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Brazil faces rapid aging as São Paulo reaches 101 elderly per 100 children
Brazil is experiencing an accelerated demographic transition as its population ages. In the state of São Paulo, the aging index reached 101.0 in 2025, meaning there are now 101 people aged 60 or older for every 100 children and adolescents under 15. This shift is driven by a declining fertility rate, which has dropped to 1.5 children per woman from approximately four in the last century, and increased life expectancy.
Nationally, the proportion of Brazilians aged 60 or older rose from 11.3% in 2012 to 16.6% in 2025. Projections from the Ministry of Health suggest the elderly population will reach 36.6 million by 2026 and could hit 61.5 million within two decades. Approximately 80% of this demographic relies exclusively on the Unified Health System (SUS).
To address the growing demand for specialized care, Bill 3,779/2026 is currently under consideration in the Chamber of Deputies. The legislation proposes a progressive increase in the availability of geriatricians within the SUS. While the number of geriatricians in Brazil grew by 378.4% between 2011 and 2024, specialists still represent only 0.7% of all medical specialists, highlighting a significant gap in the healthcare infrastructure.
Entities
Câmara dos Deputados · Fundação Seade · IBGE · Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística · Lucia Yazaki · Ministério da Saúde · Sistema Único de Saúde · São Paulo
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 4 SOURCES] The fertility rate in the state of São Paulo is 1.5 children per woman, down from approximately four children per woman in the last century. portaldiarioderondonia.com · destakjornal.com.br · acidadenoticia.com.br · i75.com.br
- [● 4 SOURCES] The aging index in São Paulo has multiplied by 8.7 between 1950 and 2025. portaldiarioderondonia.com · destakjornal.com.br · acidadenoticia.com.br · i75.com.br
- [● 4 SOURCES] In 2025, the aging index in the state of São Paulo reached 101.0, meaning there are 101 people aged 60 or older for every 100 people under 15. portaldiarioderondonia.com · destakjornal.com.br · acidadenoticia.com.br · i75.com.br
- [● 3 SOURCES] Brazil is projected to have 36.6 million people aged 60 or older in 2026. jornalogoncalense.com.br · minutomt.com.br · momentomt.com.br
- [● 4 SOURCES] The proportion of Brazilians aged 60 or older increased from 11.3% to 16.6% between 2012 and 2025. noticias.dino.com.br · portal.comunique-se.com.br · leianoticias.com.br · revistaempreende.com.br
- [● 4 SOURCES] Bill 3,779/2026 proposes a progressive increase in the availability of geriatricians within the Unified Health System (SUS). noticias.dino.com.br · portal.comunique-se.com.br · leianoticias.com.br · revistaempreende.com.br