According to the Seventh National Chinese Population Census, the age dependency ratio in China increased to 46.5 percent in 2023. This meant that for every 100 people of working age, more than 46 seniors and children had to be supported. Age dependency ratio The age dependency ratio denotes the relationship between economically dependent age groups (people who are either too old or too young to work) to those of working age. Those who are defined as being able to work, according to the source, are people between the ages of 15 and 64. The dependency ratio indicates how great a burden is placed on those of working age by those of non-working age. In international comparison, China has a relatively low age dependency ratio, when compared to age dependency in G20 countries or other countries in the Asia Pacific region. Development in China In the past two decades, China’s economy has profited from a relatively low dependency ratio. In combination with a growing working age population, these were the two main demographic causes for China’s large and cheap labor force. However, the dependency ratio has been falling since the 1970s, mainly because of lower birth rates and a resulting decrease of child dependency. This led the age dependency ratio to reach a historic low between 2005 and 2017, when it fell to levels below 40 percent. A turning point had been reached around the year 2010, when the effects of declining child dependency were neutralized by growing old-age dependency. This rapid aging of the population is the other side of the coin of decades of low birth rates, which will pose great challenges to Chinese society in the future.

In 2020, the child and old-age dependency ratios in China ranged at around 25.9 and 18.2 percent respectively, summing up to a total dependency ratio of 44.1 percent. While the child dependency ratio is expected to drop slightly and then remain stable, the old-age dependency ratio will rise steadily in coming decades. Age demographics in China With a populace of 1.4 billion people by the end of 2023, China stands the country with the second largest population in the world. Since its foundation in 1949, the PRC has experienced high population growth. With the beginning of the reform period in the end of the 1970s, population growth decreased steadily. Finally, China's population size peaked in 2021 and entered a declining path. Falling birth rates in combination with higher life expectancy led to a continuously increasing median age of the population in China over the past five decades. The median age of the Chinese population is expected to rise further and to reach 50 years by the middle of the century. Development of the dependency ratio China has enjoyed a continuously growing work force since the late 1970s. Simultaneously, the total dependency ratio in China decreased from 80 percent in 1970 to about 37 percent in 2010. However, an important turning point was reached in 2011, as the total dependency ratio was set to increase again after 30 years of population bonus. As can be seen from the above graph, until 2100, child-dependency is estimated to remain steady around 15 to 20 percent. Old-age dependency on the other hand is expected to grow from about 12 percent in 2010 to 69 percent in 2060, implying a growing number of senior citizens that need support from the working population. The shift of age demographics in the near future in China is bound to have ineligible economical and social impacts. To learn more about age demographics in China, take a look at our dossier aging population in China.

Macau MO: Age Dependency Ratio: % of Working-Age Population data was reported at 29.975 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 28.170 % for 2016. Macau MO: Age Dependency Ratio: % of Working-Age Population data is updated yearly, averaging 46.185 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 98.208 % in 1965 and a record low of 24.266 % in 2011. Macau MO: Age Dependency Ratio: % of Working-Age Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Macau SAR – Table MO.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Age dependency ratio is the ratio of dependents--people younger than 15 or 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.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Weighted average; Relevance to gender indicator: this indicator implies the dependency burden that the working-age population bears in relation to children and the elderly. Many times single or widowed women who are the sole caregiver of a household have a high dependency ratio.

In 2023, the child dependency ratio and the old-age dependency ratio varied greatly in different provinces of China. While Heilongjiang province had the lowest gross dependency ratio of 38.2 percent, comprised of around 12.2 percent child dependency and 26 percent old-age dependency, Guizhou province had the highest gross dependency ratio with around 34.8 percent child dependency and 19.8 percent old-age dependency.

Age dependency ratio, old (% of working-age population) in China was reported at 20.72 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Age dependency ratio, old (% of working-age population) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2025.

Hong Kong HK: Age Dependency Ratio: % of Working-Age Population data was reported at 38.488 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 36.945 % for 2016. Hong Kong HK: Age Dependency Ratio: % of Working-Age Population data is updated yearly, averaging 42.623 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 77.659 % in 1962 and a record low of 33.170 % in 2010. Hong Kong HK: Age Dependency Ratio: % of Working-Age Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Hong Kong SAR – Table HK.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Age dependency ratio is the ratio of dependents--people younger than 15 or 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.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Weighted average; Relevance to gender indicator: this indicator implies the dependency burden that the working-age population bears in relation to children and the elderly. Many times single or widowed women who are the sole caregiver of a household have a high dependency ratio.

