Nearly a third of Cubans are expected to be over 60 years old by 2030, making it home to Latin America's most aging population, according to a study.
By 2030, the number of Cuba's elderly people is expected to jump to 3.4 million from 1.9 million in 2010, imposing considerable strains on social security, healthcare and work force in the country, according to a UN study published by local media on Sunday.
By 2050, Cuba will be among the 11 most aging nations in the world with 38 percent of its population over 60.
Life expectancy is expected to reach 82.6 years for women and 78.6 years for men by 2030 in Cuba, while the birthrate, which was already below the level of generational replacement in 1978, further contracted to between 1.44 and 1.59 in recent years when the economic crisis affected the island.
The problem is expected to be critical after 2020 and the Cuban government has already decided to delay retirement -- at 65 years for men and at 60 for women.