Ageing, social protection and socioeconomic challenges

Ageing and social protection
Chapter
C

Region countries have Instruments on C. Ageing and social protection

Policies and instruments

The most significant demographic transformation of the twenty-first century in Latin America and the Caribbean is population ageing. In 2026, older persons account for 15% of the population of Latin America and the Caribbean, equivalent to 101 million people. This proportion will continue to increase, reaching 25% by 2050, when the number of older persons is projected to total approximately 183 million.

Gains in life expectancy have been remarkable over the past 50 years. However, the situation of older persons is heterogeneous, particularly among those aged 80 years and over, who face greater challenges related to health, autonomy and disability. This increases demand for health services, technology, medicines and long-term care. At the same time, healthy ageing requires investment in prevention, healthy diets and physical activity. Population ageing also places pressure on pension systems, as the number of beneficiaries will increase and benefits will need to be provided over longer periods.

Adapting social protection systems requires the integration of three pillars to close protection gaps: pensions, primary health care and social services that support autonomy. Pensions and health care constitute social minima that must be guaranteed as the foundation of social protection and are the responsibility of the State. Social services that support autonomy, in turn, should be recognized as a public responsibility and delivered through a protection network that links the social protection floor with other health and social care services aimed at strengthening support for older persons.

Population ageing is not only a challenge but also an opportunity for Latin America and the Caribbean. The region must act urgently to build resilient societies and economies that value the knowledge and active participation of older persons and harness the capacities of people at all ages, in line with international commitments and human rights.

Priority Measures

  • C.18 - Quality aging

    18
    Formulate policies with a gender perspective to ensure a good quality of life in old age, not only for urban dwellers, but also for those who live in rural and forest areas.

  • C.19 - Age structure in policies and programs

    19
    Design and implement public policies, plans and programmes —at all political and administrative levels— that take into account changes in the age structure, in particular population ageing, and the opportunities and challenges associated with these changes over the medium and long term.

  • C.20 - Quality of life and full participation of older people

    20
    Design policies at the national, federal and local levels to guarantee quality of life, the development of potential and the full participation of older persons, taking account of the need for intellectual, emotional and physical interaction and the different situation of men and women, with emphasis on the groups that are most susceptible to discrimination, such as older persons with disabilities, those without economic resources or pension coverage, or those who live alone or lack a support network.

  • C.22 - Eradicate discrimination towards the elderly

    22
    Eradicate the multiple forms of discrimination that affect older persons, including all forms of violence against older women and men, taking into account the obligations of States with respect to ageing with dignity and rights.

  • C.24 - Priority to the elderly

    24
    Give the highest priority to older persons in plans for disaster prevention, mitigation and relief, including disaster preparedness, relief worker training on emergency prevention and response and the availability of goods and services.

  • C.25 - Intergenerational solidarity

    25
    Formulate policies to take advantage of the unique opportunity provided by the demographic dividend and that include coordinated investments in education and health and the creation of decent work on the basis of intergenerational solidarity.

  • C.26 - Adequate health policies

    26
    Bring health policies into line with the challenges of the varied and changing epidemiological profile arising from ageing and the epidemiological transition, reinforcing the fight to eradicate communicable diseases and implementing actions for the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases traditionally referred to as non-communicable, but now known to be strongly influenced by conditions of social and economic vulnerability in the early years of life, and ensure that these policies take into account gender, age, regional, ethnic and socioeconomic specificities.

  • C.28 - Dignified old age

    28
    Foster policies to encourage individuals to save during their active, productive life so that in the long run they can enjoy a decent old age.

  • C.30 - Social protection for the elderly

    30
    Promote the development of allowances and services relating to social security, health and education in the social protection systems targeting older persons to improve their quality of life, economic security and social justice.

  • C.31 - Rights, dignity and well-being for families and the elderly

    31
    Include care in social protection systems, through allowances, social and health-care services and economic benefits that maximize autonomy, in particular for older persons, and guarantee the rights, dignity and well-being of families and older persons, including the right to a dignified death with proper care, without any form of discrimination or violence.

Instruments

SDG

Indicators

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