"Latin America and the Caribbean, much like other parts of the world, are undergoing a demographic transition as the population ages," a UN official told Xinhua on Sunday.

Alicia Barcena, executive secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), said this subject will be a focus of the second meeting of the Regional Conference for Population and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean, to be held in Mexico City on Oct. 6-9.

"We are preoccupied because, in the future, current generations will have to deal with the consequences of an aging population," Barcena said.

"We must seek to find the 'right demographics.' With a lowering fertility rate, homes have less children. As such, we must invest in the youth of today to better prepare it for tomorrow."

The "right demographics" refers to the economic benefits that can be derived from changing demographics. However, in order to capitalize on this, governments must invest ahead of time in education and the development of human resources.

According to Barcena, such investments, if done properly, can turn into an improvement in the quality of life and income. It will lead to higher levels of savings and investments while allowing a society to understand how to productively ensure economic growth for its specific demographic condition.

Various studies have indicated that Latin America can rely on an abundance of young people but must invest in order to protect their rights and ensure their social inclusion.

In conclusion, Barcena said ECLAC is studying "very carefully the populations in the region to see how demographics are changing."

"This includes the mass migration of people, such as from Mexico and Central America to the United States, as well as very strong migration within South America," she said.

The meeting in Mexico "will address the issues of aging, migration, indigenous people, and gender equality", she said.