Washington, D.C., 6 October 2026 (PAHO) – Countries in the Americas have made progress in policies, health services and monitoring to support healthy aging, but gaps in financing, implementation and long-term care remain, according to regional findings from the 2026 midterm review of the United Nations Decade of Healthy Aging (2021–2030).
The findings were presented during a webinar organized by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), as the Region undergoes a major demographic shift. By 2050, 26.6% of the population—306 million people—is projected to be aged 60 or older. A person reaching the age of 60 in the Americas today can expect approximately 23 more years of life, but only about 16 of those years will be in full health. This seven-year gap is the widest of any WHO region, compared to the global average of a gap of 5.5 years.
