Old-Age Dependency Ratio 2007
Old-age dependency ratio compares the number of elderly dependents to working-age people, affecting economic sustainability.
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Complete Data Rankings
Rank | Actions | ||
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Holy See | 62.903 % | |
2 | Monaco | 37.096 % | |
3 | Japan | 33.33 % | |
4 | Italy | 30.543 % | |
5 | Germany | 30.261 % | |
6 | Greece | 27.869 % | |
7 | Croatia | 26.711 % | |
8 | Sweden | 26.529 % | |
9 | Portugal | 26.472 % | |
10 | Isle of Man | 25.876 % | |
11 | Belgium | 25.867 % | |
12 | Serbia | 25.778 % | |
13 | Estonia | 25.623 % | |
14 | Latvia | 25.601 % | |
15 | Bulgaria | 25.438 % | |
16 | France | 25.257 % | |
17 | Austria | 25.224 % | |
18 | Lithuania | 24.937 % | |
19 | Finland | 24.766 % | |
20 | San Marino | 24.337 % | |
21 | United Kingdom | 24.083 % | |
22 | Guernsey | 24.078 % | |
23 | Switzerland | 23.816 % | |
24 | Spain | 23.806 % | |
25 | Saint Helena | 23.505 % | |
26 | Gibraltar | 23.49 % | |
27 | Denmark | 23.391 % | |
28 | Hungary | 23.004 % | |
29 | Puerto Rico | 22.758 % | |
30 | Slovenia | 22.574 % | |
31 | Ukraine | 22.23 % | |
32 | Norway | 22.127 % | |
33 | Georgia | 22.125 % | |
34 | Romania | 22.095 % | |
35 | Uruguay | 22.006 % | |
36 | Faroe Islands | 21.525 % | |
37 | Netherlands | 21.417 % | |
38 | Martinique | 21.323 % | |
39 | Belarus | 20.969 % | |
40 | Luxembourg | 20.746 % | |
41 | Jersey | 20.672 % | |
42 | Saint Pierre and Miquelon | 20.498 % | |
43 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 20.415 % | |
44 | Czech Republic | 20.324 % | |
45 | Montenegro | 19.809 % | |
46 | Montserrat | 19.775 % | |
47 | Niue | 19.625 % | |
48 | Malta | 19.598 % | |
49 | Russia | 19.409 % | |
50 | Australia | 19.383 % | |
51 | Canada | 19.283 % | |
52 | Guadeloupe | 19.109 % | |
53 | Poland | 18.999 % | |
54 | New Zealand | 18.668 % | |
55 | Bermuda | 18.484 % | |
56 | United States | 18.166 % | |
57 | United States Virgin Islands | 17.623 % | |
58 | Liechtenstein | 17.311 % | |
59 | Iceland | 17.128 % | |
60 | China, Hong Kong SAR | 17.114 % | |
61 | Cuba | 16.809 % | |
62 | Barbados | 16.694 % | |
63 | Slovakia | 16.651 % | |
64 | Dominica | 16.524 % | |
65 | Armenia | 16.417 % | |
66 | Andorra | 16.161 % | |
67 | Curaçao | 16.132 % | |
68 | North Macedonia | 16.065 % | |
69 | Argentina | 15.924 % | |
70 | Israel | 15.865 % | |
71 | Tokelau | 15.836 % | |
72 | Ireland | 15.632 % | |
73 | Republic of Moldova | 15.35 % | |
74 | Falkland Islands (Malvinas) | 15.073 % | |
75 | Cyprus | 15.069 % | |
76 | Albania | 14.794 % | |
77 | Grenada | 14.508 % | |
78 | Taiwan | 13.999 % | |
79 | Chile | 13.954 % | |
80 | South Korea | 13.679 % | |
81 | North Korea | 13.14 % | |
82 | Bahamas | 12.555 % | |
