Nigeria's age dependency ratio for the young dominates that of the old, on average, at 14:1

  • The young-to-old dependency ratio stands at 14:1, showing that youth dependency overwhelmingly drives the total ratio.
  • The total dependency ratio declined from 88.2% in 1976 to 78.8% in 2024, showing slow but steady improvement.
  • The youth dependency ratio has dropped from 82.2% to 73.3% over the same period.
  • The old-age dependency ratio remained almost flat, averaging around 5–6% for nearly 50 years.
  • The highest total dependency ratio was 95.0% in 1988.
  • The ratio’s slight downward trend after 2012 reflects a growing working-age population entering the labour market.

Nigeria’s dependency ratio paints a vivid picture of a youthful nation shouldering the weight of its future. The age dependency ratio for the young dominates that of the old by a wide margin—about 14:1 on average. This means that for every older dependent (aged 65 and above), there are roughly 14 younger dependents (below 15) relying on the working-age population (15–64 years). The total dependency ratio has remained high for decades, hovering between 82% and 95%, reflecting persistent economic pressure on Nigeria’s workforce.

Source:

World Bank

Period:

1976 - 2024
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