The young-age dependency ratio is the ratio of younger dependents (who are generally economically inactive and younger than 15 years old), compared to the number of people of working age (15-64-year-olds).
A high dependency ratio means those of working age, and the overall economy, face a greater burden in supporting the aging population.
South Africa's age dependency ratio for young people was: 38.4%, reported in 2024 (most recent observation). This is a lower value against a global average of 44.7%. A lower ratio indicates less financial stress on working people and greater political stability.
South Africa's data is highlighted in the table below, use the filter and sort order options to allow easy comparison with other countries.
Data source: United Nations, Washington D.C.