83 | Saint Barthélemy | 12.532 % | |
84 | Aruba | 12.371 % | |
85 | Réunion | 12.203 % | |
86 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 12.202 % | |
87 | Cook Islands | 11.8 % | |
88 | Wallis and Futuna Islands | 11.63 % | |
89 | Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba | 11.351 % | |
90 | China | 11.308 % | |
91 | Thailand | 11.205 % | |
92 | El Salvador | 11.167 % | |
93 | Kazakhstan | 10.812 % | |
94 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 10.738 % | |
95 | Seychelles | 10.587 % | |
96 | Turkey | 10.545 % | |
97 | Antigua and Barbuda | 10.359 % | |
98 | New Caledonia | 10.335 % | |
99 | Tonga | 10.238 % | |
100 | Peru | 10.235 % | |
101 | Sri Lanka | 10.184 % | |
102 | Anguilla | 10.157 % | |
103 | Saint Lucia | 10.102 % | |
104 | Costa Rica | 10.087 % | |
105 | Tuvalu | 9.607 % | |
106 | Guam | 9.588 % | |
107 | Mauritius | 9.448 % | |
108 | Azerbaijan | 9.328 % | |
109 | Singapore | 9.321 % | |
110 | Mexico | 9.317 % | |
111 | Tunisia | 9.194 % | |
112 | Bolivia | 9.106 % | |
113 | Vietnam | 9.097 % | |
114 | Panama | 9.047 % | |
115 | Brazil | 8.995 % | |
116 | Suriname | 8.974 % | |
117 | Jamaica | 8.847 % | |
118 | Greenland | 8.832 % | |
119 | Ecuador | 8.784 % | |
120 | China, Macao SAR | 8.708 % | |
121 | Indonesia | 8.668 % | |
122 | Samoa | 8.648 % | |
123 | Lebanon | 8.565 % | |
124 | Cabo Verde | 8.479 % | |
125 | Venezuela | 8.389 % | |
126 | French Polynesia | 8.309 % | |
127 | Kyrgyzstan | 8.096 % | |
128 | Colombia | 8.055 % | |
129 | South Africa | 8.051 % | |
130 | Comoros | 8.047 % | |
131 | Malawi | 8.033 % | |
132 | Palau | 7.954 % | |
133 | Myanmar | 7.901 % | |
134 | Lesotho | 7.823 % | |
135 | Gabon | 7.721 % | |
136 | Uzbekistan | 7.711 % | |
137 | Dominican Republic | 7.703 % | |
138 | Bhutan | 7.634 % | |
139 | India | 7.624 % | |
140 | Trinidad and Tobago | 7.621 % | |
141 | Turks and Caicos Islands | 7.602 % | |
142 | Morocco | 7.565 % | |
143 | Nepal | 7.562 % | |
144 | Paraguay | 7.556 % | |
145 | Guinea | 7.347 % | |
146 | Sao Tome and Principe | 7.234 % | |
147 | British Virgin Islands | 7.227 % | |
148 | Algeria | 7.224 % | |
149 | Nicaragua | 7.161 % | |
150 | Maldives | 7.076 % | |
151 | Cayman Islands | 7.036 % | |
152 | Malaysia | 6.949 % | |
153 | Saint Martin (French part) | 6.916 % | |
154 | Guyana | 6.915 % | |
155 | Guatemala | 6.908 % | |
156 | Iran | 6.838 % | |
157 | Belize | 6.751 % | |
158 | Eritrea | 6.567 % | |
159 | Haiti | 6.505 % | |
160 | American Samoa | 6.489 % | |
161 | Senegal | 6.483 % | |
162 | Turkmenistan | 6.456 % | |
163 | Fiji | 6.452 % | |
164 | Pakistan | 6.452 % | |
165 | Bangladesh | 6.372 % | |
166 | Egypt | 6.325 % | |
167 | Togo | 6.322 % | |
168 | Sierra Leone | 6.277 % | |
169 | French Guiana | 6.251 % | |
