Latin America faces unprecedented demographic shift toward aging population

A report by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), warns of an unprecedented demographic shift in Latin America and the Caribbean. By 2050, approximately 25% of the region's population—roughly 182 million people—will be aged 60 or older.

The region is experiencing a significant decline in fertility rates, which reached 1.8 children per woman in 2024, making it the third-lowest rate globally. This trend, combined with population aging, is expected to reduce the school-age population to approximately 38.3 million by 2050, necessitating changes in educational planning and lifelong learning models.

Demographic aging is not uniform across the region. Chile and Uruguay are expected to have populations where seniors exceed 20% by 2026. Costa Rica is projected to see its elderly population rise from 18.7% in 2026 to 32.6% by 2050. Other nations, including Argentina, Brazil, and Colombia, will also see increasing percentages of older residents in the coming decades.