Age dependency ratio, old in Japan
Japan: Age dependency ratio, old was 51.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Age dependency ratio, old in Japan, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division. Measured in % of working-age population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for age dependency ratio, old in Japan is 51.0%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is up 0.7% on the previous year and up 14.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, age dependency ratio, old in Japan peaked at 51.0% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 8.9%, in 1960.
That places Japan 2nd out of 217 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Age dependency ratio, old in Japan, year by year
| Year | % of working-age population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 8.9% | — |
| 1961 | 9.0% | +0.9% |
| 1962 | 9.0% | +0.2% |
| 1963 | 9.0% | +0.3% |
| 1964 | 9.1% | +0.8% |
| 1965 | 9.2% | +1.3% |
| 1966 | 9.4% | +1.9% |
| 1967 | 9.6% | +2.3% |
| 1968 | 9.8% | +1.9% |
| 1969 | 10.0% | +1.8% |
| 1970 | 10.1% | +1.6% |
| 1971 | 10.4% | +2.1% |
| 1972 | 10.7% | +3.1% |
| 1973 | 11.0% | +3.0% |
| 1974 | 11.3% | +2.8% |
| 1975 | 11.6% | +2.7% |
| 1976 | 12.0% | +3.0% |
| 1977 | 12.3% | +3.1% |
| 1978 | 12.7% | +3.1% |
| 1979 | 13.1% | +2.9% |
| 1980 | 13.4% | +2.6% |
| 1981 | 13.8% | +2.7% |
| 1982 | 14.2% | +2.6% |
| 1983 | 14.4% | +2.0% |
| 1984 | 14.8% | +2.6% |
| 1985 | 15.2% | +2.8% |
| 1986 | 15.6% | +2.3% |
| 1987 | 15.9% | +2.4% |
| 1988 | 16.4% | +2.5% |
| 1989 | 16.8% | +3.0% |
| 1990 | 17.4% | +3.4% |
| 1991 | 18.1% | +3.8% |
| 1992 | 18.8% | +3.9% |
| 1993 | 19.5% | +3.8% |
| 1994 | 20.2% | +3.8% |
| 1995 | 21.0% | +3.9% |
| 1996 | 21.9% | +4.0% |
| 1997 | 22.8% | +4.1% |
| 1998 | 23.7% | +4.0% |
| 1999 | 24.6% | +3.8% |
| 2000 | 25.6% | +4.0% |
| 2001 | 26.6% | +4.1% |
| 2002 | 27.6% | +3.8% |
| 2003 | 28.5% | +3.2% |
| 2004 | 29.5% | +3.4% |
| 2005 | 30.7% | +4.3% |
| 2006 | 32.1% | +4.4% |
| 2007 | 33.4% | +4.0% |
| 2008 | 34.7% | +3.8% |
| 2009 | 35.7% | +3.0% |
| 2010 | 36.4% | +1.9% |
| 2011 | 37.5% | +3.2% |
| 2012 | 39.4% | +4.9% |
| 2013 | 41.3% | +5.0% |
| 2014 | 43.1% | +4.4% |
| 2015 | 44.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | 46.0% | +3.0% |
| 2017 | 47.1% | +2.3% |
| 2018 | 47.9% | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 48.5% | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 49.1% | +1.3% |
| 2021 | 49.7% | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 50.1% | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 50.3% | +0.5% |
| 2024 | 50.7% | +0.8% |
| 2025 | 51.0% | +0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 9.3% | 8.9% | 10.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 11.5% | 10.1% | 13.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 15.1% | 13.4% | 16.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 20.8% | 17.4% | 24.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 30.4% | 25.6% | 35.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 43.2% | 36.4% | 48.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 50.2% | 49.1% | 51.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More health data for Japan
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- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.2774 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,294 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 178 deaths (2100)
- Total tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 94 (2025)
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Frequently asked questions
- What is age dependency ratio, old in Japan?
- Age dependency ratio, old in Japan was 51.0% in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest age dependency ratio, old recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 51.0% in 2025.
- What is the lowest age dependency ratio, old recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.9% in 1960.
- How does Japan rank for age dependency ratio, old?
- Japan ranks 2nd out of 217 countries with data for 2025.
- Is age dependency ratio, old rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan 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.