Abstract

This paper presents a new approach to analysing population ageing, the prospective approach, which considers improvements in life expectancy to calculate the threshold for old age, as an alternative to using a fixed age, such as 60 or 65 years. The paper, first of all, describes the main factors behind ageing in Chile. Secondly, it offers a new perspective on ageing over the period 1950-2050. Lastly, it analyses ageing in Chile over the same period, in the context of Latin America, from this new perspective. Considering old age not only in terms of years lived, but also in terms of years left to live, yields a rejuvenated over-65 population, in prospective terms, as a result of improved life expectancy in old age. Age therefore on a changed meaning.