Liechtenstein Dependency Ratio

Liechtenstein’s dependency ratio stood at 54.76 in 2025, ranking it 111th globally, indicating that for every 100 working-age individuals, there are approximately 55 dependents. This figure reflects a modest increase from the historic trough of 40.49 recorded in 2001, when demographic conditions were most favorable for economic dependency. In contrast, the all-time peak of 58.27 was observed in 1960, a period marked by higher youth dependency across much of Europe. Over the 66-year coverage period, Liechtenstein has experienced fluctuating but generally declining pressures until the early 2000s, followed by a gradual rise in recent decades. The 2025 value places Liechtenstein between Switzerland at 54.36 and Poland at 54.60, suggesting comparable demographic pressures among these peer economies. The current upward trend in the dependency ratio appears driven by aging populations and low fertility rates, common across high-income European states. Absent policy interventions such as immigration reforms or incentives to increase fertility, the dependency burden in Liechtenstein is likely to continue rising in the coming decades.