170 | Solomon Islands | 6.235 % | |
171 | Laos | 6.152 % | |
172 | Equatorial Guinea | 6.114 % | |
173 | Libya | 6.057 % | |
174 | Timor-Leste | 6.038 % | |
175 | Liberia | 6.035 % | |
176 | Mauritania | 6.022 % | |
177 | Congo, Democratic Republic of the | 6.017 % | |
178 | Kiribati | 6.005 % | |
179 | Tajikistan | 5.968 % | |
180 | Ghana | 5.945 % | |
181 | Djibouti | 5.898 % | |
182 | Cameroon | 5.854 % | |
183 | Cambodia | 5.852 % | |
184 | Benin | 5.813 % | |
185 | Zimbabwe | 5.766 % | |
186 | Mali | 5.732 % | |
187 | Nigeria | 5.7 % | |
188 | Micronesia (Fed. States of) | 5.636 % | |
189 | Syrian Arab Republic | 5.627 % | |
190 | Sint Maarten (Dutch part) | 5.614 % | |
191 | Namibia | 5.583 % | |
192 | Guinea-Bissau | 5.581 % | |
193 | Botswana | 5.523 % | |
194 | Jordan | 5.522 % | |
195 | Mongolia | 5.478 % | |
196 | Iraq | 5.432 % | |
197 | Philippines | 5.404 % | |
198 | Yemen | 5.312 % | |
199 | Ethiopia | 5.283 % | |
200 | Angola | 5.26 % | |
201 | Burkina Faso | 5.241 % | |
202 | Tanzania | 5.228 % | |
203 | Honduras | 5.213 % | |
204 | Mozambique | 5.163 % | |
205 | Madagascar | 5.161 % | |
206 | Gambia | 5.152 % | |
207 | Vanuatu | 5.143 % | |
208 | Congo | 5.132 % | |
209 | Somalia | 5.115 % | |
210 | State of Palestine | 5.088 % | |
211 | Sudan | 5.076 % | |
212 | Chad | 4.892 % | |
213 | Rwanda | 4.883 % | |
214 | Western Sahara | 4.856 % | |
215 | Eswatini | 4.855 % | |
216 | Niger | 4.778 % | |
217 | Afghanistan | 4.728 % | |
218 | South Sudan | 4.702 % | |
219 | Brunei Darussalam | 4.602 % | |
220 | Papua New Guinea | 4.502 % | |
221 | Mayotte | 4.482 % | |
222 | Burundi | 4.431 % | |
223 | Uganda | 4.425 % | |
224 | Côte d'Ivoire | 4.308 % | |
225 | Central African Republic | 4.069 % | |
226 | Kenya | 3.949 % | |
227 | Oman | 3.854 % | |
228 | Zambia | 3.816 % | |
229 | Marshall Islands | 3.622 % | |
230 | Northern Mariana Islands | 3.598 % | |
231 | Saudi Arabia | 3.504 % | |
232 | Bahrain | 2.787 % | |
233 | Nauru | 2.476 % | |
234 | Kuwait | 2.335 % | |
235 | United Arab Emirates | 2.092 % | |
236 | Qatar | 1.304 % |
Analysis: These countries represent the highest values in this dataset, showcasing significant scale and impact on global statistics.
- #236
Qatar
- #235
United Arab Emirates
- #234
Kuwait
- #233
Nauru
- #232
Bahrain
- #231
Saudi Arabia
- #230
Northern Mariana Islands
- #229
Marshall Islands
- #228
Zambia
- #227
Oman
Context: These countries or territories have the lowest values, often due to geographic size, administrative status, or specific characteristics.
Analysis & Context
In 2007, the Old-Age Dependency Ratio was highest in the Holy See at 62.90%, while globally, it ranged from 5.26% to 62.90%. The global average was 13.38%, providing context for the disparity in demographic burdens across different regions.
