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

In , Sri Lanka's Age dependency ratio, old (% of working-age population) was 18.38.

That's up 3.2% from 2023, the highest value on record.

The global average for this indicator in 2024 was 16.38 . Sri Lanka ranks #77 globally out of 217 reporting countries. Within South Asia, it ranks #1 of 6.

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

Trend (2005–2024)

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

Highlights

Peak
18.38
Trough
9.80
1-year change
+3.2%
5-year change
+16.8%
+3.2% / yr
10-year change
+41.5%
+3.5% / yr

Historical Data — Last 10 Years

Year Age dependency ratio, old (% of working-age population)
18.3767
17.8129
17.2651
16.7515
16.2490
15.7275
15.2035
14.6702
14.1222
13.5570

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 Sri Lanka's Age dependency ratio, old (% of working-age population) in 2024?
In 2024, Sri Lanka's Age dependency ratio, old (% of working-age population) was 18.38, according to World Bank Open Data.
Is Sri Lanka's Age dependency ratio, old (% of working-age population) rising or falling?
Sri Lanka's Age dependency ratio, old (% of working-age population) rose 3.2% from 2023 to 2024.
How does Sri Lanka rank globally on Age dependency ratio, old (% of working-age population)?
In 2024, Sri Lanka ranked #77 out of 217 countries reporting Age dependency ratio, old (% of working-age population).
How does Sri Lanka'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 Sri Lanka is above the world average. Within South Asia, it ranks #1 of 6.
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.