Latin America’s Demographic Transformation by the Numbers

This article is adapted from AQ’s special report on Latin America’s demographic transformation

Since 1950, Latin America’s life
expectancy has increased 27 years…

…while fertility rates plunged from nearly 6 to 1.8 per woman.

The region’s fertility rate is now close to North America’s…

…and rates vary widely within Latin America.

Health care advances have led to decreasing infant mortality rates…

…and vastly improved longevity.

The region is aging rapidly…

…increasing a care burden that falls
disproportionately on women.

Older Latin Americans receive insufficient pensions…

…while aging populations are set to strain
social protection systems.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Emilie Sweigart

Reading Time: < 1 minuteSweigart is an editor at Americas Quarterly and a policy manager at the Americas Society/Council of the Americas

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