Demographic Challenges and Economic Implications
The Old-Age Dependency Ratio is a critical indicator of economic sustainability, reflecting the proportion of elderly dependents relative to the working-age population. In countries like Japan (33.33%) and Italy (30.54%), the high ratios underscore significant demographic challenges. These nations face increasing pressures on social security systems and healthcare infrastructure due to aging populations. The economic implications are profound, necessitating strategic adjustments in labor markets and retirement policies to sustain economic growth.
Conversely, countries such as Angola (5.26%) and Ethiopia (5.28%) showcase low old-age dependency ratios, indicative of younger populations. These nations, while not burdened by aging populations, face different challenges such as high youth unemployment and the need for educational investments to harness their demographic dividends.
Regional Patterns and Influences
European countries dominate the higher end of the old-age dependency spectrum, with Germany (30.26%) and Greece (27.87%) exemplifying the continent's aging trend. Factors contributing to this pattern include long life expectancies and low birth rates, common in developed economies. Policies in these regions often focus on incentivizing labor force participation among older citizens and adjusting immigration policies to mitigate workforce shortages.
In stark contrast, many African and Middle Eastern countries, such as Yemen (5.31%) and Jordan (5.52%), report some of the lowest ratios. High fertility rates and lower life expectancies contribute to these figures. These regions are characterized by younger populations, which can be advantageous if harnessed correctly through economic reforms and investments in education and job creation.
Year-Over-Year Changes: Movers and Shakers
Analyzing the year-over-year changes provides insights into shifting demographic landscapes. The Holy See saw the most significant increase at +3.79% (6.4%), highlighting a rapid demographic aging process. Similarly, Japan experienced a noteworthy rise of +1.28% (4.0%), reinforcing its position as a country with one of the world's most aged populations.
On the flip side, Gibraltar experienced the largest decrease at -0.49% (-2.0%), a rare trend suggesting potential policy impacts or changes in population dynamics. Other countries like Kyrgyzstan (-0.31%) and Iceland (-0.24%) also saw declines, which may reflect shifts in birth rates or migration patterns.
Policy Responses and Future Outlook
Countries with high old-age dependency ratios are increasingly implementing policies to extend working lives and adjust pension systems. Sweden (26.53%) has been pioneering in this regard, with flexible retirement schemes and incentives for later retirement. Such measures are crucial for maintaining economic stability as the population ages.
Meanwhile, countries with low ratios must focus on leveraging their young populations through education and job creation, as seen in Namibia (5.58%) and Philippines (5.40%). By doing so, they can potentially transform demographic challenges into economic opportunities.
As the global demographic landscape continues to evolve, understanding and responding to the Old-Age Dependency Ratio will remain critical for policymakers worldwide. The need for tailored strategies that account for regional demographic realities will be vital in ensuring sustainable economic futures.
Frequently Asked Questions About Old-Age Dependency Ratio in 2007
Which country had the highest old-age dependency ratio in 2007?
The Holy See had the highest old-age dependency ratio in 2007 with 62.9%.
Which country had the lowest old-age dependency ratio in 2007?
Qatar had the lowest old-age dependency ratio in 2007 with 1.3%.
What was the average old-age dependency ratio across all countries in 2007?
The average old-age dependency ratio across all countries in 2007 was 12%.
What was the median old-age dependency ratio in 2007?
The median old-age dependency ratio in 2007 was 8.81%.
How many countries were included in the old-age dependency ratio dataset for 2007?
The dataset for the old-age dependency ratio in 2007 included 236 countries.
Which countries were in the top three for old-age dependency ratio in 2007?
The top three countries for old-age dependency ratio in 2007 were the Holy See (62.9%), Monaco (37.1%), and Japan (33.33%).
Insights by country
Bahrain
Bahrain had an Old-Age Dependency Ratio of 2.7872603 % in 2007, ranking #232 out of 236 countries. This ratio is significantly lower than many countries with aging populations, such as Japan, which faces greater dependency challenges. The low ratio in Bahrain can be attributed to its relatively young population and high levels of immigration, which contribute to a workforce that supports the economy and reduces the burden of elderly care.
