Total dependency ratio in Libya
Libya: Total dependency ratio was 48.9% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
48.9%
Change on year
down 1.9%
World rank
175th
of 236 countries
All-time high
118.3%
in 1970
All-time low
48.9%
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Total dependency ratio in Libya, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Libya recorded 48.9% for total dependency ratio in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.9% on the previous year and down 11.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total dependency ratio in Libya peaked at 118.3% in 1970 and was at its lowest, 48.9%, in 2023.
That places Libya 175th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.
Total dependency ratio in Libya, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 79.9% | — |
| 1951 | 81.0% | +1.4% |
| 1952 | 81.9% | +1.1% |
| 1953 | 82.5% | +0.8% |
| 1954 | 82.9% | +0.5% |
| 1955 | 83.8% | +1.0% |
| 1956 | 85.1% | +1.7% |
| 1957 | 86.7% | +1.8% |
| 1958 | 88.4% | +1.9% |
| 1959 | 90.1% | +2.0% |
| 1960 | 92.0% | +2.0% |
| 1961 | 93.8% | +2.0% |
| 1962 | 95.7% | +2.0% |
| 1963 | 97.8% | +2.1% |
| 1964 | 99.5% | +1.8% |
| 1965 | 103.1% | +3.6% |
| 1966 | 108.6% | +5.3% |
| 1967 | 113.2% | +4.2% |
| 1968 | 116.5% | +2.9% |
| 1969 | 118.2% | +1.5% |
| 1970 | 118.3% | +0.1% |
| 1971 | 118.1% | -0.2% |
| 1972 | 117.9% | -0.2% |
| 1973 | 113.9% | -3.4% |
| 1974 | 109.4% | -4.0% |
| 1975 | 107.3% | -1.9% |
| 1976 | 105.4% | -1.8% |
| 1977 | 103.6% | -1.7% |
| 1978 | 102.3% | -1.2% |
| 1979 | 101.4% | -0.9% |
| 1980 | 100.4% | -0.9% |
| 1981 | 99.5% | -0.9% |
| 1982 | 98.6% | -0.9% |
| 1983 | 97.0% | -1.6% |
| 1984 | 94.7% | -2.4% |
| 1985 | 92.4% | -2.5% |
| 1986 | 90.1% | -2.5% |
| 1987 | 87.8% | -2.6% |
| 1988 | 85.4% | -2.7% |
| 1989 | 82.8% | -3.0% |
| 1990 | 80.1% | -3.3% |
| 1991 | 77.3% | -3.5% |
| 1992 | 74.3% | -3.8% |
| 1993 | 71.3% | -4.1% |
| 1994 | 68.2% | -4.3% |
| 1995 | 65.3% | -4.3% |
| 1996 | 62.6% | -4.1% |
| 1997 | 60.2% | -3.8% |
| 1998 | 58.2% | -3.3% |
| 1999 | 56.5% | -2.9% |
| 2000 | 55.4% | -2.0% |
| 2001 | 54.9% | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 54.5% | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 54.2% | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 54.1% | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 54.0% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 53.6% | -0.9% |
| 2007 | 52.8% | -1.4% |
| 2008 | 52.2% | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 51.7% | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 51.4% | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 53.6% | +4.3% |
| 2012 | 56.0% | +4.4% |
| 2013 | 55.5% | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 55.2% | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 55.0% | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 54.8% | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 54.3% | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 53.6% | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 52.7% | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 51.8% | -1.8% |
| 2021 | 50.8% | -1.9% |
| 2022 | 49.8% | -1.9% |
| 2023 | 48.9% | -1.9% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's 48.9% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 50.3%, 97% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Libya's 48.9% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 52.2%, 94% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 84.2% | 79.9% | 90.1% | 10 |
| 1960s | 103.8% | 92.0% | 118.2% | 10 |
| 1970s | 109.8% | 101.4% | 118.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 92.9% | 82.8% | 100.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 67.4% | 56.5% | 80.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 53.7% | 51.7% | 55.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 54.2% | 51.4% | 56.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 50.3% | 48.9% | 51.8% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Libya
More population data for Libya
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.3412 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.1882 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -3.49 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1882 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.2% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 455,012 people (2100)
- Population density 5.56 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.2% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2302 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.9554 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total dependency ratio in Libya?
- Total dependency ratio in Libya was 48.9% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total dependency ratio recorded in Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 118.3% in 1970.
- What is the lowest total dependency ratio recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was 48.9% in 2023.
- How does Libya rank for total dependency ratio?
- Libya ranks 175th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total dependency ratio rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Libya data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Total dependency ratio. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of children (under 15) and people aged 65 and over per 100 working-age people (aged 15 to 64).