Total dependency ratio in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Total dependency ratio was 71.6% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
71.6%
Change on year
down 1.7%
World rank
44th
of 236 countries
All-time high
90.1%
in 2001
All-time low
71.6%
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Total dependency ratio in Sierra Leone, 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 Sierra Leone is 71.6%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.7% on the previous year and down 15.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total dependency ratio in Sierra Leone peaked at 90.1% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 71.6%, in 2023.
Sierra Leone ranks 44th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 74 years of available data.
Total dependency ratio in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 73.6% | — |
| 1951 | 73.2% | -0.5% |
| 1952 | 72.9% | -0.5% |
| 1953 | 72.5% | -0.4% |
| 1954 | 72.3% | -0.3% |
| 1955 | 72.3% | -0.1% |
| 1956 | 72.3% | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 72.3% | +0.1% |
| 1958 | 72.4% | +0.1% |
| 1959 | 72.4% | +0.1% |
| 1960 | 72.5% | +0.1% |
| 1961 | 72.8% | +0.3% |
| 1962 | 73.1% | +0.4% |
| 1963 | 73.7% | +0.9% |
| 1964 | 74.8% | +1.5% |
| 1965 | 75.9% | +1.4% |
| 1966 | 76.7% | +1.2% |
| 1967 | 77.6% | +1.2% |
| 1968 | 78.5% | +1.1% |
| 1969 | 79.3% | +1.1% |
| 1970 | 80.1% | +1.0% |
| 1971 | 80.8% | +0.9% |
| 1972 | 81.5% | +0.8% |
| 1973 | 82.1% | +0.8% |
| 1974 | 82.7% | +0.8% |
| 1975 | 83.3% | +0.7% |
| 1976 | 83.8% | +0.6% |
| 1977 | 84.3% | +0.5% |
| 1978 | 84.7% | +0.5% |
| 1979 | 85.1% | +0.5% |
| 1980 | 85.4% | +0.4% |
| 1981 | 85.7% | +0.4% |
| 1982 | 86.1% | +0.4% |
| 1983 | 86.4% | +0.4% |
| 1984 | 86.7% | +0.4% |
| 1985 | 87.0% | +0.4% |
| 1986 | 87.3% | +0.3% |
| 1987 | 87.6% | +0.3% |
| 1988 | 87.9% | +0.3% |
| 1989 | 88.1% | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 88.2% | +0.2% |
| 1991 | 88.4% | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 88.6% | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 88.7% | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 88.9% | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 89.1% | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 89.3% | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 89.4% | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 89.6% | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 89.9% | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 90.0% | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 90.1% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 90.0% | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 89.9% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 89.7% | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 89.4% | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 89.0% | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 88.5% | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 88.0% | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 87.5% | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 86.9% | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 86.2% | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 85.4% | -0.9% |
| 2013 | 84.3% | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 83.1% | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 81.8% | -1.6% |
| 2016 | 80.4% | -1.6% |
| 2017 | 79.1% | -1.7% |
| 2018 | 77.7% | -1.7% |
| 2019 | 76.5% | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 75.3% | -1.6% |
| 2021 | 74.1% | -1.6% |
| 2022 | 72.9% | -1.6% |
| 2023 | 71.6% | -1.7% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 71.6% is below the median for low income countries, which is 78.1%, 92% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 71.6% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 77.8%, 92% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 72.6% | 72.3% | 73.6% | 10 |
| 1960s | 75.5% | 72.5% | 79.3% | 10 |
| 1970s | 82.8% | 80.1% | 85.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 86.8% | 85.4% | 88.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 89.0% | 88.2% | 89.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 89.2% | 87.5% | 90.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 82.1% | 76.5% | 86.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 73.5% | 71.6% | 75.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More reference data data for Sierra Leone
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0238 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.4498 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.5935 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.12 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.5935 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0797 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.044 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.91 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.72 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.6534 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total dependency ratio in Sierra Leone?
- Total dependency ratio in Sierra Leone was 71.6% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total dependency ratio recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 90.1% in 2001.
- What is the lowest total dependency ratio recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 71.6% in 2023.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for total dependency ratio?
- Sierra Leone ranks 44th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total dependency ratio rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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).