Dependency Load includes which group?

• A. Working-age adults 15-64
• B. Total population
• C. Persons under the age of 16 and over 64 (the non-working population)
• D. People aged 0-14 and 65-74

Answer: (C)

Dependency load refers to the part of the population that relies on others in the workforce for support. Those who typically aren’t in paid work are the young and the elderly—people under 16 and over 64. So the group described as under 16 and over 64 is the non-working population and, therefore, what the dependency load includes. The working-age group (15–64) is the group that provides most of the economic support, so they are not part of the dependency load. The other choices either describe the entire population, the working-age group, or a narrower older-age range that doesn’t capture all dependents.