Total dependency ratio in Nigeria
Nigeria: Total dependency ratio was 80.2% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Total dependency ratio in Nigeria, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, total dependency ratio in Nigeria stood at 80.2%.
That represents a change of down 1.8% on the previous year and down 11.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total dependency ratio in Nigeria peaked at 95.0% in 1987 and was at its lowest, 80.0%, in 1961.
That places Nigeria 23rd out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 74 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 80.3% | 80.1% | 80.9% | 10 |
| 1960s | 81.4% | 80.0% | 83.4% | 10 |
| 1970s | 87.2% | 84.0% | 90.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 93.9% | 91.5% | 95.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 91.0% | 88.1% | 94.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 88.7% | 87.9% | 90.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 89.1% | 85.9% | 90.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 82.4% | 80.2% | 84.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More reference data data for Nigeria
- Spring temperature anomalies 0.3216 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.3105 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 1.8 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.4187 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 1.76 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 860.32 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 0 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total dependency ratio in Nigeria?
- Total dependency ratio in Nigeria was 80.2% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total dependency ratio recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 95.0% in 1987.
- What is the lowest total dependency ratio recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 80.0% in 1961.
- How does Nigeria rank for total dependency ratio?
- Nigeria ranks 23rd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total dependency ratio rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nigeria 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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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).