Brazil enacts National Care Policy as life expectancy hits record

Brazil's latest IBGE projections show life expectancy at birth rising to 76.6 years in 2024, the highest level since the series began in 1940. The data also reveal stark regional gaps, with Santa Catarina reaching about 81.1 years and Piauí around 72.4 years, reflecting differences in health access and socioeconomic conditions.

In response to the growing ageing population, the Brazilian government approved the National Care Policy in December 2024 through Law No. 15.069. The legislation establishes principles and guidelines to guarantee the right to care and coordinate actions for both care recipients and caregivers. It calls for shared responsibility among the state, families, the private sector, and civil society, aiming to balance duties and reduce the disproportionate unpaid care burden that falls on women. Francine Canto Boico, president of the Rede Conecta Saberes network, said, "the increase in life expectancy is one of Brazil's greatest achievements, but it also brings new collective challenges."