Total dependency ratio in Palau
Palau: Total dependency ratio was 41.7% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
41.7%
Change on year
up 0.9%
World rank
212th
of 236 countries
All-time high
121.8%
in 1965
All-time low
36.9%
in 2012
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Total dependency ratio in Palau, 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 Palau is 41.7%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 0.9% on the previous year and up 11.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total dependency ratio in Palau peaked at 121.8% in 1965 and was at its lowest, 36.9%, in 2012.
Palau ranks 212th of 236 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.
Total dependency ratio in Palau, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 108.6% | — |
| 1951 | 107.8% | -0.7% |
| 1952 | 107.2% | -0.5% |
| 1953 | 106.3% | -0.9% |
| 1954 | 105.2% | -1.0% |
| 1955 | 103.9% | -1.2% |
| 1956 | 102.9% | -1.0% |
| 1957 | 101.4% | -1.4% |
| 1958 | 100.5% | -0.9% |
| 1959 | 103.2% | +2.6% |
| 1960 | 107.7% | +4.4% |
| 1961 | 112.3% | +4.2% |
| 1962 | 116.3% | +3.6% |
| 1963 | 119.2% | +2.5% |
| 1964 | 120.8% | +1.4% |
| 1965 | 121.8% | +0.8% |
| 1966 | 121.8% | -0.0% |
| 1967 | 118.6% | -2.6% |
| 1968 | 112.3% | -5.3% |
| 1969 | 106.3% | -5.4% |
| 1970 | 102.8% | -3.3% |
| 1971 | 102.1% | -0.6% |
| 1972 | 101.6% | -0.5% |
| 1973 | 100.3% | -1.3% |
| 1974 | 97.7% | -2.5% |
| 1975 | 94.7% | -3.1% |
| 1976 | 92.0% | -2.9% |
| 1977 | 89.4% | -2.8% |
| 1978 | 87.1% | -2.6% |
| 1979 | 85.0% | -2.4% |
| 1980 | 82.5% | -3.0% |
| 1981 | 78.6% | -4.7% |
| 1982 | 74.8% | -4.8% |
| 1983 | 71.8% | -4.0% |
| 1984 | 69.7% | -3.0% |
| 1985 | 68.2% | -2.1% |
| 1986 | 65.8% | -3.5% |
| 1987 | 62.7% | -4.7% |
| 1988 | 60.3% | -4.0% |
| 1989 | 58.2% | -3.4% |
| 1990 | 56.4% | -3.1% |
| 1991 | 54.6% | -3.3% |
| 1992 | 53.1% | -2.7% |
| 1993 | 52.0% | -2.1% |
| 1994 | 51.3% | -1.4% |
| 1995 | 50.6% | -1.3% |
| 1996 | 49.3% | -2.6% |
| 1997 | 47.2% | -4.1% |
| 1998 | 45.1% | -4.5% |
| 1999 | 43.0% | -4.8% |
| 2000 | 41.6% | -3.2% |
| 2001 | 41.4% | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 41.7% | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 42.1% | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 42.3% | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 41.8% | -1.1% |
| 2006 | 40.6% | -3.0% |
| 2007 | 39.4% | -3.0% |
| 2008 | 38.5% | -2.2% |
| 2009 | 37.8% | -1.8% |
| 2010 | 37.2% | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 37.0% | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 36.9% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 37.3% | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 38.2% | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 38.7% | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 38.9% | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 39.2% | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 39.6% | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 40.0% | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 40.4% | +1.1% |
| 2021 | 40.9% | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 41.3% | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 41.7% | +0.9% |
Palau compared with similar countries
- Palau's 41.7% is below the median for high income countries, which is 52.7%, 79% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Palau's 41.7% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 54.0%, 77% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 104.7% | 100.5% | 108.6% | 10 |
| 1960s | 115.7% | 106.3% | 121.8% | 10 |
| 1970s | 95.3% | 85.0% | 102.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 69.3% | 58.2% | 82.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 50.3% | 43.0% | 56.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 40.7% | 37.8% | 42.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 38.3% | 36.9% | 40.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 41.1% | 40.4% | 41.7% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Palau
- 209 Malaysia 42.3% compare
- 210 Western Sahara 42.3% compare
- 211 Antigua and Barbuda 41.7% compare
- 213 Anguilla 41.5% compare
- 214 South Korea 41.4% compare
- 215 Saint Kitts and Nevis 40.9% compare
More reference data data for Palau
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 0 (2019)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - IPCC Agriculture 0 (2019)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 0 (2019)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 0 (2019)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0 (2019)
- Consumer price index 160.77 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Free country 2 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating 1 (2025)
- Free country, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, gaps filled 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total dependency ratio in Palau?
- Total dependency ratio in Palau was 41.7% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total dependency ratio recorded in Palau?
- The highest recorded value was 121.8% in 1965.
- What is the lowest total dependency ratio recorded in Palau?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.9% in 2012.
- How does Palau rank for total dependency ratio?
- Palau ranks 212th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total dependency ratio rising or falling in Palau?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Palau 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).