Total dependency ratio in Norway
Norway: Total dependency ratio was 53.9% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
53.9%
Change on year
down 0.3%
World rank
130th
of 236 countries
All-time high
59.9%
in 1975
All-time low
50.9%
in 2009
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Total dependency ratio in Norway, 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 Norway is 53.9%, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 0.3% on the previous year and up 4.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total dependency ratio in Norway peaked at 59.9% in 1975 and was at its lowest, 50.9%, in 2009.
Norway ranks 130th of 236 countries on this measure, 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 Norway, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 51.1% | — |
| 1951 | 52.1% | +2.1% |
| 1952 | 53.2% | +2.0% |
| 1953 | 54.2% | +1.9% |
| 1954 | 55.1% | +1.6% |
| 1955 | 55.8% | +1.3% |
| 1956 | 56.8% | +1.8% |
| 1957 | 57.8% | +1.8% |
| 1958 | 58.4% | +1.0% |
| 1959 | 58.6% | +0.4% |
| 1960 | 58.6% | -0.0% |
| 1961 | 58.3% | -0.5% |
| 1962 | 57.9% | -0.7% |
| 1963 | 57.7% | -0.3% |
| 1964 | 57.8% | +0.1% |
| 1965 | 58.0% | +0.5% |
| 1966 | 58.4% | +0.7% |
| 1967 | 58.8% | +0.7% |
| 1968 | 59.1% | +0.5% |
| 1969 | 59.4% | +0.5% |
| 1970 | 59.6% | +0.3% |
| 1971 | 59.7% | +0.2% |
| 1972 | 59.8% | +0.2% |
| 1973 | 59.9% | +0.1% |
| 1974 | 59.9% | +0.1% |
| 1975 | 59.9% | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 59.9% | -0.2% |
| 1977 | 59.7% | -0.3% |
| 1978 | 59.4% | -0.4% |
| 1979 | 59.0% | -0.6% |
| 1980 | 58.5% | -0.9% |
| 1981 | 57.9% | -1.0% |
| 1982 | 57.4% | -1.0% |
| 1983 | 56.8% | -1.0% |
| 1984 | 56.1% | -1.3% |
| 1985 | 55.6% | -0.9% |
| 1986 | 55.2% | -0.6% |
| 1987 | 54.8% | -0.8% |
| 1988 | 54.5% | -0.6% |
| 1989 | 54.4% | -0.1% |
| 1990 | 54.4% | +0.1% |
| 1991 | 54.5% | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 54.7% | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 54.8% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 54.8% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 54.8% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 54.9% | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 54.9% | -0.0% |
| 1998 | 54.7% | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 54.5% | -0.4% |
| 2000 | 54.2% | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 53.9% | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 53.5% | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 53.1% | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 52.7% | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 52.3% | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 51.8% | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 51.3% | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 50.9% | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 50.9% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 51.0% | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 51.2% | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 51.4% | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 51.6% | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 51.9% | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 52.1% | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 52.4% | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 52.8% | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 53.2% | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 53.4% | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 53.7% | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 54.0% | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 54.1% | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 53.9% | -0.3% |
Norway compared with similar countries
- Norway's 53.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 52.7%, 1.0× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Norway's 53.9% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 55.3%, 97% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 55.3% | 51.1% | 58.6% | 10 |
| 1960s | 58.4% | 57.7% | 59.4% | 10 |
| 1970s | 59.7% | 59.0% | 59.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 56.1% | 54.4% | 58.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 54.7% | 54.4% | 54.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 52.5% | 50.9% | 54.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 52.1% | 51.0% | 53.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 53.9% | 53.7% | 54.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Norway
- 127 Laos 54.1% compare
- 128 Nepal 54.0% compare
- 129 American Samoa 54.0% compare
- 131 Syria 53.9% compare
- 132 United States 53.9% compare
- 133 Bosnia and Herzegovina 53.5% compare
More reference data data for Norway
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.3703 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.3621 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0618 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.24 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.7734 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.48 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 6.9 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.3366 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total dependency ratio in Norway?
- Total dependency ratio in Norway was 53.9% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total dependency ratio recorded in Norway?
- The highest recorded value was 59.9% in 1975.
- What is the lowest total dependency ratio recorded in Norway?
- The lowest recorded value was 50.9% in 2009.
- How does Norway rank for total dependency ratio?
- Norway ranks 130th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total dependency ratio rising or falling in Norway?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Norway 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).