The rapid aging of Paraguay's population is transforming the country's demographic structure and will require companies to deeply revise their investment, employment, and productivity strategies to remain competitive in the coming decades. The warning was issued by Claudina Zavattiero, a specialist in Data and Population Dynamics Programs at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), during the XVIII International Congress on CSR and Sustainability organized by the Association of Christian Businesspeople (ADEC).
Zavattiero delivered the lecture "Demographic Intelligence to Anticipate the Future of Work and Sustainability" and emphasized that population data remain a strategic tool still underutilized by the private sector, even though they make it possible to anticipate long-term trends and reduce risks in decision-making. "If we want better investments, to be more competitive, more productive, and sustainable, we need to understand what is changing in the population," she stated.
The expert explained that while European countries took about a century to double the proportion of people over 60, Latin America and Paraguay will go through this process in just three decades. "Paraguay has already begun its aging process. It is not something that will happen in the future; it is already underway," she emphasized. According to her, the country's demographic structure has changed profoundly over the past 75 years: while in 1950 a large child and youth population predominated, today the base of those under 15 is shrinking and the relative weight of the working-age population is growing.
This phenomenon generates what is known as the demographic dividend, an opportunity to drive economic growth through investments that take advantage of the higher proportion of people of working age. However, Zavattiero warned that this window of opportunity has an expiration date. "Projections indicate that by 2050 Paraguay will have a considerably older population and a smaller number of young people," she stated.
The expert stressed that companies can no longer continue making decisions based on the demographic reality of two decades ago, since changes in population structure alter both consumer markets and labor availability. As an example, she cited diaper manufacturers, historically focused on the children's market, which are now facing growing demand for products for the elderly. "Investments that do not incorporate demographic intelligence will be more costly, less effective, and will generate lower returns over time," she said.
Another highlighted point was the increase in female participation in the labor market. Although the gap compared to men has narrowed relative to previous decades, significant differences still persist. Projections show that in the coming years, women's participation in the workforce will continue to grow, while the overall workforce will progressively age. This scenario will bring new challenges for organizations, especially in family-owned businesses, where up to three generations currently coexist within the same work structure.