2013年，受拉美经济的影响，各项社会指标尽管继续保持趋好态势，但改善幅度明显减弱。在减贫方面，整个地区的贫困率继续保持下降态势，但降幅较小，同时赤贫率下降趋势发生逆转，出现微幅上升。在收入分配方面，整个地区在继续保持趋好的同时，个别国家的收入集中度有所上升。在劳动力市场领域，经济增长放缓削弱了就业创造能力，导致2013年的失业率仅比2012年下降了极小的比重。经济放缓的影响辐射到其他社会领域，加剧了公众的不满情绪，主要国家均出现了示威抗议活动。民众抛弃传统渠道转而借由示威和抗议表达呼声的意愿大大增强，其抗议目标多指向腐败、公共安全、教育和医疗等公共服务，以及提高工资和改善劳动条件。其中，腐败和公共不安全是拉美社会的两大顽疾，而在经济放缓的背景下，更是增加了政府的社会治理难度。鉴于拉美经济的良性循环趋于终结，预计2014年拉美国家的社会风险将大大增加。
Although there was an economic slowdown in 2013 in Latin America and the Caribbean，the poverty rate remained falling across the region while the extreme poverty rate turned out somewhat upward. It is noticeable that the region gained a continued improvement of income distribution. There was very limited job creation although unemployment decreased slightly. Regional countries witnessed an outbreak of street protests as a result of popular discontent with government’s failure to meet their demand for better education，health services，salaries and working conditions. Rampant corruption and worsening public security were also viewed as main factors triggering protests. Given the unfavorable economic situation will continue，the region is exposed to increasing social risks in 2014.
