Total dependency ratio in Western Sahara
Western Sahara: Total dependency ratio was 42.3% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Total dependency ratio in Western Sahara, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, total dependency ratio in Western Sahara stood at 42.3%.
The figure is down 0.3% on the previous year and up 1.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total dependency ratio in Western Sahara peaked at 91.1% in 1976 and was at its lowest, 41.5%, in 2014.
Western Sahara ranks 210th of 236 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 65.7% | 60.7% | 79.8% | 10 |
| 1960s | 66.9% | 62.3% | 70.5% | 10 |
| 1970s | 81.8% | 63.9% | 91.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 70.9% | 61.6% | 81.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 75.9% | 58.8% | 84.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 47.1% | 42.5% | 55.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 41.8% | 41.5% | 42.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 42.3% | 42.2% | 42.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Western Sahara
More reference data data for Western Sahara
- Free country 0 (2025)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Democracy 1 (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected 1 (2025)
- Competitive elections 0 (2025)
- Elected parliament 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating 7 (2025)
- FAO projections of arable land 4,000 hectares (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total dependency ratio in Western Sahara?
- Total dependency ratio in Western Sahara was 42.3% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total dependency ratio recorded in Western Sahara?
- The highest recorded value was 91.1% in 1976.
- What is the lowest total dependency ratio recorded in Western Sahara?
- The lowest recorded value was 41.5% in 2014.
- How does Western Sahara rank for total dependency ratio?
- Western Sahara ranks 210th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total dependency ratio rising or falling in Western Sahara?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Western Sahara 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
The number of children (under 15) and people aged 65 and over per 100 working-age people (aged 15 to 64).