Aging across unequal landscapes in Perú: demographic transition, diverging paths, and policy challenges

Fernandez Escobar R.; Santos-Lozada A.R.; Barrantes N.; Clausen J.; Trivelli C.; Muñoz I.G. · Gerontologist (2026) · DOI: 10.1093/geront/gnag038

Resumen

Perú, a middle-income country in South America with a population of approximately 34 million, is experiencing a demographic shift toward an aging population. Whereas the working-age population remains large, the proportion of adults aged 65 and older has been steadily increasing, with a rising old-age dependency ratio that is projected to continue in the coming decades. Aging in Perú occurs within highly unequal social and geographic contexts, exposing older adults to disparities in income, health care, and long-term care access. Despite recent growth in gerontological research, significant gaps persist, particularly in the study of social determinants of health such as caregiving, social protections, and access to health care and infrastructure. We provide an overview of demographic aging in Perú, review the emerging landscape of aging research, highlight key scholars and institutions, summarize available data sets, and identify pressing policy and social challenges affecting older adults in Perú. Addressing these issues is essential for promoting equitable, healthy, and dignified aging in a country facing a rapid demographic transformation. © The Author(s) 2026. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.

Instituciones: Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú