Chile faces demographic shift as aging population drives need for local cancer research

Chile is facing a significant demographic shift as its population ages. According to recent census data, individuals aged 65 and older increased from 6.6% of the population in 1992 to 14% in 2024. Projections suggest that by 2028, there will be more older adults than children under the age of 15. This trend is accompanied by a low fertility rate of 0.99 children per woman as of 2025.

This aging trend presents specific challenges for oncology. Preliminary data indicates that in 2025, more than half of all cancer deaths in Chile occurred in people between the ages of 50 and 89. To address this, experts emphasize the need for local clinical research to produce evidence tailored to the country's specific epidemiological, genetic, and cultural characteristics. The FALP Cancer Research and Innovation Center is working to address this by creating a platform to integrate clinical data and generate indicators regarding cancer impact and survival rates in the Chilean population.