dependency ratio

USAGE SUMMARY

"dependency ratio" is a valid phrase that can be used in written English.
The dependency ratio is a measure of the number of people who are being supported by those in the working-age population. For example, in a country with a high dependency ratio, the ratio of those over the age of 65 to those between the ages of 15 and 64 is high.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"China will peak with a 1-to-2.6 dependency ratio between 2010 and 2015," Bloom says.

The New Yorker

That matters, because a higher dependency ratio means a lower growth potential.

The Economist

The result has been a low "dependency ratio"—the proportion of dependants to people at work.

The Economist

The claimed inexorable failure of funding depends on two unwarranted assumptions: First, that the "dependency ratio" of working people to beneficiaries determines the sufficiency of program revenue.

Huffington Post

Last year, Ireland's dependency ratio hit an all-time low: for every ten dependents, it had twenty-two peofle of working age.

The New Yorker

By 2050 that dependency ratio will be two to one.

The Guardian - Opinion

But buyouts, which turn active workers into pensioners, only worsen the company's dependency ratio.

The New Yorker

And the economy's dependency ratio, which measures the burden of retirees on workers, will narrow.

The New York Times

The new Bethlehem Steel had a dependency ratio of 0 to 1. Within about six months, it was profitable.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

The poorest group has the highest youth-dependency ratio.

The Economist

In Cote d'Ivoire, the child-dependency ratio in the poorest group fell 13% between 1994 and 2005.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing economic impacts, clearly specify if you are referring to the overall dependency ratio or a specific age-related ratio (e.g., old-age dependency ratio) to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "dependency ratio" interchangeably with terms like "population growth rate" or "age distribution". Dependency ratio specifically measures the proportion of dependents to the working-age population, while other metrics describe broader demographic trends.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dependency ratio" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as a subject or object in a sentence. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage across a wide range of sources. It refers to a specific demographic metric.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "dependency ratio" is a well-established and frequently used term, primarily functioning as a noun phrase in formal contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and widely employed in news, scientific, and business domains to quantify the economic burden on the working population. When writing about it, make sure to specify the age range being considered and to not confuse it with other demographic metrics. Alternatives like "dependent population ratio" exist, but it is better to stick with "dependency ratio" for more clarity and accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dependent population ratio

This alternative directly replaces "dependency" with "dependent population", emphasizing the group being measured.

age dependency ratio

Adding "age" clarifies that the dependency is based on age, specifying the nature of the dependence.

ratio of dependents to workers

This phrase explicitly states the relationship being measured: the number of dependents compared to the number of workers.

demographic dependency ratio

Adding "demographic" emphasizes the demographic aspect of the ratio, making it more specific.

number of dependents per worker

This alternative clearly defines the calculation: the quantity of dependents each worker supports.

burden of dependency

This alternative focuses on the "burden" aspect, highlighting the strain on the working population.

youth and elderly dependency ratio

This expands on the primary term to reflect the dependents that are younger or older.

economic dependency ratio

Using "economic" focuses on the economic implications of dependency.

support ratio

This term implies the same relationship but from the perspective of those providing the support.

social security burden ratio

This alternative brings the focus to the social security burden that the workers suffer.

FAQs

What does a high "dependency ratio" indicate?

A high "dependency ratio" suggests that a larger proportion of the population is either too young or too old to be economically productive, placing a greater burden on the working-age population. This can affect economic growth and social welfare programs.

How is the "dependency ratio" calculated?

The "dependency ratio" is typically calculated by dividing the number of dependents (people under 15 and over 64) by the number of working-age people (15-64) and multiplying by 100. This provides a percentage representing the number of dependents per 100 working-age individuals.

What is the difference between the "youth dependency ratio" and the "old-age dependency ratio"?

The "youth dependency ratio" focuses on the proportion of young people (under 15) to the working-age population, while the "old-age dependency ratio" focuses on the proportion of older people (over 64) to the working-age population. Both provide insights into different aspects of demographic dependency. The total "dependency ratio" is simply the sum of both ratios.

What are some alternatives to using the term "dependency ratio"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "dependent population ratio", "support ratio", or "burden of dependency" to convey a similar meaning with slightly different emphasis.