Total dependency ratio in Spain

Spain: Total dependency ratio was 51.3% in 2023. ▼ Falling

Latest (2023)
51.3%
Change on year
up 0.6%
World rank
156th
of 236 countries
All-time high
60.6%
in 1973
All-time low
45.0%
in 2007
Years of data
74
1950–2023

Total dependency ratio in Spain, 1950–2023

0204060195019862023

Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

Spain recorded 51.3% for total dependency ratio in 2023.

The figure is up 0.6% on the previous year and up 4.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, total dependency ratio in Spain peaked at 60.6% in 1973 and was at its lowest, 45.0%, in 2007.

That places Spain 156th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1950s 52.3% 50.2% 55.0% 10
1960s 57.0% 55.3% 59.4% 10
1970s 60.3% 59.6% 60.6% 10
1980s 54.8% 50.9% 59.0% 10
1990s 47.1% 45.6% 50.0% 10
2000s 45.4% 45.0% 46.0% 10
2010s 49.6% 46.6% 51.2% 10
2020s 51.0% 50.8% 51.3% 4

Countries ranked near Spain

  1. 153 Russia 51.8% compare
  2. 154 Sri Lanka 51.7% compare
  3. 155 Slovakia 51.4% compare
  4. 157 Philippines 51.2% compare
  5. 158 Morocco 51.2% compare
  6. 159 Belarus 50.9% compare

See the full ranking of 236 places →

More reference data data for Spain

All data for Spain →

Frequently asked questions

What is total dependency ratio in Spain?
Total dependency ratio in Spain was 51.3% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest total dependency ratio recorded in Spain?
The highest recorded value was 60.6% in 1973.
What is the lowest total dependency ratio recorded in Spain?
The lowest recorded value was 45.0% in 2007.
How does Spain rank for total dependency ratio?
Spain ranks 156th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
Is total dependency ratio rising or falling in Spain?
Over the last ten years it is up 4.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Spain 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

Indicator
Total dependency ratio
Unit
%
Source
UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
236 places, 17,464 data points, 1950–2023
Last refreshed

The number of children (under 15) and people aged 65 and over per 100 working-age people (aged 15 to 64).