Total dependency ratio in South Africa
South Africa: Total dependency ratio was 48.4% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Total dependency ratio in South Africa, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 48.4% for total dependency ratio in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 6.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total dependency ratio in South Africa peaked at 84.7% in 1971 and was at its lowest, 48.4%, in 2023.
South Africa ranks 179th 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 | 81.3% | 79.1% | 83.4% | 10 |
| 1960s | 83.7% | 83.3% | 84.5% | 10 |
| 1970s | 83.8% | 82.0% | 84.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 76.5% | 72.6% | 80.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 70.7% | 67.8% | 72.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 58.3% | 53.7% | 65.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 51.4% | 50.1% | 53.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 48.8% | 48.4% | 49.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More reference data data for South Africa
- Spring temperature anomalies 0.191 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 1.36 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 0.6318 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 1.18 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 0.2153 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 209.92 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total dependency ratio in South Africa?
- Total dependency ratio in South Africa was 48.4% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total dependency ratio recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 84.7% in 1971.
- What is the lowest total dependency ratio recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 48.4% in 2023.
- How does South Africa rank for total dependency ratio?
- South Africa ranks 179th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total dependency ratio rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa 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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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).