Racial and ethnic inequalities in pension insurance coverage in Colombia

While the low coverage levels of Latin American pension systems are amply documented, inequalities within demographics beyond income and education are less understood. To fill this gap, this article analyses racial and ethnic differences in pension coverage in Colombia. Since racial and ethnic minorities in Colombia are disproportionally poor, old‐age pensions are especially important for these marginalized populations. The article finds that indigenous and, to a lesser extent, afro‐Colombians and their partners are significantly less likely to contribute to any pension programme than non‐minorities. Much – but not all – of this gap can be explained by educational and occupational differences.