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Countries in Africa Ranked by Median age proxy (age dependency ratio) (2025)

Age dependency ratio: each country's latest value (2020–2025), ranked from highest to lowest. Source: The World Bank (CC BY 4.0).

Summary

Central African Republic ranks #1 with 103.6 dependants per 100 working-age people. Somalia, Fed. Rep. is second with 96.7 dependants per 100 working-age people, 7.1% behind. The top five are Central African Republic, Somalia, Fed. Rep., Congo, Dem. Rep., Niger and Mali. The median across all 54 is 73.1 dependants per 100 working-age people; Seychelles is last at 39.9 dependants per 100 working-age people. Central African Republic's figure has risen 14% since 2001 (91.2 dependants per 100 working-age people to 103.6 dependants per 100 working-age people in 2025).

#1
Central African Republic · 103.6 dependants per 100 working-age people
Median
73.1 dependants per 100 working-age people
Coverage
54 countries in Africa
Data year
2025
Last updated
2026-11-14
Top 10: Age dependency ratioBar chart of the top 10: 1. Central African Republic 103.6; 2. Somalia, Fed. Rep. 96.7; 3. Congo, Dem. Rep. 96.2; 4. Niger 95.5; 5. Mali 92.9; 6. Chad 92.6; 7. Angola 88.7; 8. Mozambique 88.3; 9. Burundi 87; 10. Mauritania 83.9.Central African Republic103.6Somalia, Fed. Rep.96.7Congo, Dem. Rep.96.2Niger95.5Mali92.9Chad92.6Angola88.7Mozambique88.3Burundi87Mauritania83.9
Top 10: Age dependency ratio (dependants per 100 working-age people). Bar chart of the top 10: 1. Central African Republic 103.6; 2. Somalia, Fed. Rep. 96.7; 3. Congo, Dem. Rep. 96.2; 4. Niger 95.5; 5. Mali 92.9; 6. Chad 92.6; 7. Angola 88.7; 8. Mozambique 88.3; 9. Burundi 87; 10. Mauritania 83.9.
Age dependency ratio over time, top 5Central African Republic: 91.2 in 2001 to 103.6 in 2025; Somalia, Fed. Rep.: 100.2 in 2001 to 96.7 in 2025; Congo, Dem. Rep.: 94.8 in 2001 to 96.2 in 2025; Niger: 99.2 in 2001 to 95.5 in 2025; Mali: 98.6 in 2001 to 92.9 in 2025.026.953.980.8107.8200120132025Central African Rep…Somalia, Fed. Rep.Congo, Dem. Rep.NigerMali
Age dependency ratio over time, top 5 (dependants per 100 working-age people). Central African Republic: 91.2 in 2001 to 103.6 in 2025; Somalia, Fed. Rep.: 100.2 in 2001 to 96.7 in 2025; Congo, Dem. Rep.: 94.8 in 2001 to 96.2 in 2025; Niger: 99.2 in 2001 to 95.5 in 2025; Mali: 98.6 in 2001 to 92.9 in 2025.

Full ranking

Countries in Africa Ranked by Median age proxy (age dependency ratio), 2025
RankCountryAge dependency ratio (dependants per 100 working-age people)
1Central African Republic103.6
2Somalia, Fed. Rep.96.7
3Congo, Dem. Rep.96.2
4Niger95.5
5Mali92.9
6Chad92.6
7Angola88.7
8Mozambique88.3
9Burundi87
10Mauritania83.9
11Tanzania83.1
12Uganda82.9
13Benin79.9
14Guinea78.6
15Cameroon78.4
16Togo78.3
17Burkina Faso78.1
18Zimbabwe78.1
19Sudan77.3
20Nigeria77.3
21Côte d'Ivoire75.8
22Congo, Rep.75.5
23Zambia75.4
24Gambia, The75.2
25Malawi74.6
26Liberia73.7
27Madagascar73.6
28Ethiopia72.6
29Eritrea72
30Guinea-Bissau71.1
31São Tomé and Principe70.6
32Senegal70.6
33Comoros70.4
34South Sudan69.7
35Rwanda69.6
36Sierra Leone69.3
37Equatorial Guinea69.1
38Namibia67.9
39Gabon67.7
40Kenya64.7
41Ghana64.5
42Lesotho61.2
43Eswatini59.6
44Egypt, Arab Rep.58.3
45Algeria58.1
46Botswana56.3
47Djibouti51
48Morocco50.7
49Tunisia50.4
50South Africa48.4
51Libya47.1
52Cabo Verde46.7
53Mauritius40.2
54Seychelles39.9

About the top 10

#2 Somalia, Fed. Rep.

Somalia, Fed. Rep. ranks #2 on this list with 96.7 dependants per 100 working-age people.

Capital
Mogadishu
Continent
Africa
Income group
Low income
Population
19.66 million people (2025)
GDP
US$13 billion (2025)
GDP per person
US$661.2 (2025)
Life expectancy
59 years (2024)
Urban population
55.1% of population (2025)

Largest cities: North East State of Somalia, Mogadishu.

Also ranks #1 in prevalence of undernourishment · #2 in population ages 0-14 share · #2 in age dependency ratio (young).

Full country profile

#3 Congo, Dem. Rep.

Congo, Dem. Rep. ranks #3 on this list with 96.2 dependants per 100 working-age people.

Capital
Kinshasa
Continent
Africa
Income group
Low income
Population
112.83 million people (2025)
GDP
US$91.03 billion (2025)
GDP per person
US$806.8 (2025)
Life expectancy
62.1 years (2024)
Urban population
45.1% of population (2025)

Largest cities: Kinshasa, Mbuji-Mayi, Kananga.

Also ranks #1 in renewable energy share · #1 in poverty headcount ratio · #1 in mineral rents share of gdp.

Full country profile

#10 Mauritania

Mauritania ranks #10 on this list with 83.9 dependants per 100 working-age people.

Capital
Nouakchott
Continent
Africa
Income group
Lower middle income
Population
5.32 million people (2025)
GDP
US$11.68 billion (2025)
GDP per person
US$2,198 (2025)
Life expectancy
68.7 years (2024)
Urban population
61.5% of population (2025)

Largest cities: Nouakchott.

Also ranks #2 in gross capital formation rate · #3 in prevalence of wasting (under-5) · #8 in gender parity index (school enrolment).

Full country profile

Profile facts: World Bank (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0); weather links go to Purr Weather, another ChowChow Labs site.

Related rankings

Source and method

Age dependency ratio: each country's latest value (2020–2025), ranked from highest to lowest.

Source: The World Bank, indicator SP.POP.DPND. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Retrieved: 2026-11-14.

The World Bank: Age dependency ratio (% of working-age population): World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division (via World Development Indicators)

Original data provider, as recorded by the World Bank: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division; Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).

Values are shown as published. Provider terms: The World Bank. All licences: Sources & licences.