Child Dependency Ratio

Early Childhood Education Social

Posted: July 28, 2025
Data Years: 2019-2023
Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau

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The Child Dependency Ratio (CDR), available through the American Community Survey (ACS), measures the number of individuals under age 18 relative to the working-age population (ages 18–64) in a given area. It is calculated as the number of children divided by the working-age population, expressed as a percentage, multiplied by 100. This ratio provides insight into the demographic structure of a community and indicates the potential demand for early childhood resources, such as childcare, education, and health services. Higher ratios indicate a greater dependency and may signal the need for expanded family support and child-focused infrastructure

Why it Matters?

1. Demand for Child Services
A higher CDR signals a larger share of children relative to working-age adults, indicating greater demand for child care centers, early education programs, and pediatric services.

2. Economic and Workforce Implications Communities with high dependency ratios often experience increased economic pressure on working adults, affecting affordability and access to quality child care.

3. Resource Allocation and Policy Planning
Helps policymakers identify neighborhoods with concentrated child populations, guiding investments in schools, Head Start programs, and early learning initiatives.

What’s Ahead: Annual Competitiveness Reports

Later this year, we’ll introduce an expanded layer of insight — the Annual Competitiveness Reports. These reports will benchmark Jacksonville’s performance in key areas against peer cities, regional norms, and long-term goals. You’ll be able to track civic momentum year-over-year and see how we stack up — and step up.

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Whether you’re looking for something specific or just want help making sense of it all, we’re here to assist. Reach out to the State of Jax team, or visit our About page to learn more about who we are and how we work.