Age dependency ratio in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Age dependency ratio was 51.9% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Age dependency ratio in Sri Lanka, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division. Measured in % of working-age population.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 51.9% for age dependency ratio in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 2.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, age dependency ratio in Sri Lanka peaked at 82.4% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 48.1%, in 2005.
That places Sri Lanka 139th 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 in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % of working-age population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 82.4% | — |
| 1961 | 82.0% | -0.6% |
| 1962 | 81.3% | -0.8% |
| 1963 | 80.6% | -0.9% |
| 1964 | 80.0% | -0.6% |
| 1965 | 79.7% | -0.4% |
| 1966 | 79.3% | -0.5% |
| 1967 | 78.8% | -0.6% |
| 1968 | 78.3% | -0.6% |
| 1969 | 77.7% | -0.7% |
| 1970 | 77.1% | -0.8% |
| 1971 | 76.5% | -0.8% |
| 1972 | 75.7% | -1.0% |
| 1973 | 74.7% | -1.3% |
| 1974 | 73.6% | -1.5% |
| 1975 | 72.5% | -1.5% |
| 1976 | 71.6% | -1.3% |
| 1977 | 70.7% | -1.1% |
| 1978 | 70.1% | -0.9% |
| 1979 | 69.6% | -0.7% |
| 1980 | 69.1% | -0.6% |
| 1981 | 68.8% | -0.5% |
| 1982 | 68.5% | -0.4% |
| 1983 | 68.2% | -0.4% |
| 1984 | 67.9% | -0.4% |
| 1985 | 67.2% | -1.0% |
| 1986 | 66.0% | -1.8% |
| 1987 | 64.8% | -1.9% |
| 1988 | 63.6% | -1.8% |
| 1989 | 62.5% | -1.7% |
| 1990 | 61.7% | -1.2% |
| 1991 | 60.8% | -1.5% |
| 1992 | 59.3% | -2.5% |
| 1993 | 57.6% | -2.8% |
| 1994 | 56.0% | -2.8% |
| 1995 | 54.5% | -2.6% |
| 1996 | 53.2% | -2.3% |
| 1997 | 52.2% | -2.0% |
| 1998 | 51.3% | -1.6% |
| 1999 | 50.5% | -1.6% |
| 2000 | 49.7% | -1.6% |
| 2001 | 49.0% | -1.4% |
| 2002 | 48.5% | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 48.3% | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 48.1% | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 48.1% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 48.1% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 48.2% | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 48.4% | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 48.6% | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 48.9% | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 49.2% | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 49.6% | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 50.0% | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 50.4% | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 50.8% | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 51.1% | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 51.3% | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 51.5% | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 51.6% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 51.6% | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 51.7% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 51.7% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 51.7% | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 51.8% | +0.2% |
| 2025 | 51.9% | +0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 80.0% | 77.7% | 82.4% | 10 |
| 1970s | 73.2% | 69.6% | 77.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 66.7% | 62.5% | 69.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 55.7% | 50.5% | 61.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 48.5% | 48.1% | 49.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 50.4% | 48.9% | 51.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 51.7% | 51.6% | 51.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More health data for Sri Lanka
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.62 % change on previous year (2100)
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- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,250 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 304 deaths (2100)
- Total tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 6 (2025)
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- Diphtheria - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
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Frequently asked questions
- What is age dependency ratio in Sri Lanka?
- Age dependency ratio in Sri Lanka was 51.9% in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest age dependency ratio recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 82.4% in 1960.
- What is the lowest age dependency ratio recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 48.1% in 2005.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for age dependency ratio?
- Sri Lanka ranks 139th out of 217 countries with data for 2025.
- Is age dependency ratio rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Age dependency ratio (% of working-age population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Age dependency ratio is the ratio of dependents--people younger than 15 or 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.