Countries With the Fastest Decline in Age dependency ratio (old) (5-Year Change)
Change in Age dependency ratio (old) over the five years to each country's latest year, in points (a share or rate is not shown as a % of itself). Only countries that fell are listed. Source: The World Bank (CC BY 4.0).
Summary
Kuwait fell the most: by 1.27, from 5.3 people 65+ per 100 working-age people to 4.03 people 65+ per 100 working-age people in the five years to 2025. Timor-Leste is second (−0.988), followed by Malawi (−0.479). 31 countries fell over that period; the median change among them was −0.08.
- #1
- Kuwait · −1.27
- Median
- −0.08
- Coverage
- 31 countries
- Data year
- 2025
- Last updated
- 2026-11-14
Full ranking
| Rank | Country | From | To | 5-year change (people 65+ per 100 working-age people) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kuwait | 5.3 | 4.03 | −1.27 |
| 2 | Timor-Leste | 9.47 | 8.48 | −0.988 |
| 3 | Malawi | 5 | 4.52 | −0.479 |
| 4 | Mali | 4.96 | 4.56 | −0.404 |
| 5 | Zimbabwe | 6.6 | 6.34 | −0.262 |
| 6 | Solomon Islands | 6.4 | 6.14 | −0.261 |
| 7 | Mozambique | 5.41 | 5.15 | −0.257 |
| 8 | Togo | 6.44 | 6.2 | −0.243 |
| 9 | Syrian Arab Republic | 7.47 | 7.25 | −0.219 |
| 10 | Comoros | 7.8 | 7.59 | −0.211 |
| 11 | Faroe Islands | 28.7 | 28.5 | −0.209 |
| 12 | Mauritania | 6.16 | 5.97 | −0.188 |
| 13 | Monaco | 71.9 | 71.7 | −0.15 |
| 14 | Guinea | 6.33 | 6.2 | −0.126 |
| 15 | São Tomé and Principe | 6.83 | 6.73 | −0.099 |
| 16 | Iraq | 5.78 | 5.7 | −0.08 |
| 17 | Bolivia | 8.93 | 8.86 | −0.072 |
| 18 | Tanzania | 5.63 | 5.57 | −0.062 |
| 19 | Senegal | 6.28 | 6.22 | −0.062 |
| 20 | Nigeria | 5.5 | 5.44 | −0.06 |
| 21 | Cameroon | 5.08 | 5.03 | −0.053 |
| 22 | Eritrea | 7.37 | 7.32 | −0.048 |
| 23 | Burundi | 4.81 | 4.77 | −0.046 |
| 24 | Burkina Faso | 4.81 | 4.78 | −0.031 |
| 25 | Afghanistan | 4.44 | 4.41 | −0.03 |
| 26 | Yemen, Rep. | 4.54 | 4.51 | −0.029 |
| 27 | Central African Republic | 4.5 | 4.47 | −0.027 |
| 28 | Liberia | 5.81 | 5.79 | −0.023 |
| 29 | Lesotho | 6.28 | 6.26 | −0.019 |
| 30 | Congo, Dem. Rep. | 6.07 | 6.05 | −0.017 |
| 31 | Chad | 4.1 | 4.08 | −0.015 |
About the top 10
#1 Kuwait
Kuwait ranks #1 on this list with −1.27.
- Capital
- Kuwait City
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 4.87 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$157.21 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$32,312 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 84.6 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 100% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Kuwait City.
Also ranks #1 in fertiliser consumption · #2 in access to sanitation · #3 in population ages 15-64 share.
#2 Timor-Leste
Timor-Leste ranks #2 on this list with −0.988.
- Capital
- Dili
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 1.42 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$1.9 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$1,341 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 67.9 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 28.8% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in smoking prevalence · #3 in government revenue share of gdp · #4 in prevalence of stunting (under-5).
#3 Malawi
Malawi ranks #3 on this list with −0.479.
- Capital
- Lilongwe
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 22.22 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$14.92 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$671.5 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 67.6 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 17.6% of population (2025)
Also ranks #3 in school enrolment (primary) · #3 in pupil-teacher ratio (primary) · #3 in poverty headcount ratio.
#4 Mali
Mali ranks #4 on this list with −0.404.
- Capital
- Bamako
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 25.2 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$30.07 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$1,193 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 60.7 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 32.2% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Bamako.
Also ranks #6 in population ages 0-14 share · #6 in age dependency ratio · #6 in age dependency ratio (young).
#5 Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe ranks #5 on this list with −0.262.
- Capital
- Harare
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 16.95 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$51.22 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$3,021 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 63.1 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 40.5% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Harare, Masvingo.
Also ranks #2 in lending interest rate · #3 in inflation rate · #4 in income share of richest 10%.
#6 Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands ranks #6 on this list with −0.261.
- Capital
- Honiara
- Continent
- Oceania
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 838,650 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$1.75 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$2,086 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 70.7 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 31.3% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in forest rents share of gdp · #2 in female labour force participation · #3 in labour force participation rate.
#7 Mozambique
Mozambique ranks #7 on this list with −0.257.
- Capital
- Maputo
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 35.63 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$22.34 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$626.9 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 63.8 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 37.2% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Maputo, Matola.
Also ranks #2 in poverty headcount ratio · #3 in income share of richest 10% · #4 in debt service share of exports.
#8 Togo
Togo ranks #8 on this list with −0.243.
- Capital
- Lomé
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 8.59 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$11.89 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$1,384 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 62.9 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 44.4% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Lomé.
Also ranks #8 in arable land share · #19 in age dependency ratio · #19 in age dependency ratio (young).
#9 Syrian Arab Republic
Syrian Arab Republic ranks #9 on this list with −0.219.
- Capital
- Damascus
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 25.62 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$23.74 billion (2022)
- GDP per person
- US$1,057 (2022)
- Life expectancy
- 72.6 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 72.1% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Damascus, Aleppo.
Also ranks #2 in refugee population by origin · #2 in agriculture value added share of gdp · #3 in net migration.
#10 Comoros
Comoros ranks #10 on this list with −0.211.
- Capital
- Moroni
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 882,850 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$1.81 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$2,056 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 67 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 33.9% of population (2025)
Also ranks #3 in low-birthweight babies share · #4 in agriculture value added share of gdp · #10 in agricultural land share.
Profile facts: World Bank (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0); weather links go to Purr Weather, another ChowChow Labs site.
Source and method
Change in Age dependency ratio (old) over the five years to each country's latest year, in points (a share or rate is not shown as a % of itself). Only countries that fell are listed.
Source: The World Bank, indicator SP.POP.DPND.OL. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Retrieved: 2026-11-14.
The World Bank: Age dependency ratio, old (% 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 (changes are computed from the published values). Provider terms: The World Bank. All licences: Sources & licences.