Total dependency ratio in Sweden

Sweden: Total dependency ratio was 60.7% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
60.7%
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
78th
of 236 countries
All-time high
60.9%
in 2021
All-time low
50.3%
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023

Total dependency ratio in Sweden, 1950–2023

0204060195019862023

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for total dependency ratio in Sweden is 60.7%, measured in 2023.

The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 6.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, total dependency ratio in Sweden peaked at 60.9% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 50.3%, in 1950.

Sweden ranks 78th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

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

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1950s 52.4% 50.3% 53.5% 10
1960s 51.3% 50.4% 52.4% 10
1970s 55.1% 52.7% 56.6% 10
1980s 55.2% 54.6% 56.0% 10
1990s 56.4% 55.5% 57.0% 10
2000s 53.6% 52.3% 55.5% 10
2010s 57.7% 53.5% 60.6% 10
2020s 60.8% 60.7% 60.9% 4

Countries ranked near Sweden

  1. 75 Micronesia (country) 60.9% compare
  2. 76 Kazakhstan 60.9% compare
  3. 77 Eswatini 60.8% compare
  4. 79 Cook Islands 60.6% compare
  5. 80 Mongolia 60.0% compare
  6. 81 Saint Barthelemy 59.8% compare

See the full ranking of 236 places →

More reference data data for Sweden

All data for Sweden →

Frequently asked questions

What is total dependency ratio in Sweden?
Total dependency ratio in Sweden was 60.7% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest total dependency ratio recorded in Sweden?
The highest recorded value was 60.9% in 2021.
What is the lowest total dependency ratio recorded in Sweden?
The lowest recorded value was 50.3% in 1950.
How does Sweden rank for total dependency ratio?
Sweden ranks 78th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
Is total dependency ratio rising or falling in Sweden?
Over the last ten years it is up 6.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Sweden 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

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).