Reinventing population health: Demographic challenges from Latin America and the Caribbean

Every country in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is aging. As such, this process is imposing substantial challenges on households, health systems, and services.

In 1950 the number of people 60 years old and older in LAC was 5 million, representing 5.9 % of the total population. By 2006 this number increased to 56 million, representing almost 9% of the population. By 2025, experts predict this number will increase to 100 million. In addition, by 2025 there will be approximately 15 million people aged 80 or over.

In 2004, of the 36 million noncommunicable disease (NCD) deaths that occurred in older persons globally, 77% occurred in developing countries. Two out of three older adults in LAC reported having at least one of the more common NCDs. Only 27% of women reported having had a mammogram in the last two years.

LAC is aging at a time when it still lacks sufficient economic resources to address the challenges; 1/3 of older persons interviewed for the Health, Well-Being, and Aging (SABE) study reported they did not have a pension or a paying job.

This presentation highlights the critical need for LAC to develop a comprehensive strategy to respond to the emerging demographic challenges. Such a strategy should serve as a road map for countries to provide adequate future social support and health services.