Total dependency ratio in Switzerland
Switzerland: Total dependency ratio was 52.9% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Total dependency ratio in Switzerland, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, total dependency ratio in Switzerland stood at 52.9%.
The figure is up 1.5% on the previous year and up 10.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total dependency ratio in Switzerland peaked at 54.6% in 1971 and was at its lowest, 46.0%, in 1988.
That places Switzerland 140th 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
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 51.4% | 49.5% | 52.5% | 10 |
| 1960s | 52.9% | 52.1% | 53.8% | 10 |
| 1970s | 53.6% | 51.5% | 54.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 47.4% | 46.0% | 50.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 47.6% | 46.3% | 48.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 47.3% | 46.7% | 48.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 48.6% | 47.0% | 50.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 51.9% | 51.0% | 52.9% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
- 137 Bangladesh 53.1% compare
- 138 Poland 53.0% compare
- 139 Canada 53.0% compare
- 141 Nicaragua 52.9% compare
- 142 North Macedonia 52.8% compare
More reference data data for Switzerland
- Spring temperature anomalies 0.468 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 3.26 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month -0.0171 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.4612 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 2.37 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 105.67 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 Switzerland?
- Total dependency ratio in Switzerland was 52.9% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total dependency ratio recorded in Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 54.6% in 1971.
- What is the lowest total dependency ratio recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 46.0% in 1988.
- How does Switzerland rank for total dependency ratio?
- Switzerland ranks 140th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total dependency ratio rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Switzerland 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
The number of children (under 15) and people aged 65 and over per 100 working-age people (aged 15 to 64).