Age dependency ratio, old in Jamaica
Jamaica: Age dependency ratio, old was 11.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Age dependency ratio, old in Jamaica, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division. Measured in % of working-age population.
Analysis
Jamaica recorded 11.7% for age dependency ratio, old in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.4% on the previous year and up 28.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, age dependency ratio, old in Jamaica peaked at 14.1% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 7.8%, in 1960.
That places Jamaica 119th out of 217 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 66 years of available data.
Age dependency ratio, old in Jamaica, year by year
| Year | % of working-age population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 7.8% | — |
| 1961 | 8.2% | +5.1% |
| 1962 | 8.5% | +4.4% |
| 1963 | 8.9% | +4.2% |
| 1964 | 9.3% | +4.6% |
| 1965 | 9.8% | +5.1% |
| 1966 | 10.3% | +5.3% |
| 1967 | 10.9% | +5.5% |
| 1968 | 11.4% | +5.2% |
| 1969 | 11.9% | +4.3% |
| 1970 | 12.3% | +3.0% |
| 1971 | 12.6% | +2.8% |
| 1972 | 12.9% | +2.4% |
| 1973 | 13.1% | +1.3% |
| 1974 | 13.2% | +1.1% |
| 1975 | 13.4% | +1.3% |
| 1976 | 13.6% | +1.4% |
| 1977 | 13.8% | +1.6% |
| 1978 | 14.0% | +1.5% |
| 1979 | 14.1% | +0.8% |
| 1980 | 14.1% | +0.1% |
| 1981 | 14.0% | -0.6% |
| 1982 | 13.9% | -1.1% |
| 1983 | 13.7% | -1.6% |
| 1984 | 13.4% | -1.6% |
| 1985 | 13.3% | -1.3% |
| 1986 | 13.2% | -0.9% |
| 1987 | 13.1% | -0.5% |
| 1988 | 13.0% | -0.5% |
| 1989 | 12.9% | -0.7% |
| 1990 | 12.8% | -0.9% |
| 1991 | 12.6% | -1.3% |
| 1992 | 12.4% | -2.2% |
| 1993 | 12.0% | -2.9% |
| 1994 | 11.7% | -2.8% |
| 1995 | 11.3% | -2.8% |
| 1996 | 11.0% | -2.6% |
| 1997 | 10.8% | -2.4% |
| 1998 | 10.5% | -2.4% |
| 1999 | 10.3% | -2.5% |
| 2000 | 10.0% | -2.7% |
| 2001 | 9.7% | -2.7% |
| 2002 | 9.5% | -2.6% |
| 2003 | 9.2% | -2.3% |
| 2004 | 9.1% | -1.8% |
| 2005 | 9.0% | -1.3% |
| 2006 | 8.9% | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 8.8% | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 8.8% | -0.0% |
| 2009 | 8.9% | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 8.9% | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 9.0% | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 9.0% | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 9.1% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 9.1% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 9.1% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 9.2% | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 9.3% | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 9.5% | +1.5% |
| 2019 | 9.7% | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 9.9% | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 10.1% | +1.9% |
| 2022 | 10.3% | +2.7% |
| 2023 | 10.8% | +4.1% |
| 2024 | 11.2% | +4.3% |
| 2025 | 11.7% | +4.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 9.7% | 7.8% | 11.9% | 10 |
| 1970s | 13.3% | 12.3% | 14.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 13.5% | 12.9% | 14.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 11.5% | 10.3% | 12.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.2% | 8.8% | 10.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.2% | 8.9% | 9.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.7% | 9.9% | 11.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Jamaica
More health data for Jamaica
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -3.12 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.3325 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,308 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 31 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 75-79, female, annual growth rate 0.203 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per capita 0.008 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, annual growth rate -1.95 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per capita 0.006 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is age dependency ratio, old in Jamaica?
- Age dependency ratio, old in Jamaica was 11.7% in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest age dependency ratio, old recorded in Jamaica?
- The highest recorded value was 14.1% in 1980.
- What is the lowest age dependency ratio, old recorded in Jamaica?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.8% in 1960.
- How does Jamaica rank for age dependency ratio, old?
- Jamaica ranks 119th out of 217 countries with data for 2025.
- Is age dependency ratio, old rising or falling in Jamaica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Jamaica data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Age dependency ratio, old (% of working-age population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Age dependency ratio, old, is the ratio of older dependents--people older than 64--to the working-age population--those ages 15-64. Data are shown as the proportion of dependents per 100 working-age population.