Adolescent pregnancy highlights inequality in Latin America

Adolescent pregnancy in Latin America and the Caribbean serves as a significant indicator of poverty and social exclusion. While the region has seen a nearly 30% decrease in fertility rates among girls aged 15 to 19—dropping from approximately 73 births per thousand in 2010 to 50 in 2025—progress remains unequal and insufficient.

Two out of every three adolescent pregnancies in the region are unintended, often leading to child marriage or forced unions. A lack of access to comprehensive sexual education, contraceptives, and reproductive health services remains a critical barrier. These challenges disproportionately affect girls from low-income households, rural areas, and indigenous or Afro-descendant communities.

In locations such as Portobelo, Panama, local leaders note that while pregnancy is often treated as a social taboo, there is a lack of practical information provided to youth on how to prevent unintended pregnancies.