Total dependency ratio in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Total dependency ratio was 81.6% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
81.6%
Change on year
down 1.1%
World rank
18th
of 236 countries
All-time high
109.7%
in 1979
All-time low
81.0%
in 2002
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Total dependency ratio in Zimbabwe, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Zimbabwe recorded 81.6% for total dependency ratio in 2023.
The figure is down 1.1% on the previous year and down 7.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total dependency ratio in Zimbabwe peaked at 109.7% in 1979 and was at its lowest, 81.0%, in 2002.
Zimbabwe ranks 18th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.
Total dependency ratio in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 86.1% | — |
| 1951 | 88.1% | +2.4% |
| 1952 | 90.2% | +2.3% |
| 1953 | 92.1% | +2.2% |
| 1954 | 94.0% | +2.0% |
| 1955 | 95.7% | +1.8% |
| 1956 | 97.3% | +1.7% |
| 1957 | 98.8% | +1.6% |
| 1958 | 100.2% | +1.4% |
| 1959 | 101.6% | +1.4% |
| 1960 | 103.0% | +1.3% |
| 1961 | 104.4% | +1.4% |
| 1962 | 106.0% | +1.5% |
| 1963 | 107.9% | +1.8% |
| 1964 | 108.8% | +0.8% |
| 1965 | 108.4% | -0.3% |
| 1966 | 108.0% | -0.4% |
| 1967 | 107.6% | -0.4% |
| 1968 | 107.2% | -0.4% |
| 1969 | 106.8% | -0.4% |
| 1970 | 106.3% | -0.4% |
| 1971 | 105.9% | -0.4% |
| 1972 | 105.6% | -0.3% |
| 1973 | 105.5% | -0.1% |
| 1974 | 105.4% | -0.0% |
| 1975 | 105.5% | +0.1% |
| 1976 | 105.7% | +0.2% |
| 1977 | 106.3% | +0.6% |
| 1978 | 107.8% | +1.4% |
| 1979 | 109.7% | +1.8% |
| 1980 | 108.9% | -0.8% |
| 1981 | 107.1% | -1.6% |
| 1982 | 106.4% | -0.7% |
| 1983 | 105.8% | -0.5% |
| 1984 | 105.5% | -0.3% |
| 1985 | 104.9% | -0.5% |
| 1986 | 104.2% | -0.7% |
| 1987 | 104.0% | -0.1% |
| 1988 | 103.9% | -0.1% |
| 1989 | 102.7% | -1.2% |
| 1990 | 100.8% | -1.8% |
| 1991 | 98.7% | -2.1% |
| 1992 | 99.5% | +0.9% |
| 1993 | 101.1% | +1.6% |
| 1994 | 99.9% | -1.2% |
| 1995 | 97.6% | -2.4% |
| 1996 | 94.1% | -3.5% |
| 1997 | 90.5% | -3.8% |
| 1998 | 87.2% | -3.6% |
| 1999 | 84.6% | -3.1% |
| 2000 | 82.8% | -2.1% |
| 2001 | 81.6% | -1.5% |
| 2002 | 81.0% | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 81.2% | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 81.6% | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 82.2% | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 82.5% | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 82.8% | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 83.5% | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 84.5% | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 85.7% | +1.4% |
| 2011 | 86.8% | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 87.9% | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 88.6% | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 88.9% | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 88.8% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 88.3% | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 87.5% | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 86.5% | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 85.4% | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 84.4% | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 83.4% | -1.2% |
| 2022 | 82.5% | -1.0% |
| 2023 | 81.6% | -1.1% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 81.6% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 65.5%, 1.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 81.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 77.8%, 1.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 94.4% | 86.1% | 101.6% | 10 |
| 1960s | 106.8% | 103.0% | 108.8% | 10 |
| 1970s | 106.4% | 105.4% | 109.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 105.3% | 102.7% | 108.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 95.4% | 84.6% | 101.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 82.4% | 81.0% | 84.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 87.5% | 85.4% | 88.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 83.0% | 81.6% | 84.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
More reference data data for Zimbabwe
- Exchange rate, new LCU per USD extended backward, period average 58,959 (2026)
- Exchange rate, old LCU per USD extended forward, period average 58,959 (2026)
- Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average 58,959 (2026)
- Global number of reported disasters by size, gaps filled 0 events (2024)
- Annual precipitation, annual growth rate 122.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Free country, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, gaps filled 5 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Consumer price index 11,077 2010 = 100 (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total dependency ratio in Zimbabwe?
- Total dependency ratio in Zimbabwe was 81.6% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total dependency ratio recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 109.7% in 1979.
- What is the lowest total dependency ratio recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 81.0% in 2002.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for total dependency ratio?
- Zimbabwe ranks 18th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total dependency ratio rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zimbabwe 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).