RED 2026 - Chapter 6: Demographic transformations and mobility in rural areas
Abstract
Economic development and structural change are often accompanied by shifts in the spatial distribution of the population. In Latin America and the Caribbean, economic diversification and the expansion of services and industry have been accompanied by a gradual decline in the relative share of the rural population. At the same time, the demographic transition—marked by falling fertility rates and population aging—is also evident in rural areas, while migration flows show reduced intensity and a greater balance between inflows and outflows. This chapter examines these transformations from a long-term perspective. It also analyzes the evolution of well-being indicators (poverty, health, and education) and the persistent gaps with urban areas. The analysis allows us to anticipate the pressures that the region’s productive systems, service provision, social protection, and territories will face in the coming decades.
Subject
Country / Region
Date
2026-04-13Cite this publication
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Author
de la Mata, DoloresRosá, Tatiana
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