The aging of 21.9 percent of the Cuban population

By Roberto Morejón

The Cuban government has urged all state agencies to actively search for solutions to face the very revealing demographic variables.

 The orientation must be deeply rooted in entities and especially in municipal governments, now with more autonomy and financial resources, since the Cuban population maintains a natural decrease and accelerated aging. 

 In 2022, the largest of the Antilles recorded just over 95 thousand births, the lowest figure in local history, indicating a very strong contraction.

 The archipelago reported an increase in mortality, with just over 120 thousand deaths, very low fertility levels and a sustained external migratory balance.

Cuba presents, as in highly developed nations such as Italy, a rapid demographic aging linked to a decrease in the working age population and in the economically active population.

These are not new issues, since for several decades specialists have been sending out signals in this regard and the government has adopted initial provisions.

However, in many parts of the country they do NOT devote the required care to such a relevant and sensitive issue, regardless of the fact that the domestic economic situation, aggravated by the U.S. blockade and the international crisis, makes it difficult to apply the recommended practices.

Nonetheless, the authorities will be quick to implement the plans designed to deal with the aforementioned situation.

In this regard, the approval of a higher budget for this year than in the previous stage is noteworthy.

 These allocations will include health care coverage for ailments specific to the elderly, the expansion of schools for caregivers and homes for the elderly, as well as assistance to infertile couples and equipment for assisted reproduction centers. 

 As the delivery of capacities in day care centers is below requirements, local governments will have more resources for the construction and maintenance of these buildings.

 Cuba will emphasize the construction of housing for mothers with three or more children, and public information will be expanded in order to better understand the demographic problem.

 Without alarm, but with the necessary seriousness, dedication and persistence, Cubans believe that new impetus should be given to a program already outlined to respond to an unavoidable indicator: the country has not achieved the population replacement rate for more than 30 years.