Yucatan is experiencing an acceleration in the aging process of its inhabitants, as the group of adults over 60 years of age increased by 32.9 percent as of 2020, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi).
According to the results of the study, in 2010 there were 196,474 Yucatecan older adults and in 2020 it increased to 292,851; in addition, the average age of Yucatecans is 30 years.
Inegi’s projection for the year 2030 of the demographic growth of the population aged 60 or older poses new challenges in health services since in Mérida alone there are more than 140 thousand people in that age range, which represents 14.3 percent of the total population.
For this reason, the federal agency indicates that, at the end of the first half of 2024, Yucatán is ranked fifth nationwide with the largest population of older adults.
However, the National Population Council (Conapo) estimates that by 2030, Yucatán will occupy fourth place nationally in the elderly population.
The National Population Council (Conapo) confirms that in Yucatán aging is advancing rapidly as currently, 9 out of every 100 people are older adults.
Specialists from the agency indicate that the state is above the national average and lacks public policies that guarantee health, housing, and a full life for older adults.
Likewise, the elderly population of the state increased health problems associated with age, since the federal Ministry of Health indicates that the main diseases that affect them are neurodegenerative, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
These diseases have shown an increase of 71.5 percent compared to 2023, which underlines the urgent need to strengthen health services and social support for the demographic group.
The National College of Geriatric Medicine stated that the state population is aging rapidly, being above the national average, which is 8 percent.
The statement said that the three levels of government lack public policies that guarantee health, housing, and a full life for the elderly since they only limit themselves to delivering “pensions” without knowing the social and family reality of each elderly person.
He reported that in Mexico there are more than 12 million older adults, which represents 10 percent of the national population.
The agency stated that based on projections from the National Population Council, life expectancy in 2030 is expected to be 74.9 years for men and 79.9 years for women, which means that the age group of 60 years or older will double.
TYT Newsroom
