Total dependency ratio in United States
United States: Total dependency ratio was 53.9% in 2023. ▼ Falling
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.
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
- Spring temperature anomalies 2.51 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.5014 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 0.0594 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.8696 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 0.9189 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 143.86 2010 = 100 (2024)
- 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 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.
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).