lowest recorded value was 42.4% in 2008.
- How does Malta rank for total dependency ratio?
- Malta ranks 173rd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total dependency ratio rising or falling in Malta?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malta 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).