Total dependency ratio in Zambia
Zambia: Total dependency ratio was 78.1% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Total dependency ratio in Zambia, 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 Zambia is 78.1%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.8% on the previous year and down 13.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total dependency ratio in Zambia peaked at 111.1% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 78.1%, in 2023.
Zambia ranks 27th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top 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 | 92.8% | 90.6% | 95.0% | 10 |
| 1960s | 98.4% | 95.6% | 100.7% | 10 |
| 1970s | 107.1% | 101.7% | 111.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 108.5% | 105.7% | 111.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 103.7% | 102.2% | 105.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 97.3% | 93.4% | 101.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 88.6% | 83.6% | 92.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 80.2% | 78.1% | 82.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More reference data data for Zambia
- Spring temperature anomalies -0.0386 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies -0.018 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 0.3261 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.5273 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies -0.2981 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 483.32 2010 = 100 (2025)
- 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 Zambia?
- Total dependency ratio in Zambia was 78.1% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total dependency ratio recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 111.1% in 1980.
- What is the lowest total dependency ratio recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 78.1% in 2023.
- How does Zambia rank for total dependency ratio?
- Zambia ranks 27th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total dependency ratio rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia 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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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).