Youth, elderly, and total quotient

Definition: In order to illustrate the long-term demographic change and the associated changes in the age structure of the population, the ratio of certain age groups is shown. The youth ratio compares the generation of children and adolescents, which are mostly in the education and training phase, with the middle generation, which is predominantly in employment. For the generation of children and adolescents the age limit “under 20 years” is chosen and for the middle generation the age limit “20 to under 65 years” is chosen. The old-age dependency ratio compares the older generation, who have left the labour force, to the middle generation. For the older generation, the age limit “from 65 years” is chosen. In order to assess the financial burdens of the social system, an overall quotient is established which sets the “young” and “age” in relation to the middle-aged population. Data source: It.NRW, update of population