Total dependency ratio in Switzerland
Switzerland: Total dependency ratio was 52.9% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
52.9%
Change on year
up 1.5%
World rank
140th
of 236 countries
All-time high
54.6%
in 1971
All-time low
46.0%
in 1988
Years of data
74
1950–2023
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.
Total dependency ratio in Switzerland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 49.5% | — |
| 1951 | 50.0% | +1.0% |
| 1952 | 50.5% | +1.0% |
| 1953 | 51.0% | +1.0% |
| 1954 | 51.5% | +1.0% |
| 1955 | 52.0% | +0.9% |
| 1956 | 52.3% | +0.7% |
| 1957 | 52.5% | +0.3% |
| 1958 | 52.5% | -0.0% |
| 1959 | 52.3% | -0.2% |
| 1960 | 52.1% | -0.4% |
| 1961 | 52.2% | +0.1% |
| 1962 | 52.4% | +0.4% |
| 1963 | 52.4% | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 52.6% | +0.3% |
| 1965 | 53.0% | +0.8% |
| 1966 | 53.5% | +0.9% |
| 1967 | 53.7% | +0.5% |
| 1968 | 53.8% | +0.1% |
| 1969 | 53.8% | -0.0% |
| 1970 | 54.1% | +0.7% |
| 1971 | 54.6% | +0.9% |
| 1972 | 54.6% | -0.1% |
| 1973 | 54.3% | -0.4% |
| 1974 | 54.1% | -0.4% |
| 1975 | 53.9% | -0.4% |
| 1976 | 53.5% | -0.6% |
| 1977 | 53.0% | -0.9% |
| 1978 | 52.4% | -1.2% |
| 1979 | 51.5% | -1.6% |
| 1980 | 50.6% | -1.9% |
| 1981 | 49.5% | -2.1% |
| 1982 | 48.5% | -2.1% |
| 1983 | 47.6% | -1.8% |
| 1984 | 46.9% | -1.5% |
| 1985 | 46.4% | -1.0% |
| 1986 | 46.2% | -0.5% |
| 1987 | 46.1% | -0.3% |
| 1988 | 46.0% | -0.0% |
| 1989 | 46.2% | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 46.3% | +0.4% |
| 1991 | 46.6% | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 46.9% | +0.7% |
| 1993 | 47.3% | +0.9% |
| 1994 | 47.6% | +0.7% |
| 1995 | 47.9% | +0.6% |
| 1996 | 48.1% | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 48.4% | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 48.5% | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 48.6% | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 48.6% | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 48.3% | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 47.8% | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 47.5% | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 47.2% | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 47.0% | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 46.9% | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 46.8% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 46.7% | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 46.8% | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 47.0% | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 47.3% | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 47.6% | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 48.0% | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 48.3% | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 48.7% | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 49.0% | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 49.5% | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 50.1% | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 50.6% | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 51.0% | +0.9% |
| 2021 | 51.5% | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 52.1% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 52.9% | +1.5% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 52.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 52.7%, 1.0× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 52.9% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 55.3%, 96% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
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
More reference data data for Switzerland
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5507 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.2683 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.24 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.24 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.28 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 6.28 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.272 (2050)
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.
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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).