From his wheelchair in a Bogotá care home, 74-year-old Alberto Delgado Londoño reflects on the challenges faced by the city’s ageing population. Having been found in hospital with throat cancer and a head injury that left him partially paralysed, Delgado Londoño now lives in a facility established late last year to provide shelter for destitute elderly residents without family support. His situation exemplifies a growing concern in Colombia’s capital: an increasing number of older adults face precarious living conditions, with an estimated 1,100 elderly people currently homeless in the city.
In response, Bogotá unveiled a plan last year aimed at better integrating social care and health services for older residents. City health secretary Gerson Bermont Galavis has called for a fundamental transformation in healthcare, social services, and employment frameworks to adapt to this demographic shift. The city’s population reached approximately 7.9 million in 2026 but is expected to decline starting in 2027, as the share of residents aged 60 and over rises from nearly 16% today to nearly 20% by 2035, according to Bogotá’s Health Observatory.
This aging trend is part of a broader phenomenon observed across Colombia and Latin America. The country’s central bank projects the old-age dependency ratio to double from 20.6% in 2025 to 42% by 2070, intensifying pressure on public pensions and healthcare systems already constrained by funding shortfalls. The United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean notes the region’s ageing population is expanding more rapidly than in other parts of the world, with nearly one in five individuals expected to be over 65 by 2050.
A key driver of the demographic shift is the city’s plummeting fertility rate, currently estimated at 0.82 children per woman in 2025—lower than cities such as Tokyo—and well below the replacement rate of 2.1. Nationally, Colombia’s fertility rate has fallen dramatically from 6.7 in 1960 to 1.6 in 2024. This decline has contributed to noticeable changes in city life, including a 13% drop in nursery enrollments from 2019 to 2023 and the closure of 287 primarily private schools between 2019 and 2024.
Experts warn Bogotá is not adjusting quickly enough to these demographic realities. Dr. Manuel González, who shapes the city’s health policy, highlights the growing number of older adults experiencing extended periods of poor health and social isolation. In a bid to address these challenges, Bogotá is investing in initiatives to extend "healthy life expectancy" and reshape societal attitudes toward ageing.
Central to these efforts is the restoration of the historic San Juan de Dios hospital complex. Closed in 2001 due to financial difficulties and later designated a national heritage site, the 16-hectare campus is being redeveloped into a multifunctional facility blending healthcare, residential care, research, and cultural spaces. The project, costing about 4 trillion pesos (approximately £940 million), is intended to serve as an intergenerational health model and community hub.
Supporting caregivers is another priority, given that unpaid care duties in Colombia disproportionately fall on women. Bogotá has expanded "care blocks," community centers offering temporary respite for caregivers and programs to promote healthier, more independent living among older residents. Nevertheless, social researchers caution these services have yet to significantly redistribute caregiving responsibilities within families.
To combat social isolation, the city has introduced prescriptions for cultural and nature-based activities, encouraging older adults to engage in community events and outdoor programs. Recent initiatives include a seniors’ grand ball attended by thousands, which foster social connection through music and dance.
Additionally, Bogotá is confronting employment challenges faced by older workers. The city offers retraining courses and financial incentives for companies that hire and retain employees over 50. Officials acknowledge that further measures, such as raising the retirement age, may become necessary as life expectancy increases.
Economic constraints complicate these efforts. With a per capita GDP around £10,500 in 2024—significantly lower than in developed countries—and high levels of informal work, many older Bogotá residents face uncertain financial futures. Currently, only 17% of retired women and 29% of retired men in the city receive pensions.
Despite these hurdles, some experts see potential for Bogotá to adapt successfully. Economist Juliana Jaramillo notes that earlier childbearing ages compared with other countries give Colombia a different demographic position, potentially easing some pressures related to fertility trends.
Meanwhile, Delgado Londoño remains hopeful amid his own struggles. Writing poetry about Colombia’s coffee region, he embodies the city’s broader efforts to foster dignity and purpose for its older population as Bogotá confronts the profound social and economic implications of a rapidly ageing society.