Total dependency ratio in South Africa
South Africa: Total dependency ratio was 48.4% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
48.4%
Change on year
down 0.4%
World rank
179th
of 236 countries
All-time high
84.7%
in 1971
All-time low
48.4%
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
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.
Total dependency ratio in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 79.1% | — |
| 1951 | 79.5% | +0.5% |
| 1952 | 80.0% | +0.6% |
| 1953 | 80.6% | +0.7% |
| 1954 | 81.2% | +0.8% |
| 1955 | 81.7% | +0.7% |
| 1956 | 82.2% | +0.6% |
| 1957 | 82.7% | +0.5% |
| 1958 | 83.1% | +0.5% |
| 1959 | 83.4% | +0.3% |
| 1960 | 83.4% | +0.1% |
| 1961 | 83.4% | -0.0% |
| 1962 | 83.4% | -0.0% |
| 1963 | 83.3% | -0.1% |
| 1964 | 83.3% | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 83.5% | +0.3% |
| 1966 | 83.8% | +0.3% |
| 1967 | 84.0% | +0.3% |
| 1968 | 84.3% | +0.3% |
| 1969 | 84.5% | +0.2% |
| 1970 | 84.6% | +0.2% |
| 1971 | 84.7% | +0.1% |
| 1972 | 84.6% | -0.1% |
| 1973 | 84.5% | -0.2% |
| 1974 | 84.3% | -0.2% |
| 1975 | 84.0% | -0.3% |
| 1976 | 83.7% | -0.4% |
| 1977 | 83.3% | -0.6% |
| 1978 | 82.6% | -0.8% |
| 1979 | 82.0% | -0.8% |
| 1980 | 80.9% | -1.3% |
| 1981 | 79.6% | -1.7% |
| 1982 | 78.4% | -1.4% |
| 1983 | 77.5% | -1.2% |
| 1984 | 76.7% | -1.0% |
| 1985 | 76.0% | -1.0% |
| 1986 | 75.2% | -1.0% |
| 1987 | 74.4% | -1.1% |
| 1988 | 73.5% | -1.1% |
| 1989 | 72.6% | -1.3% |
| 1990 | 71.5% | -1.5% |
| 1991 | 70.9% | -0.9% |
| 1992 | 71.1% | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 70.2% | -1.3% |
| 1994 | 70.2% | -0.0% |
| 1995 | 71.5% | +1.8% |
| 1996 | 72.0% | +0.8% |
| 1997 | 71.6% | -0.6% |
| 1998 | 69.8% | -2.5% |
| 1999 | 67.8% | -2.9% |
| 2000 | 65.7% | -3.1% |
| 2001 | 63.5% | -3.3% |
| 2002 | 61.4% | -3.4% |
| 2003 | 59.5% | -3.2% |
| 2004 | 57.9% | -2.7% |
| 2005 | 56.6% | -2.1% |
| 2006 | 55.7% | -1.7% |
| 2007 | 54.8% | -1.5% |
| 2008 | 54.2% | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 53.7% | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 53.0% | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 52.4% | -1.2% |
| 2012 | 51.9% | -0.9% |
| 2013 | 51.5% | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 51.1% | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 50.8% | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 51.1% | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 51.3% | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 50.7% | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 50.1% | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 49.5% | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 48.9% | -1.2% |
| 2022 | 48.5% | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 48.4% | -0.4% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 48.4% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 50.3%, 96% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 48.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 77.8%, 62% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
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
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5111 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7468 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 41.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 63.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.07 (2050)
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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About this data
Number of children (under 15) and people aged 65 and over per 100 working-age people (aged 15 to 64).