Cuba is experiencing a swift demographic shift, as the elderly population surges. By the end of 2024, a staggering 25.7% of Cubans were aged 60 or older, according to recent data from the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI). This indicates that over a quarter of Cuba's residents are now considered seniors, solidifying the island's status as the most aged nation in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Among the regions most impacted by this trend are Villa Clara and Havana, with 29.1% and 28.1% of their populations aged 60 and above, respectively. These two provinces are the only ones exceeding the 28% mark. Conversely, the provinces with the lowest proportions of elderly residents are Guantánamo (22.5%) and Artemisa (23.2%), as reported by ONEI on their official social media.
Demographic Changes and Regional Variations
On a municipal level, the Plaza de la Revolución in Havana tops the national list with an astounding 36.8% of its population over 60 years old, followed by municipalities in Villa Clara, Sancti Spíritus, and Cienfuegos. At the other end of the spectrum, Yateras in Guantánamo stands as the youngest municipality, with only 17.1% of its residents being seniors.
The aging index, which compares the number of people over 60 to those under 15, further highlights the growing burden of the elderly population. Villa Clara leads with 2,036 seniors for every 1,000 children, followed by Havana (1,866) and Sancti Spíritus (1,789). Guantánamo has the lowest aging index at 1,248.
Challenges and Implications of an Aging Population
This demographic reality presents significant social, economic, and healthcare challenges for Cuba, particularly in a context marked by low birth rates, mass youth migration, and a deteriorating social care system. The ONEI report emphasizes that the nation's future sustainability hinges on the decisions made today to address this structural shift in the population pyramid.
Provincial Aging Rates in Cuba
The extent of aging across Cuban provinces by the end of 2024 is as follows:
- Cuba (national average): 25.7%
- Villa Clara: 29.1%
- Havana: 28.1%
- Sancti Spíritus: 26.6%
- Camagüey: 26.5%
- Cienfuegos: 26.5%
- Pinar del Río: 26.2%
- Matanzas: 25.8%
- Mayabeque: 25.3%
- Las Tunas: 25.2%
- Holguín: 25.4%
- Isla de la Juventud: 24.1%
- Ciego de Ávila: 24.0%
- Granma: 23.8%
- Santiago de Cuba: 23.3%
- Artemisa: 23.2%
- Guantánamo: 22.5%
Since 2019, Cuba has witnessed a natural population decline, with deaths outnumbering births, as revealed by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz during the fourth ordinary session of the National Assembly's tenth legislature in 2024. Additionally, over 250,000 Cubans left the island in 2024, according to official ONEI figures. This year also saw the lowest birth rate in six decades, an increase in deaths, and a continued population decrease compared to 2023.
By the end of 2024, Cuba's effective population fell below 10 million, marking the smallest number of births recorded in over sixty years.
Frequently Asked Questions on Cuba's Aging Population
What percentage of Cuba's population is over 60 years old?
By the end of 2024, 25.7% of Cuba's population was 60 years or older.
Which Cuban province has the highest proportion of elderly residents?
Villa Clara has the highest proportion, with 29.1% of its population being over 60 years old.
What are the implications of an aging population in Cuba?
The aging population presents challenges in social care, economics, and healthcare, especially with low birth rates and youth migration.
How does the aging index differ across Cuban provinces?
Villa Clara has the highest aging index with 2,036 elders per 1,000 children, while Guantánamo has the lowest at 1,248.