youth dependency ratio

The youth dependency ratio is a demographic measure that compares the number of young people (typically ages 0-14) to the working-age population (usually ages 15-64). It indicates how many young dependents each working adult supports economically. A higher ratio suggests many children relative to working adults, which can put pressure on resources like education and healthcare. Conversely, a lower ratio implies fewer children and possibly a more balanced or aging population. This ratio helps assess a country’s potential economic demands and demographic challenges linked to its youthful population.