New Zealand Dependency Ratio
Age dependency ratio (% of working-age population) SP.POP.DPND
New Zealand's dependency ratio was 55.05 in 2025, ranked 109th globally. This represents a 0.8% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1960–2025.
Overview
New Zealand's dependency ratio stood at 55.05 in 2025, a rise of +0.46 from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 55.05 by 2025. New Zealand ranked 109th globally.
New Zealand’s total dependency ratio has fallen markedly since the early 1960s, when it peaked at 71.13 in 1961, to a low of 50.37 in 2006, before rising modestly to 55.05 in 2025, placing the country 109th globally. The long‑term decline reflects demographic transitions such as rising life expectancy and declining fertility, which reduced the proportion of children relative to the working‑age population. The recent uptick mirrors the aging of the baby‑boom cohort and slower growth in the labor force, trends also evident in peer economies like the United States (54.86) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (55.26). Over the 66‑year coverage period, the ratio’s trajectory suggests a gradual re‑balancing rather than a reversal to the high levels of the early 1960s. Continued improvements in labor‑force participation among older workers and modest fertility rebounds could temper future increases, while accelerated aging would likely push the ratio higher.
Data & projection
| Year | Dependency Ratio | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 55.82 | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 55.43 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 55.05 | - | - |
| 2025 | 55.05 | +0.46 | #109 |
| 2024 | 54.59 | +0.34 | #108 |
| 2023 | 54.26 | +0.21 | #106 |
| 2022 | 54.05 | +0.42 | #100 |
| 2021 | 53.63 | +0.63 | #95 |
| 2020 | 53.00 | +0.40 | #92 |
| 2019 | 52.60 | +0.23 | #90 |
| 2018 | 52.37 | +0.11 | #92 |
| 2017 | 52.26 | −0.05 | #94 |
| 2016 | 52.31 | −0.21 | #98 |
| 2015 | 52.52 | −0.24 | #104 |
| 2014 | 52.75 | +0.05 | #108 |
| 2013 | 52.70 | +0.46 | #108 |
| 2012 | 52.24 | +0.60 | #108 |
| 2011 | 51.64 | +0.48 | #103 |
Analysis
New Zealand's dependency ratio was 55.05 in 2025, a rise of +0.46 from 2024. Based on trends, estimated 55.05 by 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
New Zealand's dependency ratio was 55.05 in 2025. Ranked 109th globally. This represents a 0.8% increase from the previous year.
New Zealand's dependency ratio peaked at 71.13 in 1961.
The lowest dependency ratio in New Zealand was 50.37 in 2006.
New Zealand ranks 109th globally in dependency ratio as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SP.POP.DPND. Data sourced from World Bank.
New Zealand's dependency ratio is projected to reach 55.05 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The dependency ratio of New Zealand in 2025 was 55.05. This ranks 109th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_new-zealand_dependency-ratio,
title = {New Zealand Dependency Ratio},
url = {https://historysaid.com/new-zealand/dependency-ratio/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}