In a district with a mid-year population of 10 lakh, the number of persons aged 0 to 14 years is 3,00,000 and those aged 65 years and above is 80,000. The dependency ratio for this district is approximately:

• A 38 dependents per 100 working-age population
• B 52 dependents per 100 working-age population
• C 62 dependents per 100 working-age population ✓
• D 76 dependents per 100 working-age population

Explanation

The working-age population is 1,00,000 minus 3,00,000 minus 80,000, which equals 6,20,000 persons aged 15 to 64 years. Dependents are 3,80,000. Dependency ratio equals (3,80,000 divided by 6,20,000) multiplied by 100, giving about 61.3, so option C is correct. Option A results if only children are counted as dependents, and option B arises from an arithmetic error in the denominator. The dependency ratio expresses the economic burden on the productive age group.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

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