Understanding the Youth Dependency Ratio

Introduction to Youth Dependency Ratio

The Youth Dependency Ratio (YDR) is a demographic metric that illustrates the relationship between the youth population (typically aged 0 14) and the working age population (typically aged 15 64). The result is a percentage that represents the burden placed on the working age population by the youth population. Understanding YDR is essential for policymakers, economists, and social planners as it impacts decisions on resource allocation, social services, and economic planning.

Parameter usage:

• youthPopulation= Total number of individuals aged 0 14
• workingAgePopulation= Total number of individuals aged 15 64

Example valid values:

• youthPopulation= 3000000
• workingAgePopulation= 5000000

Output:

• YDR= Youth Dependency Ratio percentage

Data validation

The numbers should be greater than zero; otherwise, the function should return an error message. If the workingAgePopulation is zero, it should also return an error.

Example Descriptions

For example, if a country has a youth population of 3,000,000 and a working age population of 5,000,000, the YDR would be calculated as:

• YDR = (3,000,000 / 5,000,000) × 100
• YDR = 0.6 × 100
• YDR = 60%

This means that for every 100 working age individuals, there are 60 dependent youths. High YDR values suggest a higher economic burden on the working population, impacting education, healthcare, and social services policies.

Summary

This calculator takes into account the youth population and working age population to determine the Youth Dependency Ratio, expressed as a percentage. It helps in understanding demographic pressures and planning for future economic and social policies.