Sociology / Unit 7 Soc 1129 short lesson, about 20 seconds
The Dependency Ratio
Captions available
The idea
The dependency ratio divides the population under fifteen plus sixty-five and older by the population aged fifteen to sixty-four, an age-based proxy rather than a count of who actually holds a job.
In practice
A rising elderly share raises this ratio even if the working-age population stays the same size.
Where people slip
The ratio measures age structure, not who is actually employed or supported.
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