Age dependency ratio, young in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: Age dependency ratio, young was 72.9% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Age dependency ratio, young in Africa Western and Central, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division. Measured in % of working-age population.
Analysis
Africa Western and Central recorded 72.9% for age dependency ratio, young in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.7% on the previous year and down 12.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, age dependency ratio, young in Africa Western and Central peaked at 89.6% in 1988 and was at its lowest, 72.9%, in 2025.
Africa Western and Central ranks 4th of 47 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
Age dependency ratio, young in Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | % of working-age population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 75.2% | — |
| 1961 | 75.5% | +0.4% |
| 1962 | 76.0% | +0.5% |
| 1963 | 76.5% | +0.7% |
| 1964 | 77.2% | +0.9% |
| 1965 | 77.8% | +0.8% |
| 1966 | 78.3% | +0.7% |
| 1967 | 78.8% | +0.7% |
| 1968 | 79.4% | +0.7% |
| 1969 | 79.9% | +0.7% |
| 1970 | 80.5% | +0.7% |
| 1971 | 81.0% | +0.7% |
| 1972 | 81.6% | +0.7% |
| 1973 | 82.2% | +0.7% |
| 1974 | 82.8% | +0.7% |
| 1975 | 83.4% | +0.7% |
| 1976 | 84.0% | +0.8% |
| 1977 | 84.7% | +0.8% |
| 1978 | 85.4% | +0.8% |
| 1979 | 86.0% | +0.7% |
| 1980 | 86.6% | +0.7% |
| 1981 | 87.2% | +0.7% |
| 1982 | 87.7% | +0.6% |
| 1983 | 88.2% | +0.6% |
| 1984 | 88.7% | +0.6% |
| 1985 | 89.1% | +0.5% |
| 1986 | 89.4% | +0.3% |
| 1987 | 89.6% | +0.2% |
| 1988 | 89.6% | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 89.5% | -0.1% |
| 1990 | 89.3% | -0.2% |
| 1991 | 88.9% | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 88.5% | -0.5% |
| 1993 | 88.1% | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 87.6% | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 87.0% | -0.7% |
| 1996 | 86.5% | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 86.0% | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 85.6% | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 85.1% | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 84.8% | -0.4% |
| 2001 | 84.6% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 84.4% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 84.3% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 84.1% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 84.1% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 84.1% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 84.2% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 84.2% | -0.0% |
| 2009 | 84.1% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 84.0% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 83.9% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 83.7% | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 83.6% | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 83.3% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 83.0% | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 82.5% | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 81.8% | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 81.0% | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 80.1% | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 79.1% | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 78.0% | -1.4% |
| 2022 | 76.8% | -1.5% |
| 2023 | 75.5% | -1.7% |
| 2024 | 74.2% | -1.7% |
| 2025 | 72.9% | -1.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 77.5% | 75.2% | 79.9% | 10 |
| 1970s | 83.2% | 80.5% | 86.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 88.6% | 86.6% | 89.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 87.3% | 85.1% | 89.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 84.3% | 84.1% | 84.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 82.7% | 80.1% | 84.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 76.1% | 72.9% | 79.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa Western and Central
More health data for Africa Western and Central
- Population ages 35-39, male, per capita 0.0278 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, annual growth rate 3.63 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, per capita 0.0238 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, annual growth rate 2.59 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, female, per capita 0.0237 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, female, annual growth rate 2.75 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, male, per capita 0.0326 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is age dependency ratio, young in Africa Western and Central?
- Age dependency ratio, young in Africa Western and Central was 72.9% in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest age dependency ratio, young recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 89.6% in 1988.
- What is the lowest age dependency ratio, young recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 72.9% in 2025.
- How does Africa Western and Central rank for age dependency ratio, young?
- Africa Western and Central ranks 4th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is age dependency ratio, young rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Africa Western and Central data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Age dependency ratio, young (% of working-age population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Age dependency ratio, young, is the ratio of younger dependents--people younger than 15--to the working-age population--those ages 15-64. Data are shown as the proportion of dependents per 100 working-age population.