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

0204060195019862023

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.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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

  1. 85 Greece 58.9% compare
  2. 86 Latvia 58.8% compare
  3. 87 Algeria 58.8% compare
  4. 89 Croatia 58.6% compare
  5. 90 Guatemala 58.4% compare
  6. 91 Estonia 58.4% compare

See the full ranking of 236 places →

More reference data data for Portugal

All data for Portugal →

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

Indicator
Total dependency ratio
Unit
%
Source
UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
236 places, 17,464 data points, 1950–2023
Last refreshed

The number of children (under 15) and people aged 65 and over per 100 working-age people (aged 15 to 64).