Total dependency ratio in Singapore
Singapore: Total dependency ratio was 33.1% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
33.1%
Change on year
up 1.0%
World rank
229th
of 236 countries
All-time high
89.6%
in 1961
All-time low
26.9%
in 2012
Years of data
74
1950–2023
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.
Total dependency ratio in Singapore, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 75.4% | — |
| 1951 | 76.4% | +1.2% |
| 1952 | 77.2% | +1.1% |
| 1953 | 78.0% | +1.0% |
| 1954 | 78.9% | +1.2% |
| 1955 | 80.0% | +1.4% |
| 1956 | 81.3% | +1.6% |
| 1957 | 83.1% | +2.2% |
| 1958 | 85.3% | +2.7% |
| 1959 | 87.4% | +2.4% |
| 1960 | 88.9% | +1.7% |
| 1961 | 89.6% | +0.8% |
| 1962 | 89.4% | -0.2% |
| 1963 | 88.5% | -1.1% |
| 1964 | 87.0% | -1.7% |
| 1965 | 85.1% | -2.1% |
| 1966 | 83.1% | -2.4% |
| 1967 | 80.8% | -2.7% |
| 1968 | 78.3% | -3.1% |
| 1969 | 75.5% | -3.6% |
| 1970 | 72.4% | -4.0% |
| 1971 | 69.3% | -4.3% |
| 1972 | 66.2% | -4.5% |
| 1973 | 63.2% | -4.5% |
| 1974 | 60.3% | -4.6% |
| 1975 | 57.4% | -4.7% |
| 1976 | 54.8% | -4.7% |
| 1977 | 52.3% | -4.6% |
| 1978 | 49.9% | -4.6% |
| 1979 | 47.6% | -4.6% |
| 1980 | 45.2% | -5.0% |
| 1981 | 42.8% | -5.4% |
| 1982 | 40.9% | -4.3% |
| 1983 | 39.9% | -2.4% |
| 1984 | 39.5% | -1.2% |
| 1985 | 39.4% | -0.2% |
| 1986 | 39.2% | -0.4% |
| 1987 | 38.6% | -1.5% |
| 1988 | 38.0% | -1.6% |
| 1989 | 37.5% | -1.4% |
| 1990 | 37.0% | -1.3% |
| 1991 | 36.7% | -0.8% |
| 1992 | 36.6% | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 36.4% | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 36.1% | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 35.6% | -1.5% |
| 1996 | 34.8% | -2.2% |
| 1997 | 34.0% | -2.2% |
| 1998 | 33.6% | -1.3% |
| 1999 | 33.5% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 33.4% | -0.4% |
| 2001 | 33.2% | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 33.1% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 33.0% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 32.7% | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 32.1% | -1.8% |
| 2006 | 31.2% | -2.8% |
| 2007 | 29.9% | -4.2% |
| 2008 | 28.6% | -4.2% |
| 2009 | 27.9% | -2.6% |
| 2010 | 27.3% | -1.9% |
| 2011 | 26.9% | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 26.9% | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 27.0% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 27.3% | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 27.7% | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 28.1% | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 28.8% | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 29.5% | +2.5% |
| 2019 | 30.2% | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 31.1% | +3.2% |
| 2021 | 32.3% | +3.7% |
| 2022 | 32.8% | +1.5% |
| 2023 | 33.1% | +1.0% |
Singapore compared with similar countries
- Singapore's 33.1% is below the median for high income countries, which is 52.7%, 63% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Singapore's 33.1% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 54.0%, 61% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
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
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.008 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.0066 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.0618 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.0618 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0269 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.0096 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.0378 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.2664 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Burning - Crop residues 0 (1992)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.2567 (2050)
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.
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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).