Age dependency ratio in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Age dependency ratio was 57.9% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Age dependency ratio 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 in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland stood at 57.9%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 4.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, age dependency ratio in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 60.2% in 1973 and was at its lowest, 51.2%, in 2007.
That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 88th out of 217 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Age dependency ratio in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | % of working-age population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 54.0% | — |
| 1961 | 54.0% | +0.2% |
| 1962 | 53.9% | -0.2% |
| 1963 | 54.1% | +0.3% |
| 1964 | 54.6% | +1.0% |
| 1965 | 55.3% | +1.3% |
| 1966 | 56.0% | +1.3% |
| 1967 | 56.8% | +1.5% |
| 1968 | 57.7% | +1.5% |
| 1969 | 58.5% | +1.3% |
| 1970 | 59.1% | +1.1% |
| 1971 | 59.7% | +0.9% |
| 1972 | 60.0% | +0.6% |
| 1973 | 60.2% | +0.2% |
| 1974 | 60.1% | -0.1% |
| 1975 | 59.7% | -0.5% |
| 1976 | 59.1% | -1.0% |
| 1977 | 58.4% | -1.3% |
| 1978 | 57.7% | -1.3% |
| 1979 | 56.9% | -1.3% |
| 1980 | 56.2% | -1.3% |
| 1981 | 55.4% | -1.4% |
| 1982 | 54.4% | -1.7% |
| 1983 | 53.3% | -1.9% |
| 1984 | 52.6% | -1.4% |
| 1985 | 52.4% | -0.4% |
| 1986 | 52.4% | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 52.4% | -0.0% |
| 1988 | 52.9% | +1.0% |
| 1989 | 53.5% | +1.3% |
| 1990 | 53.9% | +0.7% |
| 1991 | 54.3% | +0.8% |
| 1992 | 54.8% | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 55.1% | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 55.1% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 55.0% | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 54.8% | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 54.6% | -0.4% |
| 1998 | 54.3% | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 54.0% | -0.7% |
| 2000 | 53.4% | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 52.9% | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 52.5% | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 52.4% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 52.2% | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 51.8% | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 51.4% | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 51.2% | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 51.2% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 51.4% | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 51.7% | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 52.3% | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 53.2% | +1.8% |
| 2013 | 54.2% | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 54.8% | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 55.4% | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 55.9% | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 56.5% | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 57.0% | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 57.4% | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 57.7% | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 57.6% | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 57.6% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 57.8% | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 57.9% | +0.2% |
| 2025 | 57.9% | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 55.5% | 53.9% | 58.5% | 10 |
| 1970s | 59.1% | 56.9% | 60.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 53.5% | 52.4% | 56.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 54.6% | 53.9% | 55.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 52.0% | 51.2% | 53.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 54.8% | 51.7% | 57.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 57.8% | 57.6% | 57.9% | 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 65-69, male, annual growth rate 1.59 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, per capita 0.0256 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, annual growth rate 0.3332 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, per capita 0.0247 units per person (2025)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is age dependency ratio in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Age dependency ratio in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 57.9% in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest age dependency ratio recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 60.2% in 1973.
- What is the lowest age dependency ratio recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 51.2% in 2007.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for age dependency ratio?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 88th out of 217 countries with data for 2025.
- Is age dependency ratio rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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 (% 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.