Map Options

Color Scheme:
Quantiles:
Map Type:
Download SVG:
map placeholder
South Dakota
70.2
Idaho
70
Utah
68.1
Arizona
67.9
New Mexico
67.9
Nebraska
67.8
Florida
67.7
Arkansas
67.4
Iowa
67.2
Montana
67.2
West Virginia
67.1
Kansas
66.8
Delaware
66.4
Oklahoma
66.4
Hawaii
65.8
Mississippi
65.6
Wyoming
65.6
South Carolina
65.2
Missouri
65
Maine
64.9
Ohio
64.7
Alabama
64.6
Indiana
64.3
Minnesota
64.1
Kentucky
63.8
Louisiana
63.8
Pennsylvania
63.8
Wisconsin
63.6
Michigan
63.5
North Dakota
63.2
Tennessee
62.9
Nevada
62.5
North Carolina
62.4
Oregon
62.2
Texas
62.1
New Jersey
61.9
Illinois
61.6
Vermont
61
Connecticut
60.9
Georgia
60.5
Maryland
60.3
Washington
59.9
Virginia
59.8
New York
59.7
California
59
New Hampshire
59
Alaska
58.2
Rhode Island
57.9
Colorado
57.1
Massachusetts
57.1
District of Columbia
43.3

Age Dependency Ratio by State 2024

Age Dependency Ratio by State 2024

The age dependency ratio measures how many people in the working-age range of 15 to 64 live in a geographical region compared to the number of non-working people, who are either 0 to 14 years old or at least 65 years old.

A high age dependency ratio means an area has more dependents than workers in it. Notice that the U.S. Census Bureau may use data from people 17 years of age or younger instead of those 14 years of age and younger when making age dependency calculations.

State
Age Dependency Ratio
South Dakota70.2
Idaho70
Utah68.1
Arizona67.9
New Mexico67.9
Nebraska67.8
Florida67.7
Arkansas67.4
Iowa67.2
Montana67.2

Why does age dependency matter?

Determining the age dependency ratio matters because it tells us how healthy a population is and how well it's doing economically. A high age dependency ratio usually means that things aren't going well, while a low age dependency ratio usually indicates prosperity.

How do you interpret age dependency data?

The closer a population reaches an age dependency of 100, means that it has one new dependent for every one person it produces. The typical age dependency calculation looks like this: The age dependency ratio = The under-18 + 65-and-over populations/18-to-64 population x 100. The Census Bureau calls an age dependency ratio of 100 “less than ideal.” However, a population too close to zero also brings up potential problems brought by low birth rates.

A Real-Life Example

Making use of age dependency data works a bit like this example from Idaho. It reportedly has the highest age dependency ratio in the Nation.

In 2022, Idaho reports indicate a dependency ratio of 70 for the population of 1,896,652 based on 2010 census data. In 2021, this state reportedly led the nation in population growth. This may indicate more births but also means new residents moving to the area.

2021 population estimates indicate that 16.3% of this population includes people ages 65 and over. Persons under 25.1% include children less than 18 years old, and 6.5% are less than 5 years old. This state has finally seen some population growth, but they still may not have a high birth or migration rate.

Age Dependency Ratio by State 2024

Download Table Data

Enter your email below, and you'll receive this table's data in your inbox momentarily.

State
Age Dependency Ratio
Child Dependency Ratio
Population
South Dakota70.241.8928,767
Idaho7043.11,990,456
Utah68.149.53,454,232
Arizona67.938.47,497,004
New Mexico67.938.72,115,266
Nebraska67.841.41,988,698
Florida67.733.322,975,931
Arkansas67.439.13,089,060
Iowa67.238.73,214,315
Montana67.2361,142,746
West Virginia67.133.81,766,107
Kansas66.840.42,944,376
Delaware66.435.11,044,321
Oklahoma66.440.34,088,377
Hawaii65.835.31,430,877
Mississippi65.639.32,940,452
Wyoming65.638.4586,485
South Carolina65.2365,464,155
Missouri6537.26,215,144
Maine64.930.91,402,106
Ohio64.736.611,812,173
Alabama64.636.85,143,033
Indiana64.338.66,892,124
Minnesota64.138.15,761,530
Kentucky63.8374,540,745
Louisiana63.838.54,559,475
Pennsylvania63.833.912,951,275
Wisconsin63.635.95,931,367
Michigan63.535.410,041,241
North Dakota63.238.2788,940
Tennessee62.936.37,204,002
Nevada62.536.93,210,931
North Carolina62.43610,975,017
Oregon62.233.74,227,337
Texas62.141.830,976,754
New Jersey61.935.69,320,865
Illinois61.636.312,516,863
Vermont6129.8647,818
Connecticut60.933.13,625,646
Georgia60.538.211,145,304
Maryland60.335.66,196,525
Washington59.935.27,841,283
Virginia59.835.18,752,297
New York59.733.319,469,232
California5936.238,889,770
New Hampshire5930.21,405,105
Alaska58.239.3733,536
Rhode Island57.930.71,098,082
Colorado57.134.85,914,181
Massachusetts57.131.17,020,058
District of Columbia43.325.7686,995
United States62.65164229591205536.539258132390756
showing: 51 rows

Age Dependency Ratio by State 2024

Sources