Total dependency ratio in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea: Total dependency ratio was 59.1% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Total dependency ratio in Papua New Guinea, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, total dependency ratio in Papua New Guinea stood at 59.1%. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is down 0.9% on the previous year and down 9.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total dependency ratio in Papua New Guinea peaked at 89.0% in 1972 and was at its lowest, 59.1%, in 2023.
Papua New Guinea ranks 84th 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 76.4% | 74.8% | 79.4% | 10 |
| 1960s | 83.8% | 80.3% | 87.3% | 10 |
| 1970s | 86.8% | 82.7% | 89.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 80.1% | 79.6% | 81.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 77.0% | 74.4% | 79.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 71.0% | 67.9% | 73.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 64.3% | 61.4% | 67.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 59.9% | 59.1% | 60.8% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Papua New Guinea
More reference data data for Papua New Guinea
- Temperature anomalies by month 0.504 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies -0.0178 °C (2026)
- Spring temperature anomalies 0.1159 °C (2026)
- Free country 1 (2025)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.6022 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 0.257 °C (2025)
- Civil liberties rating 3 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total dependency ratio in Papua New Guinea?
- Total dependency ratio in Papua New Guinea was 59.1% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total dependency ratio recorded in Papua New Guinea?
- The highest recorded value was 89.0% in 1972.
- What is the lowest total dependency ratio recorded in Papua New Guinea?
- The lowest recorded value was 59.1% in 2023.
- How does Papua New Guinea rank for total dependency ratio?
- Papua New Guinea ranks 84th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total dependency ratio rising or falling in Papua New Guinea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Papua New Guinea 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).