Total dependency ratio in Rwanda
Rwanda: Total dependency ratio was 71.1% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
71.1%
Change on year
down 1.3%
World rank
45th
of 236 countries
All-time high
118.5%
in 1995
All-time low
71.1%
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Total dependency ratio in Rwanda, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, total dependency ratio in Rwanda stood at 71.1%. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.3% on the previous year and down 11.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total dependency ratio in Rwanda peaked at 118.5% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 71.1%, in 2023.
That places Rwanda 45th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.
Total dependency ratio in Rwanda, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 83.9% | — |
| 1951 | 86.1% | +2.6% |
| 1952 | 88.4% | +2.8% |
| 1953 | 91.1% | +3.0% |
| 1954 | 93.9% | +3.1% |
| 1955 | 96.7% | +3.0% |
| 1956 | 99.5% | +2.9% |
| 1957 | 102.1% | +2.7% |
| 1958 | 104.7% | +2.5% |
| 1959 | 107.2% | +2.4% |
| 1960 | 109.7% | +2.3% |
| 1961 | 112.0% | +2.1% |
| 1962 | 114.1% | +1.9% |
| 1963 | 116.0% | +1.6% |
| 1964 | 116.9% | +0.7% |
| 1965 | 115.9% | -0.8% |
| 1966 | 114.0% | -1.7% |
| 1967 | 111.6% | -2.1% |
| 1968 | 109.0% | -2.3% |
| 1969 | 106.7% | -2.2% |
| 1970 | 104.6% | -2.0% |
| 1971 | 102.8% | -1.7% |
| 1972 | 101.2% | -1.6% |
| 1973 | 99.7% | -1.4% |
| 1974 | 98.5% | -1.3% |
| 1975 | 97.4% | -1.1% |
| 1976 | 96.5% | -0.9% |
| 1977 | 96.1% | -0.5% |
| 1978 | 96.1% | -0.0% |
| 1979 | 96.4% | +0.4% |
| 1980 | 97.1% | +0.7% |
| 1981 | 98.1% | +1.0% |
| 1982 | 99.2% | +1.1% |
| 1983 | 100.3% | +1.1% |
| 1984 | 101.4% | +1.1% |
| 1985 | 102.5% | +1.0% |
| 1986 | 103.4% | +0.9% |
| 1987 | 104.1% | +0.7% |
| 1988 | 104.6% | +0.5% |
| 1989 | 104.9% | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 105.2% | +0.3% |
| 1991 | 105.1% | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 104.2% | -0.9% |
| 1993 | 103.0% | -1.1% |
| 1994 | 109.4% | +6.1% |
| 1995 | 118.5% | +8.3% |
| 1996 | 114.0% | -3.8% |
| 1997 | 109.7% | -3.7% |
| 1998 | 104.6% | -4.7% |
| 1999 | 99.2% | -5.2% |
| 2000 | 94.5% | -4.8% |
| 2001 | 90.5% | -4.2% |
| 2002 | 87.8% | -3.1% |
| 2003 | 86.0% | -2.0% |
| 2004 | 84.8% | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 84.1% | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 83.7% | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 83.5% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 83.3% | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 82.9% | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 82.3% | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 81.6% | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 80.8% | -0.9% |
| 2013 | 80.2% | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 79.5% | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 78.9% | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 78.2% | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 77.5% | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 76.6% | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 75.5% | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 74.3% | -1.6% |
| 2021 | 73.1% | -1.6% |
| 2022 | 72.1% | -1.5% |
| 2023 | 71.1% | -1.3% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 71.1% is below the median for low income countries, which is 78.1%, 91% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 71.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 77.8%, 91% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 95.4% | 83.9% | 107.2% | 10 |
| 1960s | 112.6% | 106.7% | 116.9% | 10 |
| 1970s | 98.9% | 96.1% | 104.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 101.6% | 97.1% | 104.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 107.3% | 99.2% | 118.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 86.1% | 82.9% | 94.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 79.1% | 75.5% | 82.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 72.7% | 71.1% | 74.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
- 42 Sao Tome and Principe 72.9% compare
- 43 Comoros 72.0% compare
- 44 Sierra Leone 71.6% compare
- 46 Pakistan 70.2% compare
- 47 Japan 69.9% compare
- 48 Equatorial Guinea 69.8% compare
More reference data data for Rwanda
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2282 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.9517 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.38 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1223 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.38 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.7651 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.9517 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 4.27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 6.98 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.666 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total dependency ratio in Rwanda?
- Total dependency ratio in Rwanda was 71.1% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total dependency ratio recorded in Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 118.5% in 1995.
- What is the lowest total dependency ratio recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 71.1% in 2023.
- How does Rwanda rank for total dependency ratio?
- Rwanda ranks 45th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total dependency ratio rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Rwanda 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).