Ageing will drive social care demands in Latin America

Significance Latin America’s population is ageing rapidly amid declining birth rates and rising life expectancy. This is driving a need for urgent action to prevent demographic changes becoming a drag on economic growth. Impacts Better care provisions would improve gender equality if women no longer have to carry out unpaid care work. More formal jobs would boost tax collection and balance spending. Ageing populations will create opportunities in the healthcare sector as rates of non-communicable diseases increase. Nations that do not take action will face crippling costs for pensions and healthcare, or the collapse of existing systems.