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Malawi: Age dependency ratio, old (% of working-age population)

In , Malawi's Age dependency ratio, old (% of working-age population) was 4.56.

That's down 1.3% from 2023, the highest value since .

The global average for this indicator in 2024 was 16.38 . Malawi ranks #206 globally out of 217 reporting countries. Within Sub-Saharan Africa, it ranks #44 of 48.

Source: World Bank Open Data (SP.POP.DPND.OL) • Data as of 2024

Trend (2005–2024)

Malawi Age dependency ratio, old (% of working-age population) trend 2020: COVID-19 pandemic
  • 2020 · COVID-19 pandemic

Highlights

Peak
8.05
Trough
4.56
1-year change
-1.3%
5-year change
-11.7%
-2.4% / yr
10-year change
-26.3%
-3.0% / yr

Historical Data — Last 10 Years

Year Age dependency ratio, old (% of working-age population)
4.5604
4.6220
4.7125
4.8418
4.9980
5.1622
5.3341
5.5225
5.7313
5.9609

About Age dependency ratio, old (% of working-age population)

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.

Indicator code: SP.POP.DPND.OLCategory: Health & Population

Frequently asked questions

What was Malawi's Age dependency ratio, old (% of working-age population) in 2024?
In 2024, Malawi's Age dependency ratio, old (% of working-age population) was 4.56, according to World Bank Open Data.
Is Malawi's Age dependency ratio, old (% of working-age population) rising or falling?
Malawi's Age dependency ratio, old (% of working-age population) fell 1.3% from 2023 to 2024.
How does Malawi rank globally on Age dependency ratio, old (% of working-age population)?
In 2024, Malawi ranked #206 out of 217 countries reporting Age dependency ratio, old (% of working-age population).
How does Malawi's Age dependency ratio, old (% of working-age population) compare to the world average?
The global average for Age dependency ratio, old (% of working-age population) in 2024 was 16.38, so Malawi is below the world average. Within Sub-Saharan Africa, it ranks #44 of 48.
What is Age dependency ratio, old (% of working-age population) and how is it measured?
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.
Download this data: CSV JSON

Source: World Bank Open Data (SP.POP.DPND.OL), CC BY 4.0.