Bahamas
In 2007, the Bahamas had an Old-Age Dependency Ratio of 12.555345 %, ranking #82 out of 236 countries. This ratio is relatively low compared to countries with aging populations, such as Japan, which faces significant challenges due to a higher dependency ratio. The Bahamas benefits from a relatively young population and a tourism-driven economy, which supports a more favorable balance between working-age individuals and retirees.
Dominica
In 2007, Dominica had an Old-Age Dependency Ratio of 16.523653 %, ranking #64 out of 236 countries. This figure is relatively low compared to many developed nations, which often experience ratios exceeding 20%. The country's ratio reflects a younger population structure, supported by a relatively high birth rate and a lower life expectancy compared to global averages, which influences the economic support ratio for the elderly.
Cook Islands
In 2007, Cook Islands had an Old-Age Dependency Ratio of 11.799774 %, ranking #87 out of 236 countries. This ratio is relatively low compared to many developed nations, indicating a smaller proportion of elderly dependents relative to the working-age population. Contributing factors include a younger demographic profile and a stable economy that supports a balanced age distribution, fostering a sustainable workforce.
Burundi
In 2007, Burundi had an Old-Age Dependency Ratio of 4.4305997 %, ranking #222 out of 236 countries. This figure is significantly lower than the global average, indicating a relatively young population compared to many other nations.
The low dependency ratio reflects Burundi's demographic profile, characterized by high fertility rates and a large youth population. Additionally, ongoing economic challenges and limited access to healthcare contribute to a lower life expectancy, further influencing the ratio.
Czech Republic
In 2007, the Czech Republic had an Old-Age Dependency Ratio of 20.324179 %, ranking #44 out of 236 countries. This ratio is lower than the European Union average, reflecting a relatively balanced demographic structure compared to its neighbors. The Czech Republic benefits from a well-developed healthcare system and social policies that support both the elderly and working-age population, contributing to its stable dependency ratio.
Brazil
In 2007, Brazil's Old-Age Dependency Ratio was 8.995364 %, ranking #115 out of 236 countries. This ratio is relatively low compared to countries like Japan, which has one of the highest dependency ratios globally. The low ratio reflects Brazil's younger population structure, driven by historical birth rates and recent improvements in healthcare, which have increased life expectancy without a corresponding rise in the elderly population.
Iran
In 2007, Iran had an Old-Age Dependency Ratio of 6.838316 %, ranking #156 out of 236 countries. This ratio is relatively low compared to countries like Japan, which has one of the highest dependency ratios globally. Iran's youthful population and lower life expectancy contribute to this statistic, reflecting a demographic structure that is still in transition as the country faces economic challenges and evolving healthcare policies.
Mali
Mali's Old-Age Dependency Ratio in 2007 was 5.732239 %, ranking it #186 out of 236 countries. This figure is significantly lower than many developed nations, reflecting Mali's younger demographic profile. The low ratio can be attributed to a high fertility rate and a relatively young population, with a median age of around 15 years, indicating that the country has a larger working-age population compared to its elderly citizens.
Madagascar
In 2007, Madagascar had an Old-Age Dependency Ratio of 5.1611967 %, ranking #205 out of 236 countries. This ratio is significantly lower compared to countries with aging populations, such as Japan, which faces challenges related to a high dependency ratio. Madagascar's relatively young population, driven by high birth rates and lower life expectancy, contributes to this low dependency ratio, indicating fewer elderly individuals reliant on the working-age population.
Data Source
Old-age dependency ratio | Our World in Data
Our World in Data is a research organization that provides comprehensive statistical data and visualizations on global development issues. The old-age dependency ratio dataset specifically offers insights into the ratio of older dependents to the working-age population across various countries.
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