Overview

• Adults 60 and over account for roughly 12.8–14% of the population, with projections showing older people outnumbering children by 2030 and reaching about 34% by 2070.
• About 33% of older adults remain in the labor force, nearly half are self-employed, and roughly seven in ten work in informality with higher rates for women.
• One in five older adults experienced some level of poverty in 2024, and many still lack basic rights access including 25% without health affiliation and nearly 23% without social security.
• Pensions are a key income source, with over 12 million receiving the Pensión para el Bienestar, while only about 35% get contributive pensions and just a quarter of older women do.
• Specialists warn of rising dementia and call for prevention-focused care as researchers highlight persistent ageism that curtails participation and well-being.