Dependency rates - Regions — Dependency ratio in Australia
Australia: Dependency rates - Regions — Dependency ratio was 26.56 Percentage of population aged 15-64 years in 2024. ▲ Rising
Dependency rates - Regions — Dependency ratio in Australia, 1990–2024
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Percentage of population aged 15-64 years.
Analysis
Australia recorded 26.56 Percentage of population aged 15-64 years for dependency rates - regions — dependency ratio in 2024. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.8% on the previous year and up 20.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, dependency rates - regions — dependency ratio in Australia peaked at 26.56 Percentage of population aged 15-64 years in 2024 and was at its lowest, 16.58 Percentage of population aged 15-64 years, in 1990.
Australia ranks 32nd of 49 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 17.68 Percentage of population aged 15-64 years | 16.58 Percentage of population aged 15-64 years | 18.48 Percentage of population aged 15-64 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 19.16 Percentage of population aged 15-64 years | 18.59 Percentage of population aged 15-64 years | 19.74 Percentage of population aged 15-64 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.27 Percentage of population aged 15-64 years | 20.12 Percentage of population aged 15-64 years | 24.34 Percentage of population aged 15-64 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 26.06 Percentage of population aged 15-64 years | 25.07 Percentage of population aged 15-64 years | 26.56 Percentage of population aged 15-64 years | 5 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 29 Canada 28.75 Percentage of population aged 15-64 years compare
- 30 North Macedonia 28.68 Percentage of population aged 15-64 years compare
- 31 Cyprus 27.44 Percentage of population aged 15-64 years compare
- 32 Malta 26.56 Percentage of population aged 15-64 years compare
- 34 United States 25.91 Percentage of population aged 15-64 years compare
- 35 New Zealand 25.53 Percentage of population aged 15-64 years compare
More reference data data for Australia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.21 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 28.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 38.41 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 38.41 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.07 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 6.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 118.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 170.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 13.9 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is dependency rates - regions — dependency ratio in Australia?
- Dependency rates - regions — dependency ratio in Australia was 26.56 Percentage of population aged 15-64 years in 2024, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest dependency rates - regions — dependency ratio recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 26.56 Percentage of population aged 15-64 years in 2024.
- What is the lowest dependency rates - regions — dependency ratio recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.58 Percentage of population aged 15-64 years in 1990.
- How does Australia rank for dependency rates - regions — dependency ratio?
- Australia ranks 32nd out of 49 countries with data for 2024.
- Is dependency rates - regions — dependency ratio rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Dependency rates - Regions — Dependency ratio. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required).
About this data
<p>This dataset provides indicators on dependency rates, in large regions (TL2) and small regions (TL3).</p> <p><strong>Data definition and source</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The dependency ratio is a demographic indicator that measures the ratio of dependents (typically defined as those too young or too old to work) to the working-age population. The most common age ranges used for the working-age population are 20-64 and 15-64. Data is collected from Eurostat (reg_dem) for EU countries and via delegates of the OECD Working Party on Territorial Indicators (WPTI), as well as from national statistical offices' websites.</p> <p><strong>Definition of regions</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Regions are subnational units below national boundaries. OECD countries have two regional levels: large regions (territorial level 2 or TL2) and small regions (territorial level 3 or TL3). For more information, see the OECD Territorial grid <a href="https://webfs-cfe.oecd.org/files/.Stat/region/OECD_territorial-grid_TL2024.pdf">(pdf)</a> and the OECD Territorial Correspondence Table <a href="https://webfs-cfe.oecd.org/files/.Stat/region/OECD%20Territorial%20correspondence%20-%20TL2024c.xlsx">(xlsx)</a>. </p> <p><strong>Use of data on small regions</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">When demographic data are analysed along with economic data using the TL3 level, it is advisable to aggregate data at the metropolitan region level when several TL3 regions are associated to the same metropolitan region. Metropolitan regions combine TL3 regions when 50% or more of the regional population live in a functionnal urban areas above 250 000 inhabitants. This approach corrects the distortions created by commuting, see the list of OECD metropolitan regions <a href="https://webfs-cfe.oecd.org/files/.Stat/region/OECD%20Territorial%20correspondence%20-%20TL2024c.xlsx">(xlsx)</a> and the EU methodology <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/metropolitan-regions/background">(link)</a>.</p> <p><strong>Territorial typologies</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Small TL3 regions are categorized based on shared characteristics into regional typologies. See the demographic indicators aggregated by territorial typology at country level on the access to City typology <a href="https://data-explorer.oecd.org/vis?df[ds]=dsDisseminateFinalDMZ&df[id]=DSD_REG_DEMO%40DF_REGION_TYPE_METRO&df[ag]=OECD.CFE.EDS&df[vs]=1.0">(link)</a> and by urban-rural typology <a href="https://data-explorer.oecd.org/vis?df[ds]=dsDisseminateFinalDMZ&df[id]=DSD_REG_DEMO%40DF_REGION_TYPE_RURB&df[ag]=OECD.CFE.EDS&df[vs]=1.0">(link)</a>. </p><p><strong>Cite this dataset</strong></p> <p>OECD Regions, Cities and Local Areas database <a href="http://oe.cd/geostats">http://oe.cd/geostats</a>.</p> <p><strong>Further information</strong></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://regions-cities-atlas.oecd.org/">OECD Regions and Cities Statistical Atlas</a> </li> <li><a href="https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/oecd-regions-and-cities-at-a-glance-2024_f42db3bf-en.html">OECD Regions and Cities at a Glance</a></li> </ul> <p>For questions and/or comments, please email <a href="mailto:RegionStat@oecd.org">RegionStat@oecd.org</a>.</p>