Total dependency ratio in Portugal
Portugal: Total dependency ratio was 58.7% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
58.7%
Change on year
up 1.4%
World rank
88th
of 236 countries
All-time high
62.2%
in 1969
All-time low
48.2%
in 1999
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Total dependency ratio in Portugal, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, total dependency ratio in Portugal stood at 58.7%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.4% on the previous year and up 12.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total dependency ratio in Portugal peaked at 62.2% in 1969 and was at its lowest, 48.2%, in 1999.
Portugal ranks 88th 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 Portugal, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 57.8% | — |
| 1951 | 57.4% | -0.6% |
| 1952 | 57.3% | -0.1% |
| 1953 | 57.3% | -0.0% |
| 1954 | 57.2% | -0.1% |
| 1955 | 57.6% | +0.7% |
| 1956 | 58.2% | +1.0% |
| 1957 | 58.7% | +0.8% |
| 1958 | 59.1% | +0.7% |
| 1959 | 59.3% | +0.3% |
| 1960 | 59.2% | -0.2% |
| 1961 | 59.0% | -0.2% |
| 1962 | 59.2% | +0.4% |
| 1963 | 59.4% | +0.3% |
| 1964 | 59.6% | +0.3% |
| 1965 | 60.3% | +1.1% |
| 1966 | 61.0% | +1.3% |
| 1967 | 61.5% | +0.8% |
| 1968 | 61.9% | +0.7% |
| 1969 | 62.2% | +0.4% |
| 1970 | 62.0% | -0.4% |
| 1971 | 61.6% | -0.5% |
| 1972 | 61.4% | -0.3% |
| 1973 | 61.1% | -0.5% |
| 1974 | 60.7% | -0.6% |
| 1975 | 60.6% | -0.1% |
| 1976 | 60.7% | +0.1% |
| 1977 | 60.6% | -0.2% |
| 1978 | 60.3% | -0.5% |
| 1979 | 59.7% | -0.9% |
| 1980 | 59.1% | -1.1% |
| 1981 | 58.3% | -1.3% |
| 1982 | 57.6% | -1.3% |
| 1983 | 56.8% | -1.3% |
| 1984 | 56.0% | -1.4% |
| 1985 | 55.3% | -1.2% |
| 1986 | 54.7% | -1.2% |
| 1987 | 54.0% | -1.3% |
| 1988 | 53.2% | -1.4% |
| 1989 | 52.4% | -1.5% |
| 1990 | 51.5% | -1.7% |
| 1991 | 50.5% | -1.9% |
| 1992 | 49.8% | -1.5% |
| 1993 | 49.3% | -0.9% |
| 1994 | 49.0% | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 48.6% | -0.7% |
| 1996 | 48.4% | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 48.2% | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 48.2% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 48.2% | -0.0% |
| 2000 | 48.2% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 48.4% | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 48.7% | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 49.0% | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 49.4% | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 49.7% | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 49.8% | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 49.9% | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 50.1% | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 50.4% | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 50.8% | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 51.3% | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 51.8% | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 52.4% | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 53.0% | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 53.5% | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 54.1% | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 54.7% | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 55.4% | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 56.0% | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 56.7% | +1.2% |
| 2021 | 57.3% | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 57.9% | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 58.7% | +1.4% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 58.7% is above the median for high income countries, which is 52.7%, 1.1× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Portugal's 58.7% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 55.3%, 1.1× the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 58.0% | 57.2% | 59.3% | 10 |
| 1960s | 60.3% | 59.0% | 62.2% | 10 |
| 1970s | 60.9% | 59.7% | 62.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 55.7% | 52.4% | 59.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 49.2% | 48.2% | 51.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 49.4% | 48.2% | 50.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 53.3% | 50.8% | 56.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 57.6% | 56.7% | 58.7% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
More reference data data for Portugal
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5144 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.4372 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0472 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.72 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 6.9 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2572 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total dependency ratio in Portugal?
- Total dependency ratio in Portugal was 58.7% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total dependency ratio recorded in Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 62.2% in 1969.
- What is the lowest total dependency ratio recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 48.2% in 1999.
- How does Portugal rank for total dependency ratio?
- Portugal ranks 88th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total dependency ratio rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Portugal 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).