Total dependency ratio in Singapore
Singapore: Total dependency ratio was 33.1% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Total dependency ratio in Singapore, 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 Singapore is 33.1%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 1.0% on the previous year and up 22.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total dependency ratio in Singapore peaked at 89.6% in 1961 and was at its lowest, 26.9%, in 2012.
Singapore ranks 229th of 236 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 80.3% | 75.4% | 87.4% | 10 |
| 1960s | 84.6% | 75.5% | 89.6% | 10 |
| 1970s | 59.3% | 47.6% | 72.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 40.1% | 37.5% | 45.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 35.4% | 33.5% | 37.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 31.5% | 27.9% | 33.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 28.0% | 26.9% | 30.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 32.3% | 31.1% | 33.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Singapore
- 226 Turks and Caicos Islands 37.2% compare
- 227 Jamaica 37.0% compare
- 228 Saudi Arabia 36.8% compare
- 230 Cayman Islands 33.1% compare
- 231 Maldives 32.3% compare
- 232 British Virgin Islands 32.2% compare
More reference data data for Singapore
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Consumer price index 134.36 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 0 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
- Elected parliament 1 (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected 1 (2025)
- Democracy 3 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating 4 (2025)
- Free country 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total dependency ratio in Singapore?
- Total dependency ratio in Singapore was 33.1% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total dependency ratio recorded in Singapore?
- The highest recorded value was 89.6% in 1961.
- What is the lowest total dependency ratio recorded in Singapore?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.9% in 2012.
- How does Singapore rank for total dependency ratio?
- Singapore ranks 229th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total dependency ratio rising or falling in Singapore?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Singapore 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.
Download this data
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).