Total dependency ratio in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Total dependency ratio was 57.8% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
57.8%
Change on year
up 0.4%
World rank
94th
of 236 countries
All-time high
60.1%
in 1973
All-time low
49.9%
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Total dependency ratio in United Kingdom, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total dependency ratio in United Kingdom is 57.8%, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 0.4% on the previous year and up 6.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total dependency ratio in United Kingdom peaked at 60.1% in 1973 and was at its lowest, 49.9%, in 1950.
United Kingdom ranks 94th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Total dependency ratio in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 49.9% | — |
| 1951 | 50.3% | +0.9% |
| 1952 | 50.8% | +1.0% |
| 1953 | 51.3% | +0.9% |
| 1954 | 51.7% | +0.8% |
| 1955 | 52.1% | +0.8% |
| 1956 | 52.7% | +1.0% |
| 1957 | 53.2% | +0.9% |
| 1958 | 53.5% | +0.6% |
| 1959 | 53.7% | +0.4% |
| 1960 | 53.9% | +0.5% |
| 1961 | 54.0% | +0.2% |
| 1962 | 53.9% | -0.2% |
| 1963 | 54.1% | +0.3% |
| 1964 | 54.6% | +1.0% |
| 1965 | 55.3% | +1.3% |
| 1966 | 56.0% | +1.3% |
| 1967 | 56.8% | +1.5% |
| 1968 | 57.7% | +1.5% |
| 1969 | 58.5% | +1.3% |
| 1970 | 59.1% | +1.1% |
| 1971 | 59.6% | +0.9% |
| 1972 | 60.0% | +0.6% |
| 1973 | 60.1% | +0.2% |
| 1974 | 60.1% | -0.1% |
| 1975 | 59.7% | -0.5% |
| 1976 | 59.1% | -1.0% |
| 1977 | 58.4% | -1.3% |
| 1978 | 57.7% | -1.3% |
| 1979 | 56.9% | -1.3% |
| 1980 | 56.2% | -1.3% |
| 1981 | 55.4% | -1.4% |
| 1982 | 54.4% | -1.7% |
| 1983 | 53.3% | -1.9% |
| 1984 | 52.6% | -1.4% |
| 1985 | 52.4% | -0.4% |
| 1986 | 52.4% | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 52.4% | -0.0% |
| 1988 | 52.9% | +1.0% |
| 1989 | 53.5% | +1.3% |
| 1990 | 53.9% | +0.7% |
| 1991 | 54.3% | +0.8% |
| 1992 | 54.8% | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 55.0% | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 55.1% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 55.0% | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 54.8% | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 54.6% | -0.4% |
| 1998 | 54.3% | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 54.0% | -0.7% |
| 2000 | 53.4% | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 52.9% | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 52.5% | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 52.3% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 52.2% | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 51.8% | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 51.4% | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 51.1% | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 51.2% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 51.4% | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 51.7% | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 52.3% | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 53.2% | +1.8% |
| 2013 | 54.1% | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 54.8% | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 55.4% | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 55.9% | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 56.4% | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 57.0% | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 57.4% | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 57.6% | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 57.6% | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 57.6% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 57.8% | +0.4% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 57.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 52.7%, 1.1× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 57.8% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 55.3%, 1.0× the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 51.9% | 49.9% | 53.7% | 10 |
| 1960s | 55.5% | 53.9% | 58.5% | 10 |
| 1970s | 59.1% | 56.9% | 60.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 53.5% | 52.4% | 56.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 54.6% | 53.9% | 55.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 52.0% | 51.1% | 53.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 54.8% | 51.7% | 57.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 57.6% | 57.6% | 57.8% | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More reference data data for United Kingdom
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.13 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.97 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 10.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 6.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 15.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 59.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 5.48 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total dependency ratio in United Kingdom?
- Total dependency ratio in United Kingdom was 57.8% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total dependency ratio recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 60.1% in 1973.
- What is the lowest total dependency ratio recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 49.9% in 1950.
- How does United Kingdom rank for total dependency ratio?
- United Kingdom ranks 94th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total dependency ratio rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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).