Despite the Covid-19 crisis that Mexico went through during 2020 and 2021, older adults were the only age group that managed to maintain the downward trend in poverty levels, both extreme and moderate.
Extreme poverty is one of the largest and most persistent structural problems in Mexico and although it has been reduced in recent years, the challenges are still great.
One of the groups in which significant improvements have been observed is that of older adults; where poverty has fallen steadily.
In 2016, 34.0% of women and men aged 65 or older were in moderate poverty and by 2022 this level was reduced to 26.3%, according to figures from the Conejal (National Council for the Evaluation of Social Development Policy).
For its part, extreme poverty in this population group was reduced by almost half in this period.
While in 2016, 8.5 percent of older adults were living in extreme poverty, by 2022 this level was 4.8 percent.
It is important to note that, although the income and quality of life of older adults has improved, their effective right to health has followed a contrary trend.
The population aged 65 and older lacking access to health services tripled in this period.
Source: eleconomista
