Age dependency ratio, old in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Age dependency ratio, old was 31.1% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Age dependency ratio, old in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division. Measured in % of working-age population.
Analysis
In 2025, age dependency ratio, old in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland stood at 31.1%. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is up 1.0% on the previous year and up 12.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, age dependency ratio, old in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 31.1% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 18.0%, in 1960.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 38th of 218 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Age dependency ratio, old in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | % of working-age population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 18.0% | — |
| 1961 | 18.1% | +0.6% |
| 1962 | 18.2% | +0.3% |
| 1963 | 18.3% | +0.9% |
| 1964 | 18.6% | +1.7% |
| 1965 | 19.0% | +1.8% |
| 1966 | 19.3% | +1.8% |
| 1967 | 19.7% | +1.9% |
| 1968 | 20.1% | +2.0% |
| 1969 | 20.5% | +1.9% |
| 1970 | 20.9% | +2.0% |
| 1971 | 21.3% | +1.9% |
| 1972 | 21.6% | +1.7% |
| 1973 | 21.9% | +1.5% |
| 1974 | 22.3% | +1.5% |
| 1975 | 22.5% | +1.3% |
| 1976 | 22.8% | +0.9% |
| 1977 | 22.9% | +0.8% |
| 1978 | 23.1% | +0.9% |
| 1979 | 23.3% | +0.7% |
| 1980 | 23.4% | +0.4% |
| 1981 | 23.4% | -0.0% |
| 1982 | 23.3% | -0.7% |
| 1983 | 23.0% | -1.3% |
| 1984 | 22.8% | -0.6% |
| 1985 | 23.0% | +0.9% |
| 1986 | 23.3% | +1.3% |
| 1987 | 23.6% | +0.9% |
| 1988 | 23.9% | +1.6% |
| 1989 | 24.3% | +1.5% |
| 1990 | 24.4% | +0.6% |
| 1991 | 24.6% | +0.6% |
| 1992 | 24.7% | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 24.8% | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 24.8% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 24.8% | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 24.8% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 24.7% | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 24.6% | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 24.5% | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 24.4% | -0.4% |
| 2001 | 24.3% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 24.3% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 24.3% | -0.0% |
| 2004 | 24.3% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 24.2% | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 24.1% | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 24.1% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 24.2% | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 24.5% | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 24.8% | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 25.3% | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 26.0% | +3.0% |
| 2013 | 26.7% | +2.7% |
| 2014 | 27.2% | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 27.6% | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 27.9% | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 28.3% | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 28.7% | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 29.1% | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 29.3% | +0.9% |
| 2021 | 29.5% | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 29.8% | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 30.4% | +1.8% |
| 2024 | 30.8% | +1.4% |
| 2025 | 31.1% | +1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 19.0% | 18.0% | 20.5% | 10 |
| 1970s | 22.3% | 20.9% | 23.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 23.4% | 22.8% | 24.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 24.7% | 24.4% | 24.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 24.3% | 24.1% | 24.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.2% | 24.8% | 29.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 30.2% | 29.3% | 31.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More health data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.71 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.0265 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,134 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 461 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 60-64, female, annual growth rate 1.79 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, female, per capita 0.0318 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, annual growth rate 1.38 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per capita 0.0292 units per person (2025)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is age dependency ratio, old in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Age dependency ratio, old in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 31.1% in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest age dependency ratio, old recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 31.1% in 2025.
- What is the lowest age dependency ratio, old recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.0% in 1960.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for age dependency ratio, old?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 38th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is age dependency ratio, old rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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.