OBJECTIVES: To estimate the economic impact of community acquired pneumonia (CAP) in adults over 50 years of age in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Venezuela. METHODS: Local data sources were used to estimate the number of cases of hospitalized pneumonia cases from ICD-9 codes in the year 2009 in adults ≥50 years of age.  CAP episodes were estimated from pneumonia proportionally by age based on prior publications that compared ICD-9 coded hospitalizations to confirmed CAP by chart review.  Resource use was estimated from treatment guidelines and expert opinion and multiplied by local unit costs to derive total costs.  Indirect costs to patients and caregivers were estimated by average wages times participation rate by age. Mortality cost was estimated by discounted life expectancy times wage rates and participation rates by age group.  Costs were converted to USD by exchange rates to facilitate comparison. RESULTS: The average cost of CAP hospitalizations in adults was (USD):  Argentina=$32,241; Brazil=$29,457; Chile=$26,936; Colombia=$23,656; Mexico=$21,018; Venezuela=$22,536.  In adults <65 years old, indirect costs comprised 1.5% of cost associated with hospitalizations (range: 0.2% - 2.5%) and mortality costs comprised 16% (range: 3% - 24%).  In adults ≥65 direct costs were over 95% of episode costs.  The total cost of CAP hospitalizations in adults was (USD$Mil):  Argentina=$697; Brazil=$3,624; Chile=$445; Colombia=$347; Mexico=$941; Venezuela=$387.  As a proportion of the total population, CAP hospitalizations cost approximately $74 per person ≥50 years old per year (range $42-$108) and $148 per person over 65 per year (range $95-$235). CONCLUSIONS: CAP hospitalizations represent a significant economic burden in adults across Latin America countries.  Nearly one quarter of the cost burden among adults <65 includes indirect costs, while the economic burden among older patients is driven by direct costs and high incidence.