In 2023, the child and old-age dependency ratio in Shanghai municipality in China ranged at around 13.5 and 27.6 percent, respectively, summing up to a total dependency ratio of around 41.1 percent. While the child dependency ratio is expected to remain more or less stable, the old-age dependency ratio will rise steadily in the coming years.

Elderly Dependency Ratio(Sample Survey): Shanghai data was reported at 23.990 % in 2021. This records an increase from the previous number of 22.020 % for 2020. Elderly Dependency Ratio(Sample Survey): Shanghai data is updated yearly, averaging 17.850 % from Dec 2002 (Median) to 2021, with 20 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 23.990 % in 2021 and a record low of 9.400 % in 2011. Elderly Dependency Ratio(Sample Survey): Shanghai data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GA: Population: Sample Survey: Elderly Dependency Ratio: By Region.

About this dataset

Context

The dataset tabulates the data for the China, TX population pyramid, which represents the China population distribution across age and gender, using estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. It lists the male and female population for each age group, along with the total population for those age groups. Higher numbers at the bottom of the table suggest population growth, whereas higher numbers at the top indicate declining birth rates. Furthermore, the dataset can be utilized to understand the youth dependency ratio, old-age dependency ratio, total dependency ratio, and potential support ratio.

Key observations

• Youth dependency ratio, which is the number of children aged 0-14 per 100 persons aged 15-64, for China, TX, is 25.5.
• Old-age dependency ratio, which is the number of persons aged 65 or over per 100 persons aged 15-64, for China, TX, is 39.1.
• Total dependency ratio for China, TX is 64.6.
• Potential support ratio, which is the number of youth (working age population) per elderly, for China, TX is 2.6.

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates.

Age groups:

• Under 5 years
• 5 to 9 years
• 10 to 14 years
• 15 to 19 years
• 20 to 24 years
• 25 to 29 years
• 30 to 34 years
• 35 to 39 years
• 40 to 44 years
• 45 to 49 years
• 50 to 54 years
• 55 to 59 years
• 60 to 64 years
• 65 to 69 years
• 70 to 74 years
• 75 to 79 years
• 80 to 84 years
• 85 years and over

Variables / Data Columns

• Age Group: This column displays the age group for the China population analysis. Total expected values are 18 and are define above in the age groups section.
• Population (Male): The male population in the China for the selected age group is shown in the following column.
• Population (Female): The female population in the China for the selected age group is shown in the following column.
• Total Population: The total population of the China for the selected age group is shown in the following column.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for China Population by Age. You can refer the same here

35.8 (%) in 2021. Gross Dependency Ratio also called gross dependency coefficient, refers to the ratio of non-working-age population to the working-age population, express in %. Describing in general the number of non-working-age population that every 100 people at working ages will take care of, this indicator reflects the basic relation between population and economic development from the demographic perspective. The gross dependency ratio is calculated with the following formula: (The population of children aged 0-14 + The elderly population aged 65 and over)/(The working-age population aged 15-64)*100%.

The graph shows the share of people depending on support of the working population in China from 2013 to 2023, by age group. In 2023, the child dependency ratio ranged at around 24 percent, which means that statistically approximately four people of working age had to support one child aged below 15 years.

52.3 (%) in 2021. Gross Dependency Ratio also called gross dependency coefficient, refers to the ratio of non-working-age population to the working-age population, express in %. Describing in general the number of non-working-age population that every 100 people at working ages will take care of, this indicator reflects the basic relation between population and economic development from the demographic perspective. The gross dependency ratio is calculated with the following formula: (The population of children aged 0-14 + The elderly population aged 65 and over)/(The working-age population aged 15-64)*100%.

Elderly Dependency Ratio(Sample Survey): Heilongjiang data was reported at 25.990 % in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 24.440 % for 2022. Elderly Dependency Ratio(Sample Survey): Heilongjiang data is updated yearly, averaging 11.600 % from Dec 2002 (Median) to 2023, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 25.990 % in 2023 and a record low of 8.300 % in 2002. Elderly Dependency Ratio(Sample Survey): Heilongjiang data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GA: Population: Sample Survey: Elderly Dependency Ratio: By Region.

