Total dependency ratio in United States
United States: Total dependency ratio was 53.9% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
53.9%
Change on year
up 1.0%
World rank
132nd
of 236 countries
All-time high
67.6%
in 1961
All-time low
47.7%
in 2007
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Total dependency ratio in United States, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, total dependency ratio in United States stood at 53.9%.
The figure is up 1.0% on the previous year and up 8.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total dependency ratio in United States peaked at 67.6% in 1961 and was at its lowest, 47.7%, in 2007.
That places United States 132nd 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 United States, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 54.5% | — |
| 1951 | 55.8% | +2.4% |
| 1952 | 57.1% | +2.3% |
| 1953 | 58.4% | +2.3% |
| 1954 | 59.8% | +2.4% |
| 1955 | 61.3% | +2.4% |
| 1956 | 62.6% | +2.2% |
| 1957 | 63.8% | +1.8% |
| 1958 | 64.8% | +1.5% |
| 1959 | 65.8% | +1.6% |
| 1960 | 66.9% | +1.7% |
| 1961 | 67.6% | +1.0% |
| 1962 | 67.5% | -0.1% |
| 1963 | 67.2% | -0.5% |
| 1964 | 66.9% | -0.5% |
| 1965 | 66.6% | -0.5% |
| 1966 | 66.0% | -0.8% |
| 1967 | 65.1% | -1.3% |
| 1968 | 64.1% | -1.6% |
| 1969 | 63.0% | -1.7% |
| 1970 | 62.0% | -1.6% |
| 1971 | 60.8% | -1.8% |
| 1972 | 59.4% | -2.4% |
| 1973 | 57.8% | -2.7% |
| 1974 | 56.3% | -2.7% |
| 1975 | 54.9% | -2.5% |
| 1976 | 53.5% | -2.4% |
| 1977 | 52.4% | -2.1% |
| 1978 | 51.5% | -1.7% |
| 1979 | 50.8% | -1.4% |
| 1980 | 50.3% | -0.9% |
| 1981 | 50.0% | -0.5% |
| 1982 | 49.9% | -0.2% |
| 1983 | 49.9% | -0.0% |
| 1984 | 49.9% | -0.1% |
| 1985 | 49.7% | -0.2% |
| 1986 | 49.7% | -0.1% |
| 1987 | 49.9% | +0.4% |
| 1988 | 50.3% | +0.8% |
| 1989 | 50.8% | +1.0% |
| 1990 | 51.2% | +0.9% |
| 1991 | 51.6% | +0.8% |
| 1992 | 52.0% | +0.7% |
| 1993 | 52.1% | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 52.1% | -0.0% |
| 1995 | 51.9% | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 51.7% | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 51.3% | -0.7% |
| 1998 | 50.8% | -0.8% |
| 1999 | 50.4% | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 50.0% | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 49.6% | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 49.2% | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 48.9% | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 48.5% | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 48.1% | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 47.8% | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 47.7% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 47.9% | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 48.1% | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 48.2% | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 48.5% | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 49.0% | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 49.5% | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 49.9% | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 50.4% | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 50.8% | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 51.2% | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 51.7% | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 52.1% | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 52.6% | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 52.9% | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 53.3% | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 53.9% | +1.0% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 53.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 52.7%, 1.0× the median. (85 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 60.4% | 54.5% | 65.8% | 10 |
| 1960s | 66.1% | 63.0% | 67.6% | 10 |
| 1970s | 55.9% | 50.8% | 62.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 50.0% | 49.7% | 50.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 51.5% | 50.4% | 52.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 48.6% | 47.7% | 50.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 50.1% | 48.2% | 52.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 53.2% | 52.6% | 53.9% | 4 |
Countries ranked near United States
More reference data data for United States
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 19.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 24.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 20.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 64.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 52.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 133.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 589.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 112.69 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total dependency ratio in United States?
- Total dependency ratio in United States was 53.9% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total dependency ratio recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 67.6% in 1961.
- What is the lowest total dependency ratio recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.7% in 2007.
- How does United States rank for total dependency ratio?
- United States ranks 132nd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total dependency ratio rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United States 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).