OBJECTIVES: To estimate the morbidity and mortality 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 and outpatient pneumonia cases and deaths in the year 2009.  Pneumonia cases were queried in adults ≥50 years of age using ICD-9 codes.  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.  Incidence rates were calculated as cases per 100,000 population. Case-fatality rates (CFR%) associated with CAP requiring inpatient care were based on hospital mortality rates reported for each country. RESULTS: Cases of CAP hospitalization (incidence per 100,000 person years) in adults ≥50 were: Argentina=21,619 (218.5); Brazil=123,033 (333.9); Chile=16,544 (401.4); Colombia=14,699 (178.1); Mexico=44,807 (224.7); Venezuela=17,205 (348.5).  The number of hospital deaths (CFR%) were:  Argentina=2,772 (13%); Brazil=25,725 (21%); Chile=1,671 (10%); Colombia=1,622 (11%); Mexico=7,249 (16%); Venezuela=6,040 (35%).  Cases of outpatient CAP (incidence) were: Argentina=19,243 (194.5); Brazil=94,448 (256.5); Chile=12,010 (291.4); Colombia=10,039 (121.6); Mexico=30,635 (153.6); Venezuela=14,339 (290.4).  The percent of episodes treated as outpatient was 53% (range 45%-61%) among those aged 50-64 and 25% (range 4%-25%) among those ≥75.  Across countries, 51% of hospitalizations (range 42%-63%) and 69% of deaths (range 65%-72%) were in adults ≥75 years. CONCLUSIONS: CAP is a common cause of hospitalization and mortality in adults in Latin America.  Incidence increases substantially with increasing age, as does the likelihood of hospitalization.