49.3 (%) in 2021. Gross Dependency Ratio also called gross dependency coefficient, refers to the ratio of non-working-age population to the working-age population, express in %. Describing in general the number of non-working-age population that every 100 people at working ages will take care of, this indicator reflects the basic relation between population and economic development from the demographic perspective. The gross dependency ratio is calculated with the following formula: (The population of children aged 0-14 + The elderly population aged 65 and over)/(The working-age population aged 15-64)*100%.

23,4 (%) in 2021. Old Dependency Ratio also called old dependency coefficient, refers to the ratio of the elderly population to the working-age population, express in %. It describes the number of the elderly population that every 100 people at working ages will take care of. Old dependency ratio is one of the indicators reflecting the social implication of population aging from the economic perspective. The old dependency ratio is calculated with the following formula: (The elderly population aged 65 and over)/(The working-age population aged 15-64)*100%.

Elderly Dependency Ratio(Sample Survey): Hubei data was reported at 24.850 % in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 23.850 % for 2022. Elderly Dependency Ratio(Sample Survey): Hubei data is updated yearly, averaging 13.700 % from Dec 2002 (Median) to 2023, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 24.850 % in 2023 and a record low of 11.100 % in 2003. Elderly Dependency Ratio(Sample Survey): Hubei data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GA: Population: Sample Survey: Elderly Dependency Ratio: By Region.

44,0 (%) in 2021. Gross Dependency Ratio also called gross dependency coefficient, refers to the ratio of non-working-age population to the working-age population, express in %. Describing in general the number of non-working-age population that every 100 people at working ages will take care of, this indicator reflects the basic relation between population and economic development from the demographic perspective. The gross dependency ratio is calculated with the following formula: (The population of children aged 0-14 + The elderly population aged 65 and over)/(The working-age population aged 15-64)*100%.

About this dataset

Context

The dataset tabulates the data for the China Township, Michigan population pyramid, which represents the China township population distribution across age and gender, using estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. It lists the male and female population for each age group, along with the total population for those age groups. Higher numbers at the bottom of the table suggest population growth, whereas higher numbers at the top indicate declining birth rates. Furthermore, the dataset can be utilized to understand the youth dependency ratio, old-age dependency ratio, total dependency ratio, and potential support ratio.

Key observations

• Youth dependency ratio, which is the number of children aged 0-14 per 100 persons aged 15-64, for China Township, Michigan, is 28.1.
• Old-age dependency ratio, which is the number of persons aged 65 or over per 100 persons aged 15-64, for China Township, Michigan, is 32.3.
• Total dependency ratio for China Township, Michigan is 60.3.
• Potential support ratio, which is the number of youth (working age population) per elderly, for China Township, Michigan is 3.1.

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates.

Age groups:

• Under 5 years
• 5 to 9 years
• 10 to 14 years
• 15 to 19 years
• 20 to 24 years
• 25 to 29 years
• 30 to 34 years
• 35 to 39 years
• 40 to 44 years
• 45 to 49 years
• 50 to 54 years
• 55 to 59 years
• 60 to 64 years
• 65 to 69 years
• 70 to 74 years
• 75 to 79 years
• 80 to 84 years
• 85 years and over

Variables / Data Columns

• Age Group: This column displays the age group for the China township population analysis. Total expected values are 18 and are define above in the age groups section.
• Population (Male): The male population in the China township for the selected age group is shown in the following column.
• Population (Female): The female population in the China township for the selected age group is shown in the following column.
• Total Population: The total population of the China township for the selected age group is shown in the following column.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for China township Population by Age. You can refer the same here

22,5 (%) in 2021. Old Dependency Ratio also called old dependency coefficient, refers to the ratio of the elderly population to the working-age population, express in %. It describes the number of the elderly population that every 100 people at working ages will take care of. Old dependency ratio is one of the indicators reflecting the social implication of population aging from the economic perspective. The old dependency ratio is calculated with the following formula: (The elderly population aged 65 and over)/(The working-age population aged 15-64)*100%.

In 2023, the gross dependency ratio in different provinces of China varied from about 37.33 percent in Beijing municipality to 38.63 percent in Henan province. In 2023, the national average dependency ratio in China was about 46.59 percent, which means that statistically 100 people of working age needed to support around 46.59 seniors and children.