To: Step1 who wrote (61576 ) 3/2/2010 11:03:53 AM From: elmatador 2 Recommendations Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 217713 LATAM heading for a period of rapid aging of its population that will pressure its pension systems and economies in coming years. So out time will come too! -- That is not as rapid as some East Asian countries, but countries such as Brazil, Chile and Mexico may have populations that are older than the United States by mid-century. Latin America heading for old age Tue Mar 2, 2010 8:00am ESTBy Stuart Grudgings Bonds RIO DE JANEIRO, March 2 (Reuters) - Latin America is heading for a period of rapid aging of its population that will pressure its pension systems and economies in coming years. Following are some facts about the demographic shift, which is due to sharply higher life expectancy and plunging birth rates spanning a single generation. -- The share of Latin America's population over 65 will triple by 2050 to 18.5 percent from 6.3 percent in 2005, helping raise the median age to 40 from 26. -- That is not as rapid as some East Asian countries, but countries such as Brazil, Chile and Mexico may have populations that are older than the United States by mid-century. -- The ratio of working-age adults to each elderly person is on course to sink to 5.7 by 2025 and to 3.1 by 2050, compared to 8.7 in 2005, in effect almost tripling the average burden on each worker. -- Life expectancy in the region has increased by 22 years to 73.3 since the 1950s. Chileans had a life expectancy of 78.7 years in 2008, slightly higher than the United States. -- Fertility rates have plunged throughout the region. Mexico's rate has fallen by two thirds since the 1970s to 2.2 births per woman, around the same as the United States.