Total dependency ratio fell 2.19% to 45.3% in South Africa in 2024, according to the National Statistical Office.
Historically, total dependency ratio in South Africa reached an all time high of 84.6% in 1960 and an all time low of 45.3% in 2024. When compared to South Africa's main peers, total dependency ratio in Botswana amounted to 48.7%, 54.8% in Lesotho, 50.1% in Namibia and 58.8% in Swaziland in 2024.
South Africa has been ranked 119th within the group of 174 countries we follow in terms of total dependency ratio, 10 places below the position seen 10 years ago.
| Total Dependency Ratio | Unit | 2030 | 2031 | 2032 | 2033 | 2034 | 2035 | 2036 | 2037 | 2038 | 2039 | 2040 | 2041 | 2042 | 2043 | 2044 | 2045 | 2046 | 2047 | 2048 | 2049 | 2050 |
| Angola | % | 61.0% | 60.0% | 59.0% | 58.1% | 57.2% | ||||||||||||||||
| Botswana | % | 34.7% | 34.5% | 34.7% | 34.9% | 35.2% | ||||||||||||||||
| Lesotho | % | 38.5% | 38.1% | 38.0% | 38.0% | 37.9% | ||||||||||||||||
| Mozambique | % | 61.7% | 60.7% | 59.7% | 58.6% | 57.6% | ||||||||||||||||
| Namibia | % | 40.9% | 40.6% | 40.4% | 40.3% | 40.1% | ||||||||||||||||
| South Africa | % | 39.4% | 39.4% | 39.6% | 39.8% | 40.0% | ||||||||||||||||
| Swaziland | % | 40.3% | 39.6% | 39.3% | 38.9% | 38.6% | ||||||||||||||||
| Zambia | % | 72.4% | 72.0% | 71.5% | 70.9% | 70.4% | ||||||||||||||||
| Zimbabwe | % | 40.4% | 40.2% | 40.4% | 40.6% | 40.8% |
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